Neurological Rehabilitation
Helping you move forward from diseases, conditions and injuries affecting your nervous system
Contact Us
Neurological Therapy Services
When a medical condition or injury affects your nervous system, things that were once easy for you may become more challenging. You might have problems with movement, balance or coordination, for example. Or, maybe you notice that your muscles are weaker, or your sensations have dulled. These problems make everyday life more difficult.
Neurological Rehabilitation (neuro rehab) at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is here to help. As part of rehabilitation services, we work with you to reduce your symptoms and enable you to function better. Our goal is to help you live as fully as possible with your condition and have the best possible quality of life.
At BIDMC, we offer inpatient and outpatient neurological therapy. Physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists may be part of your medical team. They work closely with specialists from neurology and neurosurgery and other experts to provide your care.
More About Neurological Rehabilitation
Our therapists may help you in the hospital when you have a condition that affects your nervous system:
- Balance
- Brain’s ability to receive or process information from your senses
- Coordination
- Endurance
- Thinking ability
- Voluntary movement
If you have a spinal cord or head injury, for example, you may have limited ability to move. Your therapists may recommend adaptive call bells to summon your nurse or other helpful tools to promote independence. If you have a brain injury, therapists may focus on helping your behaviors.
Therapists teach you how to compensate for decreased abilities. They also work to help you participate in meaningful activities. Ultimately, the goal of therapy is to help you function as well as possible. This will allow you to transfer to another center for more rehabilitation. In some cases, you might be able to return home from the hospital. If so, you can receive additional therapy there or as an outpatient at a private facility.
Neuromotor Development Training
A condition such as a stroke can cause you to lose control of arm, leg or trunk movement. It may also cause you to lose the ability to know where your arm or leg is in space and lead to tremors or spasms. We can help you regain use of your limbs. Treatments include weight-bearing exercises. We may also use devices, such as splints or slings, to help you position your limbs properly. Neuromotor training can be an important part of stroke rehabilitation.
We offer outpatient care and services for many conditions. Therapists evaluate you and design a treatment program around your needs. Your treatment is likely to include:
- Advice about helpful equipment.
- Communication with your doctor.
- Exercises for strength, coordination, flexibility and balance.
- Instructions in a home exercise program.
Balance & Fall Prevention
If you have poor balance or fall frequently, our therapists can help find the cause of your problem. Then, they work with you to create a plan to help.
Falls may be linked to age, medications and obstacles in your environment. During your first visit, we test your balance and neurological function. We evaluate your:
- Coordination
- Flexibility
- Sensation (how you sense and feel the placement of your feet)
- Reflexes
- Strength
- Vestibular or inner ear function
- Vision
We also consider factors such as poor lighting and obstacles such as furniture or area rugs. We take note of environmental factors such as crowds, noise or curbs that can increase the risk of a fall, too.
You don't need to have fallen to be at risk for an injury. The fear of falling can cause you to avoid activities, leading to loss of strength or flexibility. This loss of strength can actually increase the risk of falling.
In addition to suggesting exercises for you, we may offer advice about home safety changes. We may also offer shoe recommendations.
Vestibular or Inner Ear Issues
Problems with your inner ear may cause dizziness, vertigo, nausea, unsteadiness or impaired balance. Often, these problems severely limit your day-to-day activities.
During your first visit, we will evaluate your balance, gait and function. We also do tests that may provoke dizziness, nausea or a spinning feeling. Once we have a diagnosis, we design a treatment program to minimize your symptoms. We work to improve your balance and stability. This may include certain movements or exercise to retrain your central nervous system or improve your sense of balance.
Sometimes, we can treat an inner ear problem and educate you about a home program in just one or two visits.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Our PTs and OTs strive to offer you the best therapies to manage MS. We work closely with physicians at the Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders Clinic to create a personalized treatment program. We can help you improve movement, build endurance and reduce fatigue by learning to pace activity. We can also help your general well-being and mood. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed or had a relapse or exacerbation, you may benefit from multiple sclerosis (MS) physical therapy.
Parkinson's Disease
We provide expert care for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. Our therapists work side-by-side with other members of your medical team to help you live life to the fullest.
The Movement Disorders Center is a multidisciplinary outpatient program. It’s where we diagnose and treat a variety of conditions:
- Chorea
- Drug-induced movement disorders
- Dyskinesias
- Dystonia
- Gait disorders
- Parkinsonian syndromes
- Spasticity
- Tic disorders
- Tremors
We evaluate your symptoms during your first visit and help you manage them. This may include exercises to improve your breathing muscles.
