Rehabilitation for balance and ambulation in a patient with attention impairment due to intracranial hemorrhage.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this case report is to describe physical therapy to improve the balance and ambulation of a 16-year-old patient with attention impairment following intracranial hemorrhage.


METHODS
The patient initially had frequent losses of balance, especially in distracting environments, due in part to decreased attention. He was managed with a balance and ambulation training program that incorporated the principles of cognitive rehabilitation for attention impairments.


RESULTS
Following 11 weeks of outpatient therapy, the patient returned to independent ambulation at school without losses of balance.


CONCLUSIONS
Research is needed to determine the interaction between balance and attention in patients with brain injury and effective treatment for patients with decreased balance related to attention impairments.
Tappan
Rachel S
RS
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, IL,USA. Tapler@earthlink.net
D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000150:complications; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D010045:Outpatients; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance; D012106:Research; D013997:Time Factors; D014796:Visual Perception; D016138:Walking