Neurological Rehabilitation Services in Staten Island, NY
Living with a neurological condition can be difficult. Whether dealing with a degenerative disease like Parkinson’s disease or adjusting to new disabilities after a stroke, a person may find that their life is significantly impacted – including their mobility and cognitive ability.
Richmond University Medical Center helps patients adjust to life with a neurological condition through our neurological rehabilitation program. Offered from our Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center in Staten Island, New York, our program is designed to provide relief from symptoms while increasing the patient’s everyday function and quality of life. Patients receive personalized treatment from a multi-specialty team with a commitment to compassion so they can feel at ease while working with us.
What Is Neurological Rehabilitation?
Neurological rehabilitation is a long-term treatment plan for patients who have or are recovering from a neurological disease. Rather than treating the condition directly, rehabilitation aims to improve the patient’s well-being while living with the disease. Neurological rehabilitation at Richmond University Medical Center has three goals:
- Reduce debilitating symptoms
- Increase function
- Improve the quality of life
The type of treatments recommended can vary depending on the patient’s condition, its symptoms, and the parts of the body affected. They may be offered in an inpatient or outpatient setting, taking advantage of our state-of-the-art care center for access to cutting-edge techniques and equipment.
Parkinson’s Disease Rehabilitation
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition that occurs when cells in the basal ganglia die off, which is the part of the brain responsible for controlling movement. It also produces dopamine: a neurotransmitter that fine-tunes motor signals. As more and more cells die, the loss of brain matter and increasing dopamine deficiency result in lost mobility.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear slowly and increase over months or years. In late stages, they can have a debilitating effect on the patient’s life. Symptoms include:
- Tremors, especially in the hands and fingers
- Slowed or reduced movement, also called bradykinesia
- Muscle rigidity and soreness
- Stooped or hunched posture
- Loss of balance, leading to frequent falls
- Reduced automatic movements, like blinking or smiling
- Slow, monotone, or slurred speech
- Changes in bowel or bladder behavior
- Loss of sense of smell
- Low blood pressure
- Persistent fatigue
- Memory problems
- Depression and anxiety
Richmond University Medical Center offers specialized Parkinson’s rehabilitation services. Our aim is to slow down the disease’s development while helping patients manage their symptoms for an improved quality of life. Treatment plans are personalized and change with the patient’s needs, helping us provide the best possible care at every stage.
Stroke Rehabilitation
A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the brain becomes oxygen-deprived, leading to cell death. It is most often caused by a blood clot that stops blood flow to the brain. In other cases, stroke is caused by major bleeding into the brain, which puts damaging pressure on brain cells.
Strokes can be fatal without immediate medical intervention at a dedicated stroke care center. Even after successful treatment, severe strokes cause significant brain damage that may lead to long-term disability. Each patient’s symptoms are different and have a unique impact on their life after a stroke. Some common ones include:
- Difficulty understanding speech, or aphasia
- Slurred or garbled speech, or dysarthria
- Blurred, blackened, or double vision
- Numbness or paralysis in one area of the body
- Loss of muscle coordination, or ataxia
- Cognitive loss and confusion
- Agitated behavior
- Unpredictable mood swings
- Personality changes
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Memory loss
- Chronic severe headaches
- Changes in bowel or bladder behavior
Stroke rehabilitation should start as soon as possible after treatment to facilitate a full recovery. At Richmond University Medical Center, patients receive an individualized treatment plan that takes their unique symptoms into account. We aim to help the patient manage and improve their condition while adjusting to life after a stroke.
Neurological Rehabilitation Therapy Services in Staten Island, NY
When patients visit Richmond University Medical Center for neurological rehabilitation, our care team begins with an evaluation of the patient’s condition. They then work with the patient and their family to understand the desired outcomes for rehabilitation. All care plans are personalized, taking the patient’s symptoms and goals into account for the best possible outcomes. We employ a variety of proven approaches to achieve these goals, including:
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is an important part of neurological rehabilitation. Neurological conditions like stroke and Parkinson’s disease often limit a patient’s physical ability. Licensed physical therapists guide patients through exercises to restore or maintain their strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance.
Physical therapy exercises are specifically designed for the condition they treat. For example, constraint-induced and range-of-motion exercises are used to improve mobility and combat stiffness after a stroke. Meanwhile, patients with Parkinson’s disease are encouraged to make big movements to counteract the effects of bradykinesia and hypokinesia. Targeted exercises also help to slow the disease’s progress, helping patients keep their mobility longer.
Occupational Therapy
Though physical therapy is often effective, it cannot always fully restore a patient’s ability. This is especially true for patients with Parkinson’s, which is a progressive disease with no true cure. The patient will need to learn how to live comfortably with their condition.
Occupational therapy focuses on helping patients maintain quality of life despite the symptoms caused by Parkinson’s or a stroke. Patients relearn how to complete necessary tasks related to work, self-care, and leisure activities. They may also learn compensatory techniques to work around complications caused by their condition. This can include using assistive devices, like text-to-speech communicators or mobility aids, to navigate everyday situations.
Speech-Language Pathology
Speech is among the functions most commonly affected by neurological conditions. Whether the patient has aphasia after a stroke or struggles to move their mouth correctly due to Parkinson’s, they may find it difficult to communicate with friends and loved ones.
Richmond University Medical Center offers speech-language pathology to keep patients connected. Facial exercises improve strength and control in mouth muscles, and picture matching helps combat the effects of aphasia. Lee Silverman Voice Treatment, or LSVT LOUD, is a technique developed for Parkinson’s patients to help them maintain volume and prevent slurred speech. We also educate families in ways to better understand and communicate with their loved ones.
Begin Neurological Rehabilitation at Richmond University Medical Center
If you or a loved one is struggling with Parkinson’s disease, the aftermath of a stroke, or another neurological condition, do not wait to begin neurological rehabilitation. Richmond University Medical Center delivers high-quality, compassionate treatment to help patients live fulfilling lives. Our rehabilitation center is state-of-the-art and offers highlights such as:
- Multi-specialty care: Patients work with a varied team of specialists, including rehab physicians, neurologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and more.
- Cutting-edge treatments: We employ the latest in research-driven treatments, including LSVT LOUD techniques, to help patients achieve the best treatment outcomes.
- Personalized plans: All treatment plans are individualized to the patient. We work with them and their family to address their specific situations and set realistic goals.
Richmond University Health Center is located in Staten Island, NY, offering treatment to patients throughout the region. Contact us today at (718)-818-3163 to schedule an appointment or to speak with a member of our neurological rehabilitation team about the treatments and benefits we provide.
