Neuro-Rehabilitation Program: Diagnosis & Treatment with Neuro-Rehabilitation

Overview

Neurorehabilitation is a combination of interventions that help a patient to fully or partially recover after neurological injury or disease. The Neurorehabilitation program team at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Neurological Institute has specific clinical expertise that focuses on helping individuals recover their maximum functional potential through a tailored, patients first approach.

The Neurorehabilitation program offers inpatient and outpatient care to adults, starting with those aged 14 years and older. At present, inpatient neurorehabilitation (care for patients who have been admitted to the hospital) is offered based on referral in ICU and Acute Care Unit. Patients discharged from the hospital may be referred to post-acute inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, or home health care and/or any other facilities based on their clinical needs. Patients are also followed up in the Outpatient Neurorehabilitation program.

What We Treat

Patients with the following conditions may require neurorehabilitation. Therapy services aim to provide early intervention to prevent deterioration, restore impairments and promote function.

Stroke: A medical emergency in which part or parts of the brain are deprived of blood supply, leaving them without oxygen and nutrients. After a few minutes, brain cells can die, causing functional loss.
Multiple sclerosis (MS): A condition in which the immune system attacks the outer protective lining of brain and spinal cord nerves. This causes issues with nerve communication that can leave the patient physically and mentally disabled if the condition is not properly managed.
Parkinson’s disease: A degenerative nervous system disorder that affects the motor system (which controls movement). It can start gradually with minor shaking or trembling and progress to cause stiffness, slowing of movement, and speech problems that usually worsen over time.
Neuromuscular disorders: Neuromuscular diseases can be debilitating, often progressive, and sometimes fatal causing difficulties such as weakness, paralysis, sensory loss, paresthesia, and pain.
Cerebral palsy: A neurological disorder affecting motor skills, muscle tone, and body movement. This condition can be present at birth or be caused by brain damage that happens in the first three to five years of life.

The Neurorehabilitation program also offers treatment to patients suffering from other neurodevelopmental disabilities, vestibular dysfunction, spinal cord dysfunction, cognitive impairment, or upper or lower limb paralysis or weakness due to any other neurological condition.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosis with Neurorehabilitation

On entering the Neurorehabilitation program, each patient is fully assessed by the nursing team and a consultant physician. Next, the physician refers the patient for a more detailed assessment by the appropriate specialists in the fields of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or speech and language pathology/therapy.

Results are reviewed by the multidisciplinary team to determine if any additional tests are needed and to tailor a treatment plan for the patient. The team then discusses the treatment plan, which is always based on the patient’s specific goals, with the patient and family members. Treatment goals and plans are jointly established with the patient.

Treatment with Neurorehabilitation

After the treatment plan has been designed, specialized caregivers in the following areas begin to provide treatment to achieve their goals:

Physical therapy (PT): Aims to improve impairments related to physical movements, such as gait, balance, postural control and vestibular function etc. PT in neuro rehabilitation may be indicated following an injury or neurological condition and is part of a wider comprehensive neuro rehabilitation treatment plan.
Occupational therapy (OT): Aims to improve function in everyday tasks, by promoting independence where possible. OT addresses underlying causes of functional loss such as muscle weakness, strength and cognition that affects daily living. OTs train patients in techniques for daily function and to navigate their home and work environment.
Speech and language therapy: Aims to improve swallowing and or communication difficulties that may arise.

Progress on achieving treatment goals is carefully monitored and shared with the patient and family. Patients and families are taught self-management techniques and therapeutic exercises and adaptive strategies.

Patients are discharged from the Neurorehabilitation program when all goals have been achieved, a different level of care is required, or when no further improvement is noted in response to all appropriate interventions.