What Is Neuroplasticity? Why Is It Important When You’ve Suffered a Head Injury?
When you’ve sustained any type of blow or bump to the head, whether you simply “had your bell rung” or you fractured your skull or had an open head wound, one of your primary concerns will be your ability and prognosis for a return to your pre-injury mental and physical health. How realistic is that? Can your body completely heal, so that, for all practical purposes, it’s as if you never had the accident?
Do Brain Cells Heal the Same Way Other Body Cells Do?
No. Unlike many other cells in your body, such as the tissues in your skin and in some large organs, your brain cells do not have the capacity to heal themselves or to grow replacement cells. Fortunately, the average adult brain has about 60 trillion neuronal connections. Through a process known as “neuroplasticity,” your brain can create new pathways or networks to replace those that have been damaged or lost because of a TBI.
What Are the Keys to Activating the Power of Neuroplasticity in Your Brain?
Documented research indicates that there are three primary factors that help your brain use neuroplasticity to create new neural connections: your experiences, your environment and any new learning that you have. To get the most out of neuroplasticity, the medical professionals you work with will focus on:
- Specificity-You’ll have exercises and learning that target clearly identified tasks
- Repetition-The more times you repeat a learning, the greater the likelihood that you’ll develop a new neural connection to make that knowledge permanent
- Intensity-As with anything, the more you push yourself, the greater the potential to restore mental and physical capacity
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with individuals who suffer any type of concussion, TBI or traumatic brain injury. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas and San Antonio.