Depending on their level of competence, TBI survivors can participate in a wide range of recreational treatment activities. These enjoyable and stimulating activities for people with brain injuries also have the added benefit of brain stimulation and regaining function.
Due to their reduced capacities, survivors of traumatic brain injuries may limit their involvement in recreational activities.
There are lots of enjoyable activities available for those recovering from brain injuries. These activities get more enjoyable when you do them with your group.
Keep reading to know about group activities for TBI patients!
Also, make sure to check out my post on 20 Group Activities For Veterans And Veterans With PTSD In 2024.
What Should You Avoid With TBI?
We know, dealing with TBI is tough. To not make it worse, you have to take care of yourself and choose the healthiest lifestyle. You have to avoid a few stuff. For example-
- Avoid activities like intense house cleaning or weightlifting that take a lot of concentration or are physically taxing. They can make your symptoms worse and put off your healing.
- Avoid engaging in contact or leisure sports that could result in another concussion. It’s also recommended to steer clear of high-speed rides at amusement parks that could exacerbate your symptoms or perhaps create a concussion.
- Stay away from prolonged computer use, particularly computer and video games.
- Wait until a medical professional confirms you are healthy enough to consume alcohol. Drugs and alcohol may hinder your rehabilitation and increase your chance of suffering more injuries.
Are Video Games Good For TBI Patients?
Yes, video games are good for TBI patients. Recent studies suggest that video games help TBI patients to recover their cognitive and physical abilities more quickly than traditional rehabilitation.
Video games activate multiple brain regions simultaneously and can even encourage neuroplasticity, despite the fact that they may only seem like a pleasant diversion.
Since they are entertaining and compelling, video games encourage players to do actions more frequently than they would if they were simply working out in a gym.
15 Group Activities For TBI Patients
TBI patients are extremely sensitive. When you indulge yourself in group activities, you won’t feel isolated. Side by side, it will pave the path of healing. We have listed down the best group activities for TBI patients.
- Painting
Painting or art therapy activities can improve focus and other intellectual capabilities. Additionally, it can help with problem-solving, visuospatial skills, memory, and visual-motor development. Painting can be a beneficial way to process uncomfortable or unpleasant emotions.
- Knitting
Knitting is a fantastic practice for enhancing hand function and fine motor abilities. Additionally, it gives you the ability to fix mistakes and restore any feeling of control that has been lost following brain damage. Because it calls for a certain amount of concentration, it’s also the perfect pastime for survivors who have trouble focusing. You can also find that the satisfaction of your success is immensely gratifying.
- Music Therapy
It is a well-liked technique that stimulates your brain and helps in healing. A wide range of abilities, including verbal, cognitive, and even physical capabilities, can be improved by music in brain damage patients. It helps to be as involved as you can while listening to music to get the most benefits.
- Cooking
Cooking is a multi-step activity that can be challenging for people with brain injuries. Few recipe books are written expressly for people with brain injuries that you can use. In addition to ensuring a healthy diet, cooking with your group can enhance cognition and vitality.
- Dancing
For people who have suffered from brain injuries, dancing together is a valuable recreational activity since it can aid with motor abilities like balance and whole-body coordination. It combines the advantages of both music therapy and cardiovascular exercise for mental and emotional health.
- Walk
You can relax by taking your group for a pleasant, peaceful stroll in the park. Changing the environment can also encourage healing by stimulating your brain in interesting ways. Your ability to focus will be enhanced. It will also refreshen your mind.
- Spend Time With Animals
If you love animals, you would love enjoying time with the group’s assistance dog. Service dogs are taught to support balance and help with daily tasks for people with brain injuries who have restricted physical ability. Patients who are stressed, anxious, or depressed might receive emotional support from service dogs in addition to physical support.
- Story Writing
Another enjoyable activity that could boost creativity and mental stimulation is writing stories. Writing activates numerous brain regions and improves memory and retention. Keeping a notebook and outlining your aspirations, concepts, and objectives can be a good place to start. Share your stories with others!
- Aquatic Therapy
It usually involves exercising with a qualified therapist in an indoor pool. By reducing body weight by about 90%, water makes movement easier. For those who have brain injury-related muscle weakness, this can be a lot of fun and help in motor recovery. Strength and endurance in the muscles are also improved by this practice. You will find it more enjoyable when you do it with your group!
- Gardening
Overall health, including cognitive function, is improved by gardening with your squad. Additionally, it has assisted in lowering the tension, anxiety, and mood swings that survivors of brain injury may frequently endure. The saying “nature is therapeutic” may have caught your ear, and in this instance, it is accurate. This practice is a fantastic way to interact with nature and exercise your brain.
- Adaptive Sports
Inquire with your therapist about the safety of participating in adaptive sports like w basketball and tennis whenever your group is ready to take on more challenging activities. These common exercises help enhance your social and fine motor skills. Group participation in challenging sports like baseball and cycling can also help reduce any post-brain damage feelings of loneliness.
- Board Games
Board games are amazing activities for honing cognitive abilities while having fun. The social element added by playing board games in groups adds to the cognitive stimulation. Chess, Sudoku, Crossword, and Uno are a few examples. Another entertaining pastime that can test your memory, planning, and problem-solving abilities is solving puzzles.
- MusicGlove
Within just two weeks of consistent usage, this hand treatment tool has been clinically shown to assist and enhance hand function. It encourages users to perform various hand rehabilitation exercises in time with a melodic game.
MusicGlove is entertaining for people with brain injuries because it incorporates concepts of music and gaming.
- Speak Out
Everyone will speak about traumatizing events in their lives. Others will listen to them with patients and say comforting words. This will strengthen their bond and help them to get over their wound.
- Card Games
Card games support focus, cognition, and visual processing. Playing traditional card games can test our memory, especially our short-term memory, while also putting our cognitive skills to the test. Dobble, for instance, is a straightforward matching game that evaluates visual monitoring and processing abilities. Pattern identification, memory retention, and various degrees of strategic thinking are all required for solitaire and heart game.
How Do You Calm An Agitated TBI?
Calming an agitated TBI is tricky. Because a small mistake can worsen the situation. Try the following steps to cool them down.
- Speak carefully when conversing with patients to avoid being hampered by their delayed cognitive processing, which is a common symptom of TBI.
- Avoid abruptly contacting or grabbing the patient. Greet or chat before touching. Then just gently touch the shoulder or hands Only when such measures are ineffective and there is a clear threat to the patient can someone grab and hold someone forcibly.
- It can be important to quiet the patient’s surroundings in order to relax them. This might entail putting them to bed, drawing the drapes, and turning off the TV.
How Do You Motivate Someone With TBI?
The signs of a TBI would change daily, so monitor how well they are doing each day and modify your support accordingly. Ask them about their well-being and feelings. Let them make you their safe place.
Be careful not to lose patience. Try not to vent your anger on anyone else if you don’t find the answers you’re looking for, even though this can be an extremely upsetting period and you’ll have a lot of questions.
Little things have a significant impact. Even if you don’t think you’re changing anything by simply visiting them every day and conversing with them, you are. A simple discussion may brighten someone’s day, and it’s crucial to keep them interested and stimulated in these early phases.
Tell them to not lose hope and affirm that they will heal sooner or later. Ask them to hold their courage because they are strong. This will motivate them.
Verdict
After suffering a brain injury, engaging in recreational activities may seem scary, but you shouldn’t put yourself off because almost every activity can be modified to accommodate certain restrictions.
Find something you really enjoy doing first, and then incorporate support in customizing it as necessary.
Hopefully, this article on group activities for TBI patients will help you!
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