Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery

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October 9, 2020 by Angela

The Importance of Nutrition in Concussion Recovery

photo of avocado, salmon and nutsGood nutrition is important for maintenance of mental and physical health. But, nutrition is particularly important when recovering from physical trauma, such as concussion. When an injury, like a concussion, occurs the brain requires extra energy in the form of nutrition to heal the injury.

For a helpful introduction about nutrition to support the recovery process after concussion, Schurig Center invites you to view a guide from the ThinkSmart! Concussion Management Program of St. Charles Hospital in New York called “Nutritional Role in Concussion Management & Recovery.”

[View the document here]


For additional concussion education, check out… ConcussionSmart Marin

Helping to Keep Marin’s Students & Youth Athletes Safe

Image of ConcussionSmart Marin website home pageIn response to the growing concern over the effects of youth concussions, Schurig Center has partnered with other community organizations to form ConcussionSmart Marin – a coalition to design and implement uniform county-wide protocols for educating, reporting and treating concussions among Marin’s students and youth athletes.

ConcussionSmart Marin’s website, ConcussionSmartMarin.org, is a user-friendly information portal providing education about concussions, treatment options, videos, and online training courses for coaches.

The goal of the site is to improve identification of concussions and assist students, parents, teachers, coaches and medical professionals in the evaluation and management process. Coaches can access online training courses established in new California concussion laws, AB25 and AB1451.  In addition, parents can obtain information and a list of valuable questions they can ask their doctor if a child is suspected or has sustained a concussion.

In addition to Schurig Center, ConcussionSmart Marin’s members include:
Kaiser Permanente, The Marin Athletic Foundation, Marin County Office of Education, Marin County School Nurses, Marin County Health and Human Services, Marin General Hospital, Novato Community Hospital, and Certified Athletic Trainers.

[Visit ConcussionSmartMarin.org]

Filed Under: Community Education, Concussion, For Family & Caregivers, For Survivors Tagged With: brain injury recovery, concussion, Concussion Smart Marin, healing, nutrition

September 26, 2018 by Angela

Strategies for Continued Improvement

Improve a little each day quoteGoing home after a long stay in the hospital can be exciting. But it is important to note, recovery may not be complete when inpatient rehabilitation concludes.

You will have learned important strategies during inpatient rehabilitation that will help make the transition from institution to the community safe and successful. It is very important that these techniques be used consistently and reinforced regularly.

And although exciting, leaving the hospital can be challenging for a number of reasons. One of the less obvious reasons is the fact that often a survivor of brain injury feels that he will “be fine once I am home and in my own space.” The exact opposite may be the case. In a less familiar, more structured environment (like a hospital), individuals tend to be more attentive and aware of their surroundings. When a therapist or doctor is observing you, you tend to be focused on the approaches and techniques they taught you. The presence of a nurse, physician or therapist provides “cueing” even if nothing is said.

If the situation at home lacks structure and supervision or does not encourage carryover of the strategies taught during inpatient rehabilitation, there may be a slip back in function and possibly even safety issues.

Once an individual gets home after being hospitalized for a long period, the desire to continue therapy may diminish. Encouraging continued rehabilitative efforts may involve some cheerleading, but it is important that the process continue.

Recommended strategies for optimal performance and continued improvement after leaving the hospital:

Staying consistent with compensatory strategies

You or your loved one will have learned a number of compensatory strategies while in rehabilitation that need to be consistently maintained after leaving the hospital. This may include keeping a set schedule from which the survivor does not waiver. He may also need checklists to complete the morning routine or organizers to plan daily activities and schedule appointments. And it’s crucial that he avoids situations (typically identified during rehabilitation) that trigger undesirable reactions or behaviors. These can include places that are noisy, bright, crowded, hot or cold—or avoiding complex, unfamiliar or new tasks at times when the brain injured person is tired, hungry, hot or cold.

Rest

Regular rest breaks or naps should be a scheduled part of her day. She won’t need excessive sleep, but it’s important to make sure she has scheduled downtime every day. Inadequate sleep or rest can lead to undesirable behavior and/or decreased cognitive function.

Nutrition

Eating a healthy, balanced diet, with adequate fluid intake, is crucial to helping the brain-injured person function at maximal level. Ask your doctor about sugar, caffeine and alcohol use.

Exercise

Regular exercise and activity is an important part of every day. Keeping active is not only good for the body, but the mind and brain. The extent and type of the exercise should be cleared by your physician.

Social contacts, especially with brain-injured peers

Being with people is important for everybody. And for the brain injured individual, it’s particularly important to connect with others who have been through a similar experience. There are support groups, day treatment programs and adaptive courses—many available through local community colleges—that can provide a brain-injured person a structured way to be with other people.

Preventing a secondary injury

In order to prevent a secondary injury, it is important to monitor the brain-injured person’s behavior. She may need to be supervised when engaging in new, unpracticed activities. And, as noted above, she will need to avoid situations that may cause undesired behavior or reactions. She will need to avoid recreational drug and alcohol use.

Accessing answers to questions as they come up

The facility that discharged you home would be the first place to contact when questions arise. If they are unable to answer your questions, ask where they can refer you. This may well be a community based brain injury organization or a state level association. A great deal of general information is available on line.


More helpful information…

Handbook photo

Brain Injury Information Handbook

This article is an excerpt from Schurig Center’s Brain Injury Information Handbook – a guide for patients and families from hospital to home. View and download your free copy of the handbook here for more helpful information to help you navigate the journey to recovery after a brain injury, concussion or stroke.

Resource Referral Assistance

You are not alone. We are here to help! Schurig Center is also pleased to offer referral resource assistance to help support you in your recovery process. Get more information about this service and access our online resource directory here.

Filed Under: For Family & Caregivers, For Survivors Tagged With: aneurysm, brain injury, caregiver, concussion, exercise, handbook, information, Marin, nutrition, recovery, resources, rest, San Francisco Bay Area, Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery, Sonoma, stroke, survivor, tumor

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dba Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery
1132 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, CA 94939
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