Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) happen when brain tissue is damaged, bruised, torn, or otherwise injured, usually by physical force like a car accident or a fall. The effects of a TBI can last for years or even a lifetime, and range from mild to debilitating.
Damaged brain tissue becomes inflamed, blocking oxygen and nutrients from getting to brain cells. Without oxygen, the cells can’t heal and they start to downregulate. This can lead to a pretty long list of ongoing symptoms like headaches, vertigo, and deficits in working memory, executive function, spatial awareness, and attention- all of which can negatively impact someone’s ability to function and enjoy life.
New TBI Rehabilitation Treatments
Conventional treatment of TBIs often includes physical and cognitive therapies, lifestyle changes, and sometimes pain medication, depending on the severity of symptoms. As the popularity of treatments like Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT) gain traction, research is beginning to show these methods as valuable tools in healing, not just for TBIs, but also strokes, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Traumatic Brain Injuries
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is known for improving a wide variety of conditions, and TBIs are no exception. In an HBOT session, patients are placed in a chamber where they breathe pressurized oxygen through a mask. The body absorbs the extra oxygen, helping to reduce inflammation, increase circulation, repair damaged tissue, generate stem cells, and support capillary growth, bringing nutrients in and waste products out of affected areas, even after treatments have stopped. By supporting the body’s ability to heal itself, HBOT can speed up the recovery process in any part of the body, including the brain.
Brain cells are highly metabolic, meaning they require a lot of oxygen to function. When an area is damaged, and inflammation occurs, that inflammation prevents the flow of oxygen and the cells start to downregulate- sort of like how your computer goes into “power down” mode when the battery is low and it doesn’t have a source of power.
By delivering extra oxygen to areas that have been hypoxic (a state of reduced oxygen), those cells can start to heal. This process of tissue repair has been seen in MRIs in stroke patients using HBOT. As tissue repairs, patients see improvements in neuroplasticity, memory, vascular healing, and quality of life.
As a traumatic brain injury treatment, studies have shown that HBOT significantly improves cognitive function, memory, executive function, verbal fluency, and emotional and behavioral symptoms for as long as 10 years after the injury. Patients also showed improved sleep, increased energy, and reduced fatigue.
Vibroacoustic Therapy Helps Heal Brain Tissue
We know that music is good for our brains, but even the vibrations of sound can help heal damaged tissue and regain function after a TBI.
Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT) is a therapeutic treatment using sound vibrations at low frequencies (between 30 and 120 Hz) streaming through a table, mat, or pillow, and into your body. At these low frequencies, you can feel the sound rather than only hearing it, which benefits a variety of conditions, including chronic pain, depression, and anxiety. The vibrations help relax the nervous system, stimulate tissue, improve circulation, and reduce stress and anxiety. VAT can be a treatment on its own or in conjunction with other modalities, like acupuncture. Studies show that VAT combined with acupuncture can be 80% effective in patients who suffer from limb spasticity after a stroke.
The movement of sound waves stimulates blood flow, sending nutrients to the brain that are necessary to repair tissue. This process enhances neuroplasticity and speeds up recovery time, potentially reducing reliance on pain medication and increasing overall quality of life.
Because of its ability to support healing, VAT can be valuable in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation treatments, benefiting neurological conditions like Parkinson’s, stroke, cerebral palsy, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and even slowing the effects of Alzheimer’s. By calming the nervous system, VAT helps reduce the stress and anxiety that stands in the way of healing. Many patients report that the relaxing effects of VAT help them get better sleep, which helps support the body’s ability to repair itself.
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury and want to know if Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or Vibroacoustic Therapy can help supplement your treatments, schedule a consult to learn more!
