Is Resting Or Moving Better For A Traumatic Brain Injury?

On behalf of Lovett Law Firm posted in Brain Injury on Thursday, December 17, 2015.

If you’ve suffered from a traumatic brain injury, you may not be sure if you’re supposed to stay active or rest. Some medical professionals claim that rest helps your brain heal; in some cases, they may tell you not to return to work or activities until your symptoms go away.

Is this really the best way to handle a brain injury? The Mayo Clinic argues that brain injury patients need to avoid physical and cognitive activities to prevent symptoms from worsening. However, nurses at the Cleveland Clinic’s Neurointensive Care Unit stated that a year-long study showed that those who were active after a brain injury tended to do better.

According to the study, those who were able to get up and move were likely to have shorter stays in the intensive care unit and hospital on the whole. These patients also suffered from fewer pressure sores and needed less time on ventilators. They also benefited from fewer infections and reportedly were in a better state of mind when it came to their moods.

The article discussed the importance of movement. By moving, the body can reduce swelling and inflammation. Circulation is improved and the healing process is affected positively. Why is rest better for the brain, then, if it’s been shown that movement is better for the body? Research has shown that brains that have been injured can suffer from a lack of adequate blood flow, and that could lead to more serious complications down the line.

Mobilization may be a way to increase a patient’s speed of recovery, but it may not be for everyone. If you’ve suffered a TBI and want to consider this kind of recovery, your attorney can help you make sure you have the funds to work with the specialists you need.

Source: Brain Injury Society, “Brain Injury: Healing through Keeping Active,” Jacob Masters, accessed Dec. 17, 2015