According to BrainandSpinalCord.org, brain injuries are categorized as either traumatic brain injuries or acquired brain injuries. Acquired brain injuries occur at the cellular level and affect cells throughout the brain. A traumatic brain injury occurs when an external force damages the brain. Depending on the severity of the injury, the individual can lose coordination, sensory perception and have numbness in the extremities.Your doctor might recommend some leg exercise to help improve your balance and coordination, maintain and strengthen the muscles in your lower extremities, increase your range of motion and prevent musculoskeletal damage.
Balance and Coordination Exercise
Loss of coordination and balance are symptoms typically associated with a brain injury, so your doctor or physical therapist might recommend an exercise program to improve your balance, coordination and reflexes. Your physical therapist also might recommend a balance exercise known as the crawthorn head exercise. Begin this exercise by lying on your back. Roll over on both sides and return to the starting position. Stand up and begin to turn to your right and left side.While sitting, begin to turn your head clockwise and counterclockwise. Practicing balance exercises recommended by your physical therapist will build confidence, promote independence and help improve your balance and coordination.
Leg Rotation Range of Motion Exercise
Your physical therapist might recommend some range of motion exercises to maintain flexibility and movement in your legs. These exercises also lengthen stiff or tight muscles as well as ligaments and tendons, all of which are essential for maintaining the normal range of motion in your legs. Lie on your back with both legs extended. Place one hand on the upper portion of your thigh and place the other hand behind that thigh. Gently roll that leg to the right and left side and hold for 10 seconds when you reach the apex of each rotation. Repeat this exercise on the other leg as many times.
Straight Leg Raise
Another range of motion exercise that your physical therapist might recommend to maintain strength and flexibility in the legs is a straight leg raise. Begin this exercise by lying on your back with both legs extended in front of you and slightly apart. Place both hands under the thigh of your right leg and bring that leg straight up. Continue to bring that leg toward your chest, ensuring that your knees remain straight.. Hold this position for 10 seconds and slowly lower your leg to the starting position. Repeat with your other leg.
Biking or Pedaling
To further improve your balance and coordination, your physical therapist might recommend exercising on a bike or pedaler. This maintains the strength and tone of the muscles in the legs. It strengthens the muscles that are utilized in walking and helps to develop a greater amount of leg coordination and strength. If you have not progressed to standing yet, your physical therapist might begin with a table tilt. A table tilt is used to acclimatize your legs to bearing the weight of your body. Your physical therapist will start by strapping you to a table. The table is then tilted to a 90-degree angle for a determined period. This helps to strengthen the muscles of your legs and bear the weight of your body.
References
- BrainandSpinalCord.org: Causes of Brain Injury
- National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Strokes: Traumatic Brain Injury
- Disabled-World.com:Traumatic Brain Injury
- "Traumatic Brain Injury: Rehabilitative Treatment and Case Management"; Mark J. Ashley; 2004
- The Brain Injury Recovery Network: Therapies That Work
- Sci-Info-Pages.com; Spinal Cord Injury Range of Motion Exercises; October 2009
