How do occupational therapists treat brachial plexus injury?
Interventions might include:
- Range of motion exercises and stretching.
- Splinting.
- Joint compression and weight bearing to facilitate muscle contraction.
- Bilateral motor planning activities.
- Facilitating optimal alignment in the shoulder and scapula to promote smooth movement in all directions.
- Aquatic therapy when indicated.
How do you rehab a brachial plexus injury?
Treatment for a brachial plexus injury will include:
- Maintaining mobility of the affected areas through passive and active range of motion.
- Regaining and promoting strength through active exercise.
- Utilize modalities such as acupuncture to calm the nervous system and reduce pain.
How long does it take to recover from brachial plexus injury?
Brachial Plexus Injury Recovery Nerves grow at about one inch per month, so it may take several months before the first signs of recovery are apparent. Recovery progresses from muscles of the shoulder, to those of the arm, and finally the hand.
Do brachial plexus injuries heal?
Many injuries to the brachial plexus will recover spontaneously without surgery over a period of weeks to months, especially if they are mild. Nerve injuries that heal on their own tend to have better functional outcomes.
How do you treat brachial plexus neuropathy?
Treatment of patients with acute brachial plexus neuritis includes analgesics, often narcotics (e.g., hydrocodone), which may be required for several weeks, physical therapy for three to eight weeks to help maintain strength and mobility, and encouragement that the condition will slowly improve in the vast majority of …
How do you decompress a brachial plexus?
Brachial Plexus Decompression and Neurolysis When a nerve is compressed but otherwise intact, a decompression surgery can help relieve the pressure on the nerve and address related symptoms and loss of function.
What position is most commonly associated with brachial plexus injuries?
Brachial Plexus Injury Often presents as an ulnar nerve sensory deficit, most commonly associated with abduction > 90 degrees, lateral rotation of the head, sternal retraction, or trauma to the nerves themselves. In non-cardiac surgery, the incidence is only 0.02% [Cooper et.