Head Injury

A head injury or a traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when an outside force damages the brain such as a blow to the head which may lead to physical and cognitive impairments.

TBI is commonly referred to as a head injury which involves damages to the brain causing difficulties with communication, cognition and movement such as poor coordination and balance.A head injury causes damage to the brain by limiting blood flow and the supply of oxygen or by putting pressure on the brain. Both these factors lead to death of brain cells.

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Every head injury is different and every person with a head injury will be affected differently. The effects of a head injury will depend upon the severity and the location of the injury in the brain. The long-term effects of a head injury will also depend on the age of the person involved.

Physiotherapy can help people in their physical recovery following a brain injury.

Diagnosis of a head injury

Brain imaging such as Computerised Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are used to assess the extent of damage on the brain following a head injury.

What causes a head injury?

The most common cause of a head injury is road traffic accidents. Other causes of head injuries include sports-related injuries, accidents, falls or assaults at home or in the workplace.

What are the long-term effects of a head injury?

The long-term consequences of a brain injury can affect all aspects of everyday life, including movement, perception, cognition, communication and personality.

Non physical effects include:

  • Cognition (thinking, memory, and reasoning)
  • Sensory processing (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell)
  • Communication (expression and understanding)
  • Behaviour (depression, anxiety, personality changes, aggression, and social inappropriateness)

Physical effects include:

  • Reduced mobility
  • High or low muscle tone
  • Abnormal movement patterns
  • Reduced muscle strength
  • Reduced coordination in the body, arms, and legs
  • Loss of balance

Physiotherapy treatment will focus on improving physical symptoms following a head injury. Treatment will improve your mobility and muscle control and will aim to make everyday tasks a great deal easier.

Our dedicated neurological physiotherapists at Physio.co.uk, will increase your quality of life by promoting your independence and reducing the impact of these problems on your life.