Life after an ABI – Acquired Brain Injury
It is difficult to predict who could be affected by an aquired brain injury or how life will be afterwards. An injury to the brain may occur at any time during your life and can lead to life-changing consequences. In this article, we will go deeper into the meaning of ABI and how Mollii can help.
Content
- What is an acquired brain injury?
- How is life affected by brain damage?
- Recovery with Mollii
Acquired brain injury
An acquired brain injury is an injury to the brain, which is not congenital. Such an injury can occur in many different ways and affect anyone in all stages of life. Examples of common causes include violence against the head, stroke, tumors, infection-related injuries and oxygen deficiency. In Sweden, about 70,000 people are suffering from a brain injury every year. It is difficult to know in advance how a person will recover after an acquired brain injury. If the injury occurs late in life, when the brain is fully developed, the recovery process will tell which functions and skills have been affected. When an acquired brain injury affects children, where the brain is still under development, it may take several years before you discover what the consequences are. The recovery process seems to be easier when basic skills and funcions have already been developed.
How is life affected by brain injury?
When the brain is damaged, it can affect both physical, cognitive and psychosocial functions. Each brain injury is unique and lead to individual consequences. Consequences of an brain injury depends on the injury severity, the cause and which parts of the brain that have been damaged. A brain injury often involves great strains for both the affected and the people in its vicinity. Since the brain controls many of the body’s central functions, it is possible that the injury will affect several different body functions, both visibly and concealed.
- Hidden consequences – It is common for people who suffered an acquired brain injury that there may be no outward physical signs of injury. These can, for example, express themselves as impaired sensitivity, fatigue, difficulty in concentrating and memory, headaches or as social problems. These mainly affect the psychic mood and can be difficult for others to notice, therefore these consequences are called hidden.
- Visible consequences – In this context, we mean the consequences that affect the physical body, they are often easier for others to see and are therefore called visible. These can , for example, be impaired motor skills and balance, muscle weakness or paralysis, spasticity with consequential pain, and inability to coordinate or plan movements. It can then be difficult to walk, dress or hold a glass of water.
Individuals affected by an aquired brain injury may, depending on the extent of the consequences, find it difficult to return to the same activities as before the injury. But with the help of custom rehabilitation and with the right support, one can improve everyday life and learn to handle or compensate for the symptoms of the brain damage.
Recovery with Mollii
The rehabilitation process after an acquired brain injury can be very stressful, both for the affected and its relatives. But with the right help, there is no limit to the recovery of the affected. Our unique suit Mollii alleviates the symptoms of a variety of neurological injuries and diseases that have arisen as a result of acquired brain injury, CP, spinal cord injury, stroke and MS.
Mollii, our electronic suit consisting of a pair of pants, a jacket and a removable control unit, is used one hour every second day. The positive effects of stimulating the muscles with low frequency electric current give you increased control over your body and contribute to higher quality of life. Our goal is that you should be able to do things that were obvious before the brain injury.
Read more about Mollii or contact us to find out more about how we can help you!
