STROKE AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY David A. Steenblock BSc, MSc, DO

Our treatment program has been designed to give the maximum amount of recovery possible for stroke and traumatic brain injury. Where the brain damage is located determines which nerves, muscles, organs and tissues will be affected. An individualized treatment program is created for each patient depending the location, severity and time since the injury.

Many of our patients suffer from some or all of the following:

1. Cognitive abilities: Memory problems, difficulty with comprehension, word recognition, writing and speech.

2. Sensory abilities: Impaired hearing and vision, spacial disorientation.

3. Motor abilities: Impaired gross motor and fine motor coordination, weakness of extremities, sexual disfunction, difficulty swallowing, intestinal peristalsis, bladder and bowel control

4. Other Medical Conditions: Seizures, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, constipation, lung disorders, chronic infection

5. Emotional disturbance: Anger, depression, anxiety, paranoia, aggressive behavior, low self-esteem

6. Self Care: Impaired ability to dress, groom, eat, and go to the bathroom without assistance.

Strokes are caused by a lack of oxygen to a part of the brain. Long term effects are caused by the continued lack of oxygen, the swelling of brain tissue and the accumulation of calcium within the damaged nerve cells. Dr. Steenblock's neuro-rehab program is designed to bring oxygen back to these starved cells, reduce swelling, and provide the nutrients needed to help the cells remove their waste and restore normal metabolic function.

Each therapy in our program is supported by scientific research to help stroke and traumatic brain injury. These therapies, when combined, are proving to be "synergistic", i.e. they work together to promote greater results.

Our program is designed to:

1) Improve brain function through oxygen under pressure, Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy (PEMT), diet and supplements.

2) Improve blood circulation to the heart, brain, kidneys and entire system through oxygen under pressure, external counterpulsation, acupuncture and physical therapy.

3) Improve arm and leg movement and self-care activities through oxygen under pressure, biofeedback, acupuncture, physical and occupational therapy. Muscles paralyzed for months and years usually develop "atrophic" changes - loss of strength, size and function. Because of lack of use, the bones of the affected limbs become weakened and lose calcium. Functional electrical stimulation is a technique of stimulating the arm and leg muscles to strengthen them and to improve their function. A variety of nutritional and hormonal agents are employed to re-strengthen the weakened body parts. Standard physical therapies are employed to promote standing, walking, using the arms and fingers, and talking.

4) Improve emotional balance and vitality through oxygen under pressure, counseling, acupuncture, diet and supplements.

5) Improve general health and eliminate or reduce other medical conditions by alternative and conventional therapies and medications. Partially blocked arteries are often the cause of strokes. The tendency to have another stroke is assessed by a variety of tools such as ultrasound, blood viscosity, fibrinogen and platelet aggregates. Intravenous therapies are given that help improve diseased arteries, body and brain. They are formulated according to the individual needs of each patient. Although we have available the full range of medical protocols available when needed, our emphasis is on natural medicines such as oxygen, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, hormones, herbs, diet and exercise.