Recovery of Function

Question 1

Recovery of function

Answer 1

redeveloping motor skills lost from a previous CNS insult

• Complete recovery requires function at the same level as before the injury
• Usually recovery is modified compared to previous performance

Question 2

Spontaneous Recovery

Answer 2

Immediately post CNS injury, function and neuronal repair occurs that was lost from the insult
- Denervation super sensitivity:After the brain suffers from tissue damage

Question 3

Denervation super sensitivity:

Answer 3

After brain suffers from tissue damage i.e. edema, blood outside the vessels, etc. hypersensitivity occurs in the postsynaptic membrane of nerves

• Results in reduced synaptic efficiency
• Increased damage to remote brain structure
• Blood flow changes that add to remote injury (ischemic or blood outside vessels)

Question 4

INjury related cortical reorganization

Answer 4

Recognized through reduced hypersensitivity of involved areas
-Evident as edema is present or worsening ( for a few weeks) the patient has decreased function. Function returns as swelling decreased ( at 3 to4 weeks approximately)

Question 5

Self- fulfilling prophecy:

Answer 5

Patient may feel the damage is permanent. Therapists can inform pt that neuroplasticity (brain can change and repair itself) can be present even in older people. Strongest in the young, slower in the aged adult.
-Neural regeneration can occur with both nerve growth and activation of areas previously dormant.

Question 6

Cortical remapping vs. Parallel cortical maps:

Answer 6

The brain has multiple overlapping pathways for function

• Under-utilized pathways can take over function (remapping)
• CNS back up pathways are activated (parallel maps)

Question 7

Substitution:

Answer 7

Large areas of the brain that are reprogrammed for needed functions i.e. person becomes blind and increases hearing ability for navigation)

Question 8

Function Induced recovery-

Answer 8

CNS repairs itself in response to needed activity changes and in response to the environment

• Differ in terms of the norm through the need for increase in intensity and frequency of task practice required to result in neuroplasticity.
• Contraint induced movement therapy

Question 9

Contraint induced movement therapy

Answer 9

Taub experiment, now multiple researchers and clinicians have done published studies.