The Best Exercise after a stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, & other neurological diagnosis
Recovery from a stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury etc requires more than traditional physical & occupational therapy. Physical and occupational therapy are super important to help you regain as much independence with daily tasks as you can, but what about attempting to recover function that was lost due to your injury? Unfortunately, insurance companies limit you from working on recovering lost function. They only care about you adapting to “your new normal.” Where do you go and what do you do to work on waking up the “damaged” nerve pathways?
At Revive, we implement traditional PT approaches with activity based therapy to maximize your recovery. So what is activity based therapy?
Activity-Based Therapy (ABT) is a rehabilitation approach that focuses on intensive, repetitive, and task-specific exercises to improve function and recovery after a neurological injury, such as a spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or multiple sclerosis (MS).
Key Principles of Activity-Based Therapy:
Weight Bearing & Load-Based Movements – Engaging in standing or walking activities to improve neuromuscular function.
Repetitive Task-Specific Training – Performing movements that mimic real-life activities to strengthen neural pathways.
Neuroplasticity Activation – Stimulating the brain and spinal cord to promote new neural connections.
Functional Independence – Focusing on exercises that restore mobility and daily living skills.
Types of Activity-Based Therapy:
Locomotor Training: Assisted treadmill walking or robotic gait training to improve walking ability.
Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES): Uses electrical pulses to activate weak or paralyzed muscles.
Task-Oriented Therapy: Repetitive reaching, grasping, or stepping to retrain motor skills.
Weight-Supported Training: Harness systems or aquatic therapy to allow movement with reduced strain.
Core & Postural Training: Strengthening core muscles for improved sitting and standing balance.
Who Benefits from ABT?
ABT is commonly used for individuals with:
Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
Stroke & Brain Injury
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Parkinson’s Disease
Why ABT Works:
ABT isn’t just about building strength — it’s about waking up neural pathways and pushing the system to re-learn movement. It’s often used alongside traditional PT, not instead of it. Activity based therapy helps:
Stimulate muscle memory and neuroplasticity
Prevent muscle atrophy and joint stiffness
Improve circulation, bone density, and cardiovascular health
Enhance independence and quality of life
Activity-Based Therapy is redefining what is possible for recovery. By focusing on functional movement, neural plasticity, ABT offers a holistic and empowering approach to neurological rehabilitation. With the right therapy, individuals can experience improvements in function, regain independence, and ultimately lead more fulfilling lives.
If you or someone you know has sustained a neurological injury/diagnosis, consider exploring Activity-Based Therapy as part of the recovery journey. It may offer the opportunity to not just heal, but to thrive.
Give us a call at, 704-900-3674, if you are interested in learning more about how Revive can help your recovery!
