PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR NEUROMUSCULAR CONDITIONS

STROKE

refers to a rapid developing clinical signs that indicate a focal disturbance of cerebral function resulting from an interruption of blood flow.

This disruption may be caused by blockage from a clot that results in ischemia (decreased oxygen), or it may be caused by a blood vessel that bursts, creating a hemorrhage (bleeding).

CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT

another term of STROKE

COMPLETE PARALYSIS

stroke’s common symptom

SYMPTOMS OF STROKE

difficulty in speaking or understanding language, cognitive deficits, or neglect of the involved side.

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY 

defined as an alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force.

PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS, COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS, EMOTIONAL IMPAIRMENTS

TBI results in:

PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS

impairments—speech, vision, hearing, headaches, motor coordination, spasticity of muscles, paresis or paralysis, seizure disorders, balance, and fatigue.

COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS

impairments—short term memory deficits, impaired concentration, slowness of thinking, limited attention span, impairments of perception, communication skills, planning, writing, reading and judgement.

EMOTIONAL IMPAIRMENTS

impairments—mood swings, self-centeredness, anxiety, depression, lowered self-esteem, sexual dysfunction, restlessness, lack of motivation, and difficulty controlling emotions.

SPINAL CORD INJURY (SCI)

occurs when there is damage to the spinal cord or nerve roots, resulting in temporary or permanent loss of sensation and strength as well as body functions below the level of injury.

16-30 YEARS OLD

The age group most often affected of SPINAL CORD INJURY

TETRAPLEGIA

all limbs may be affected (SCI) 

PARAPLEGIA

lower part of the trunk and legs may be affected

PLEGIA

If the lesion is complete, no residual sensory or motor function. can be found below the level of the lesion

PARESIS

The injury may also result in an incomplete lesion in which some distal motor and sensory functions may be preserved

ACUTE PHYSICAL THERAPY INTERVENTION 

focuses on maintaining flexibility and range of motion in the joints, strengthening unaffected muscles, and maintaining or improving cardiorespiratory capacity, and endurance.

DIZZINESS

one of the most common presenting symptoms to primary care physicians, and it is also a common complaint heard by physical therapists working with individuals with primary neurologic health conditions.

VERTIGO

• precise term of dizziness

• Vestibular dysfunction is a common cause of dizziness

  for many individuals.

BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO (BPPV)

• Peripheral vestibular injuries are most commonly the result of a disorder

• occurs when calcium crystals that are normally part of the otolith organs break free and fall into the semicircular canals, causing a sensation of spinning when the head is moved in certain directions.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)

is a disease in which an abnormal immune-mediated process is triggered, attacking the myelin sheath that coats nerve fibers within the central nervous system.

PLAQUES 

This results in areas of demyelination, also referred to as plaques, which lead to disturbances in the conduction of messages along the nerves.

15-45 YEARS OLD 

The condition is most often manifested from ages                      and affects women more often than men.

EQUATOR

multiple sclerosis disease occurs more frequently in areas that are farther away from the

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF MS

• visual deficits, sensory problems such as tingling and numbness, weakness, fatigue, problems with balance, dizziness and vertigo, and bladder dysfunction.

• MS is considered to be a neurodegenerative disease;

PARKINSON'S DISEASE

• a neurodegenerative condition

• is commonly seen with advancing age and is characterized by a classic triad of symptoms including tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia.

• This condition results from a deficiency in dopamine, a neurotransmitter (chemical

  messenger) produced in a region of the brain called the substantia nigra

TREMOR 

• alternating contractions of opposing muscle groups

• is the presenting symptom in about 70% of individuals

• usually affects the hands and feet and tends to occur at rest.

RIGIDITY

a disturbance in muscle tone, is manifested as resistance when the limbs are passively moved, regardless of movement speed.

BRADYKINESIA

slowness of movements, is the most common feature and is a major cause of disability in individuals with PD.

GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME

• an acquired neuromuscular condition that is a result of an inflammatory process affecting the peripheral nerve.

• considered a rare condition as

  it affects approximately 1-2 individuals per 100,000 per year.

AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS)

• also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the famous baseball player), is a rapidly progressive neurologic disorder associated with the degeneration of motor nerve cells. Its cause is unknown.

• ALS is characterized by weakness, atrophy (loss of muscle bulk), fasciculations

  (muscle twitches), and spasticity

• The weakness can be present in limb muscles and can

  cause difficulty with functional activities, or it can be present in the bulbar muscles (muscles

  involved in speech, swallowing, and breathing) and can cause difficulty with communication,

  feeding, and respiration.

COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY (CT)

Uses x-rays and computer processing to measure the density of brain and spinal cord bony and soft tissues

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)

Uses radio frequency waves and a magnetic field to measure the water content of different anatomic tissues within the nervous system

ANGIOGRAPHY

Provides view of blood vessels and their connection; involves injection of radiopaque dye into blood vessels

LUMBAR PUNCTURE (LP) 

Procedure used to collect fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (the CSF) for analysis

ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY (ECG)

Records electrical potentials within the brain

NERVE CONDUCTION VELOCITY

Records the speed with which motor and sensory nerves conduct impulses

ELECTROMYOGRAPHY (EMG)

Records electrical activity

COGNITION 

Cognitive functions, such as level of consciousness, orientation, attention, long and short- term memory, reasoning, and judgment can be impaired in disorders of the central nervous system.

RECEPTIVE APHASIA

If the patient exhibits a diminished ability to receive and interpret verbal or written communication

EXPRESSIVE APHASIA 

has an impaired ability to communicate

his or her needs by speech

MUSCLE TONE

is generally defined as the inherent resistance that is felt when a muscle is passively stretched.

NEUROPLASTICITY

refers to the brain and spinal cord’s ability to adapt and remodel themselves as they learn new behaviors and skills,

MOTOR LEARNING 

which implies that there has been a relatively permanent change in a patient’s ability to perform some type of skill.