How a TBI Affects Motor Skills
We tend to think of our brain as primarily a cognitive tool, controlling our reasoning, memory, decision-making and other thought processes. But the brain also handles many of our physical functions. When you suffer any type of traumatic brain injury, the short-term and long-term consequences can be physical, as well as mental.
How Does a TBI Impact Your Physical Functioning?
Your brain controls most bodily movement through neural networks. When you have a traumatic brain injury, those connections can be damaged or destroyed. Among the common physical manifestations of a traumatic brain injury are:
- Headaches—It’s natural, when you’ve had trauma to the brain, for your body to respond with pain signals. That can be a sign of bruising or tearing, but it can also stem from swelling or inflammation, which can be far more dangerous
- Mobility and movement problems—You may find it difficult to make certain movements or you may only be able to do them very slowly
- Balance issues, dizziness or vertigo—This may result from changes in your vestibular system, the canals in your ear that help control balance. It may also be caused by interference with the neural pathways that control bodily movement and balance.
- Spasticity—A common malady after a TBI is a sudden clenching or contraction of some of your muscles, which may simply limit your range of motion or may cause significant pain
- Ataxia—This condition is characterized by a sudden loss of control of any of the muscles in your body, which can affect speech, continence or balance, among other things
- Aphasia or speech problems—This is typically caused by disruption of the neural pathway that controls the muscles in your jaw, or that connects thought with speech. The loss of control may take the form of epileptic fits or seizures, where your whole body is affected.
- Impairment of any of your five senses—A traumatic brain injury can diminish or destroy your ability to taste, smell, see, hear or feel.
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.
