BRAIN TRAUMA, CONCUSSION, AND DEMENTIA

Course overview

Nearly every Physical Therapist is well-acquainted with the devastating consequences of brain injuries and dementia. Even so called mild traumatic brain injury can cause protracted neurologic sequelae. Paralysis, motor weakness, spasticity, ataxia, disequilibrium, headaches, fatigue and a host of cognitive and emotional problems can compromise quality of life for many years. Patients and caregivers can become overwhelmed. Tremendous advances in military medicine have been translated into civilian emergency medicine. Acute care in the field, rapid patient transport, aggressive and sophisticated resuscitation and stabilization protocols have enabled thousands of people to survive injuries which would have been fatal 15 years ago. Unfortunately, research has documented a worrisome connection between head trauma and several forms of dementia. This seminar, Brain Trauma, Concussion and Dementia, is designed to help Physical Therapists enhance their knowledge and understanding of neurologic injury, thereby improving the care of these devastated patients