Physical Therapy at NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida

NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida is the premier provider of innovative post-acute rehabilitation in the Southeast United States.
Our Clients include individuals who have sustained catastrophic injuries resulting from the following kinds of occurrences:
● Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
● Mild brain injuries (MBI)
● Multiple trauma
● Post-traumatic stress syndrome
● Spinal cord injuries (SCI)
● Neurologic injuries
● Catastrophic injuries from other causes

An integral part of the post-acute rehabilitation delivered by NeuLife Rehab is physical therapy. Individuals may think that physical therapy is used only in the later stages of acute care and only with post-acute rehabilitation from broken bones and injuries to the musculature. Physical therapy is used in the post-acute rehabilitation of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), mild brain injuries (MBI) and other catastrophic injuries. Physical therapy is often begun when an individual has been stabilized after acute care. Yet, it is not until the post-acute rehabilitation stage at a facility like NeuLife Rehab that physical therapy becomes such an integral part of an individual’s Client Goal Plan. NeuLife consistently provides the highest standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant services to achieve successful, sustained outcomes. Physical therapy is a vital part of attaining this goal and to rehabilitating our Client to the fullest extent that his or her physical and cognitive abilities allow.

Physical therapy often includes exercise, especially for individuals who have been immobilized (such as in a wheelchair) or who lack flexibility. A catastrophic injury like a spinal cord injury (SCI) could cause immobility, as could a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or even a mild brain injury (MBI) that hampers mobility. Physical therapy is also useful to improve strength, balance and coordination, all of which can be implicated in a catastrophic injury such as a stroke. When a traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs, multiple body systems can be implicated, so the importance of physical therapy and physical therapists is heightened.
Many modalities of physical therapy are standard, but the manner, frequency, and goals with and for which NeuLife Rehab employs them are innovative. The utilization of them is geared to the specific catastrophic injury sustained. Our multidisciplinary team of professionals monitor the progress of the Client and convenes regularly to modify aspects of care, including physical therapy. The end-game is to prepare our Client for transition from post-acute rehabilitation at NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida to independence, however, independence may be defined based upon the type and degree of the Client’s catastrophic injury.

With specific respect to physical therapy, a Client’s personalized Client Goal Plan may prescribe a regimen of physical therapy to facilitate the attainment of one or more of these goals:

● Improved range of motion (ROM). Range of motion usually decreases after a stroke or prolonged bed rest for other reasons. It can cause pain, skin breakdown, and muscle atrophy
● Muscle-strengthening exercises. Many forms of exercise increase muscle strength. All involve using progressively increased resistance. When a muscle is very weak, movement against gravity alone is sufficient. As muscle strength increases, resistance is gradually increased by using stretchy bands or weights. In this way, muscle size (mass) and strength are increased, and endurance improves.
● Coordination and balance exercises. These can help people who have problems with coordination and balance, such as due to a stroke, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or a mild brain injury (MBI) do specific tasks. The exercises involve repeating a meaningful movement that works more than one joint and muscle, such as picking up an object or touching a body part.
● Ambulation (walking) exercises. Walking may be the ultimate goal to be achieved by physical therapy during post-acute rehabilitation at NeuLife Rehab. Before starting ambulation exercises a Client must be able to balance while standing. To improve balance, he or she usually hold onto parallel bars and shift weight from side to side and from front to back. To keep them safe, the therapist stands in front of or behind them. Some Clients need to improve a joint’s range of motion or muscle strength before they start ambulation exercises. Some need an orthotic device such as a brace.

When an individual becomes a Client of NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida, he or she undergoes an independent functional evaluation administered by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals that may consist of:

● Board Certified Neurologist
● Board Certified Behavior Analyst
● Board Certified Physiatrist
● Neuropsychologist
● Psychologist
● Board Certified Psychiatrist
● Speech Language Pathologist/Cognitive Therapist
● Physical Therapist
● Occupational Therapist
● Nurses
● Certified Rehab Counselor

From the results of the independent functional evaluation, the professionals of NeuLife Rehab formulate a Client Goal Plan. The Client Goal Plan guides the clinically relevant services delivered by NeuLife Rehab. The Client Goal Plan guides the cognitive, psychiatric, neurologic, psychological and neuropsychological therapy of the Client. The goal of NeuLife Rehab’s innovative post-acute rehabilitation is the attainment for our Clients of independence to the fullest extent that his or her physical and mental abilities permit.

NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida consistently provides the highest standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant services to achieve successful, sustained outcomes and exceed the expectations of all persons served.

Proper and timely post-acute rehabilitation that may determine the difference between disability and independence is what NeuLife refers to as the “platinum post-acute period” —  the crucial window following acute care that is needed to nurture the whole person to health with specialized, clinically relevant services.
NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is an accessible residential post-acute program providing specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury
(TBI), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Amputations, Burns and other Catastrophic Injuries and Challenging Diagnoses.