Your brain, nerves and spinal cord make up your nervous system. It allows your body to communicate internally to complete everyday functions. This includes everything from remembering a fact to flexing your fingers. But when your nervous system is damaged from an injury or condition, then physical therapy is needed for recovery.
Physical therapy can help people with neurological or neuromuscular challenges improve their functions for a better quality of life. This could include improving balance, fine motor skills, muscle strengthening and gait training.
3 physical therapy strategies for neurological and neuromuscular improvement
Neurological and neuromuscular challenges can come from a variety of medical conditions and injuries. A few include muscular dystrophy, stroke and traumatic brain injury. A physical therapist can help in a variety of ways, including neuromuscular reeducation and pain management. The goal is to improve everyday functioning.
A physical therapist can create a personalized treatment plan with strategies that can reduce nervous system issues. They will consider the cause, severity of symptoms and overall goals. Here are three strategies that may be included in that plan:
- Balance exercises
Nervous system challenges can impact a person’s ability to move around throughout the day due to balance and coordination issues. With exercises that improve stability, posture and gait patterns, you can improve your motor functions. You’ll also reduce the risk of injury. Example exercises include single-leg stands and sit-to-stands.
- Resistance exercises
An effective way to build the strength to reduce neuromuscular challenges is to work against another force. Your physical therapist may guide you through resistance exercises as part of your treatment plan. When you pull, lift or push against a weight or band, you’re able to address and alleviate muscle loss or weakness. It works by contracting your muscles. Resistance exercises include squats and straight leg raises.
- Core controlÂ
Your neuromuscular and neurological systems are used when you’re trying to control your core. It’s used for posture, spinal stability and reducing the risk of injury during movements. If the systems are damaged or not functioning properly, a physical therapist can guide you through core control activities to help as part of neuromuscular reeducation training. Examples can include pelvic tilts and holding a plank.
Helping your body to function as effectively as possible can improve your overall quality of life. We believe that having a neurological or neuromuscular challenge shouldn’t stop you from reaching that goal.Â
REPAIR SI can create a personalized treatment plan to address your challenges and needs. We want to help you work toward becoming the best version of yourself that you can.Â
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.