Physiotherapy for the Acute Management of Traumatic Brain Injury: An Information Package.

Compiled by: Leanne Hassett
Senior Physiotherapist, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit

The physiotherapists at the three Sydney metropolitan Brain Injury Rehabilitation Units have collaborated to develop this information package- Westmead Hospital, Liverpool Health Service; and The Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney.

The purpose is to provide information regarding physiotherapy management for people with traumatic brain injury in the acute care setting. It is not intended to be a definitive guide to physiotherapy in traumatic brain injury and does not include advice for acute cardiorespiratory and orthopaedic physiotherapy management. 

The package has developed out of the commonly asked questions that we receive from other hospitals regarding the physiotherapy management of this population, and from our experience with secondary preventable complications that some patients present to our rehabilitation units with.

The package is based on the current practice at the three adult Sydney-metropolitan Brain Injury Rehabilitation Units and on the physiotherapists' experience. A reference list has been included, but is not exhaustive. 

Chapter topics include:

• Prevention of Contracture 

• Serial Casting

• Dysautonomia 
• Positioning 
• Standing on a tilt table 
• Heterotopic ossification 
• Shoulder care 
• Management of the confused/agitated patient

If you have further questions regarding the information in the
package please contact Leanne Hassett at the BIRU
Phone: (02) 9826 4744 

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