Best Exercises for Brachial Plexus Injury
Brachial plexus injuries
significantly impact the function and mobility of the upper limbs, posing
challenges for both adults and infants. Through this comprehensive guide, let’s
talk about brachial plexus injury exercises, as well as cover a range of
treatments and therapies designed to promote recovery. From targeted exercises
for infants to weight-bearing strategies, there are several physiotherapist and
occupational therapist recommended exercises that can enhance strength,
flexibility, and overall functionality.
Understanding Brachial Plexus
Injury
A brachial plexus injury (BPI) is a condition that involves damage to
the brachial plexus, a network of nerves that control the muscles of the
shoulder, arm, and hand. It is a complex network of nerves that originates from
the spinal cord in the neck and extends down the arm.
Typically, brachial plexus
injuries occur during childbirth, particularly when there is difficulty
delivering the baby's shoulder. This can happen in cases of shoulder dystocia,
where the baby's head has passed through the birth canal, but the shoulders become
stuck behind the mother's pelvic bone. The stretching or tearing of the
brachial plexus nerves during these situations can lead to injury.
The most common symptoms
include:
● Weakness or paralysis in the affected arm:
The severity can range from mild weakness to complete loss of movement.
● Loss of sensation: The affected arm may
experience reduced or loss of sensation.
● Impaired reflexes: Reflexes in the
affected arm may be diminished.
The treatment for brachial
plexus injuries involves a routine of exercises customized to the individual's
specific condition. From gentle stretches to progressive strengthening
routines, these exercises play a crucial role in restoring function and reducing
long-term complications.
Brachial Plexus Injury Infant
Exercises
Exercises for infants with
brachial plexus injuries generally involve a gentle range of motion exercises to start with. This routine can
gradually include facilitated stretching, and playful activities that can
stimulate nerve and muscle growth. Below are some of the most common infant
exercises for brachial plexus injury:\
● Passive range of motion (PROM) exercises
○ Gently move the infant’s affected arm
through its range of motion.
○ Hold the infant’s hand and guide the arm
in different directions - flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.
○ Stick to a gentle daily rhythm for these
exercises to prevent stiffness.
● Gentle stretching
○ Gently extend and flex the infant’s wrist,
elbow and fingers.
○ Do not force the joints into uncomfortable
positions.
○ Routine stretching will prevent
contractures.
● Tummy time
○ Place the infant on their bellies for
short periods.
This can be done as early
as when the baby is just a week old
○ Make sure you supervise all the time, and
the baby is comfortable during tummy time.
○ When done regularly and correctly, tummy
time helps strengthen the muscles in the neck, shoulders, and arms.
● Mirror therapy
○ With the help of a mirror, create a
reflection of the infant’s unaffected arm, making it appear as if the affected
arm is moving.
○ This helps stimulate movement and
coordination in the affected arm.
● Weight-bearing exercises
○ Create obstacle courses with sofa cushions
and bolsters to encourage crawling.
○ Place toys a little out of reach to
motivate the baby to reach for the toys while using the affected arm.
● Gross motor activities
○ Encourage reaching and grabbing through
engaging play.
○ Use colorful blocks, stacking cups, peg
dolls, etc to motivate the baby to use the affected arm.
● Massage
○ Soothing and relaxing, gentle massages
promote circulation and relaxation.
○ When massaging a baby, especially an
infant, make sure you use only gentle strokes and are mindful of the baby’s
comfort. DO NOT pull or apply pressure on the joints and limbs. It does not
benefit the baby.
When performing these
exercises it is important to adopt a gentle approach. Infants and babies are
delicate. At Plexus, we use a combination of physical therapy and occupational
therapy to devise a set of exercises aimed at improving muscle strength, joint
flexibility, and overall functionality. Depending on the severity of the
child’s symptoms we also perform nerve gliding exercises, resistance training,
proprioceptive (balance) activities.
We also help parents and
caregivers create supportive and nurturing environments at home to facilitate
natural movement patterns, promote muscle development, and improve motor
coordination.
Brachial Plexus Injury Adult
Exercises
Although rare, adults can
also sustain brachial plexus injuries while performing simple everyday
activities. At Plexus, we use a combination of the below exercises to help
support movement and coordination.
● Lateral raises (with dumbbells)
○ Stand up straight
○ Squeeze your shoulder blades together
○ Holding a dumbbell in your right hand,
turn the thumb upwards, towards the ceiling
○ Lift your right arm out to the side,
making it parallel to the floor
○ Hold for five counts, lower the arm
○ Repeat motion with other hand
○ Do 5 sets twice a day
● Biceps curls (with dumbbells)
○ Holding a dumbbell in one hand, keep your
arm straight, resting by your side
○ Gently bend your elbow as much as you can,
bringing your dumbbell plate up
○ Hold for five counts
○ Release, bring arm down to the side
○ Repeat eight to ten counts
● Wrist curls (with dumbbells)
○ Leaning forward and rest your forearm
(holding the dumbbell) on your thigh
○ Stabilize your arm by placing your other
hand on top of your forearm
○ Without your forearm leaving your thigh,
lift your wrist as much as possible
○ Hold for five counts, then lower back down
○ Repeat eight to ten counts
● Triceps kickbacks (with a bench)
○ With a dumbbell in one hand, kneel on a
bench with the opposite leg
○ Bend forward and place your arm on the
bench to support your body weight
○ Your wrist should be in line with your
shoulder
○ Lift your affected arm until your upper
arm is parallel to the ground
○ Slowly straighten your elbow
○ Hold for five counts and lower your arm
○ Repeat eight to ten counts
For grip strengthening we
recommend using a stress ball -
squeeze for 45-60 seconds, release and repeat. You can do this as often as you
can throughout the day.
Rubber band stretches also
help improve finger dexterity - wrap a rubber band around your fingers (not
thumb), spread your fingers, and hold for 8-10 seconds, slowly join your
fingers together; repeat as often as you can.
Performing everyday
activities, such as dressing, eating, combing your hair, putting on makeup, etc
can help improve everyday functionality.
Brachial
Plexus Injury Rehabilitation at Plexus
The above exercises have
been specially recommended by our team of expert physical and occupational
therapists. They are a key component of Plexus’ brachial plexus injury
rehabilitation.
At Plexus, our treatment
program for brachial plexus injury takes into account the severity of the
injury, the nerves affected, as well as the patient’s overall health. Our centres in Bangalore and Hyderabad offer regenerative rehabilitation
program for brachial plexus injury
that comprises a combination of:
● Stem cell therapy: Mesenchymal stem cells
(MSCs) help in the repair of torn nerve roots
● Physiotherapy: This involves range of
motion exercises, stretching, and strength training
● Occupational therapy: Here, the focus is
on fine motor skill development and activities for daily living (ADL) training.
Physical and occupational
therapy are crucial for maximizing function and preventing complications.
● Splinting
and bracing:
In very rare cases, splints and braces are used to maintain alignment, support
the affected arm, as well as prevent contractures.
● Patient
and caregiver counseling:
This includes support services to address the psychological and emotional
impact of coping with a brachial plexus injury.
While we do believe the
above treatment approaches are the most effective, there are rare cases that
present significant nerve damage. For these, we recommend nerve surgery that
typically involves nerve grafts or transfers so as to repair damaged nerves,
and promote healthy nerve function.
To know more about
customisable rehabilitation programs for brachial plexus injury reach out to
our teams in Bangalore or Hyderabad today.
WhatsApp +91 89048 42087
Call +91 78159 64668 (Hyderabad) | +91 82299 99888 (Bangalore)
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