What Is Functional Neurology, and How Can It Help?

Some neurological conditions are not surgical problems. Hence, medicine is not effective in dealing with them. They also have no significant structural damage to the brain. Thus, their cause may be unknown. 

These conditions may also cause erratic symptoms that have no conscious trigger. You may function at one moment but not the next. The symptoms may make it hard to cope with everyday life. The best way to deal with such neurological disorders is with the help of functional neurology.

What Is Functional Neurology?

It is a treatment that has its roots in chiropractic care. Its basis is an understanding of how the body works. It applies the knowledge that anxiety, depression, vertigo, and imbalance result from issues with the brain. Functional medicine understands how the brain and nervous system work.

When conventional doctors perform brain imaging, they may not find any abnormality or apparent lesions. Functional neurology assesses the whole body in real time. It includes the brain and the nervous system, determining strengths and weaknesses. Afterward, the doctor customizes the treatment to fit your needs. It consists of exercises and tasks to strengthen weak areas.

How Does It Help?

It is highly effective, and unlike conventional medicine, it does not rely only on brain imaging. It employs other assessments to get a comprehensive neurological exam of your body. Thus, it treats you according to your individual needs. Here are some ways functional neurology helps your body.

No Use of Drugs

Conventional medicine employs drugs to treat neurological disorders. Functional neurologists use exercises and specific adjustments. Sometimes, they may incorporate medication, but it is not the prime basis for the treatment. 

Brain exercises strengthen the efficient areas in your nervous system. It helps them reestablish the flow of communication between the brain and the nerves. The adjustments relate to chiropractic care and realign the spine and the nerves. They relieve pressure and pain. They also allow your body to heal and restore nerve function. 

Optimize Function

The conservative methods that functional neurology applies optimize the function of your nervous system. They extend it even after healing. You can continue the exercises and adjustments to improve your body’s ability to deal with the symptoms. The tasks prevent the symptoms from reoccurring. 

Medication can have side effects. They can suppress or enhance body and brain activity but not target specific brain regions. On the other hand, functional neurology targets the treatment areas while ensuring your body remains healthy. The lack of influence from medication optimizes the ability of your body to heal itself.

Whole-body Care

It focuses on diagnosis and treatment approaches that improve physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functions. It centers on whole-body care. It also improves your brain function and nervous system.

The treatment is like strengthening weak muscles after a fracture. It will use hand-eye coordination therapies, computer applications for customized eye-tracking, and vestibular rehabilitation. A combination of these and other tasks provides whole-body care.

Customized Care

Various types of vertigo can require different rehabilitation strategies. Functional neurology seeks to find the specific mechanism causing the conditions and symptoms. Afterward, the specialist develops a treatment plan specific to your needs.

For more information on functional neurology, visit Bagnell Brain Center at our Pinecrest, Florida office. Call (305) 889-7488 to schedule an appointment today.

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