Brain Injury Rehabilitation

We draw on the knowledge of an experienced team of brain injury specialists to address the range of medical, physical, functional and emotional issues you face.

This interdisciplinary team is led by a physiatrist, a physician board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and includes rehabilitation nurses; physical, occupational, speech and recreation therapists; neuropsychologists; dietitians; case managers; and other clinical and support staff, as needed.

Family members are a part of the care team, too. It’s important for your family to be involved in your therapy sessions, and to learn about your condition and how to support you on the path to recovery.

Treatment is carefully integrated and tailored to your specific needs and goals. Depending on how you have been impacted by your injury, we will help:

• Maximize alertness and responsiveness
• Improve sleep/wake cycles
• Develop new cognitive, communication and behavioral strategies
• Improve physical function, balance and mobility
• Manage pain and spasticity
• Improve vision, speech and/or swallowing difficulties
• Enhance the skills needed to perform daily activities
• Overcome psychological and social challenges
• Return home and resume work, school or community activities with as much confidence and independence as possible

UF Health Rehab Hospital works closely with you, your family and the referring hospital to ensure a smooth transition to our program.

Here, you will benefit from a minimum of three hours per day of physical, occupational and/or speech therapies, five days a week. The skills and strategies you learn in therapy will be reinforced by your nursing team.

Treatments include:

• Mobility skill training such as transfers, standing and/or walking
• Strengthening exercises for arms and legs, along with the assistance of robotic equipment
• Tactics to improve communication, swallowing or vision difficulties
• Daily living activities including dressing, feeding and bathing
• Strategies to improve memory, concentration, judgment and problem solving
• Medication management
• Caregiver education and training

At the appropriate time, we’ll coordinate your discharge, help arrange for equipment and provide access to community resources that may be available to you. Our goal, like yours, is for you to move forward with as much independence and confidence as possible.