Brain Waves: UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Newsletter Volume 12 | Number 2 | Page 2

STAYING ACTIVE AFTER TBI
Part 1 - Engaging Your Mind by Elizabeth Wylie, PT, DPT
Many people with traumatic brain
injury (TBI) are unable to return to
work or school after injury. Too
often, they end up sitting at home
watching television. The problem
is that watching television is a very
passive activity. It does nothing to
stimulate your mind or body!
Simply put, you need to keep your
mind and body active. In this first
of a two-part series, you will learn
how the use of smart technology can
engage your mind.
In recent years, there has been
a sharp rise in the use of mobile
devices, like smartphones and
tablets. They are portable, constantly
connected, and have enough
computing power to run complex
applications (apps). Apps are small
programs that allow your smart
device to easily browse the internet,
check the weather, play games, and
many other functions. If you have a
smart device, you have apps on it.
Many apps claim to improve
memory, cognitive abilities and
overall brain health. So far, there
are very few independent research
studies that support those claims
when it comes to people with TBI.
However, that does not mean that

apps have no value. In fact, many
apps can be helpful for people with
TBI.
The University of Alabama at
Birmingham Traumatic Brain Injury
Model System (UAB-TBIMS) has
a TBI Team of physical therapists,
occupational therapists, speech
therapists and nurses. They were
asked to test a few popular apps to
find out how people with TBI might
benefit from them. Our TBI Team
tested those apps that are free and
highly rated by users. The results
show that many apps offer fun,
interesting activities that people with
TBI and their family might find useful
in 5 areas.
1 - Stimulating the Brain
Fit Brains (iOS & Android)
combines fun and engaging
brain games that target memory,
processing speed, concentration,
problem solving and visual spatial
skills. Games include matching pairs,
coin calculation, finding missing
pieces of a puzzle, finding shadow
shapes, quick block counting, speed
sorting and synonym and antonym
matching. Games you play often
will get harder as you improve. You

keep track of your progress with the
Fit Brains Index scoring system and
performance tools. The app also
keeps track of how many days you
train in a month.
Luminosity (iOS & Android)
provides personalized brain
exercises designed to improve
attention, memory, problem solving
and overall mental flexibility.
You choose your own personal
goals, and the app develops your
personalized training program.
Games include matching names
with faces, remembering patterns
and locations, ignoring distractions,
multitasking, reacting quickly,
searching vocabulary, using logic
reason, and planning efficient
routes. Luminosity also figures your
progress and compares your scores
to others.
2 - Organizing Tasks
CanPlan (iOS & Android) helps you
accomplish larger tasks by breaking
them down into smaller steps. For
any given task, like doing laundry
for example, the app guides you
and your family member through
the activity. Together, you both take
photos of each step in the task,

Get Involved In Research!
Brave Initiative
The University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) aims to
improve the motor deficit of veterans who have sustained
a traumatic brain injury. Potential participants must:

• be at least 19 years old and 3 months post TBI
• have movement problems or weakness of the
•
•

arms, but the ability to make at least some limited
movements with the more affected hand
have no excessive pain
be able to undergo MRI

If you believe you meet the criteria above and would like
to participate in this study, Go to the website, call 205934-9768, or email for more information.

2

uab.edu/tbi

adding text or audio as needed.
Any task you add is filed under a
customizable set of categories,
which could include areas such as
food preparation, household chores,
shopping, transportation, exercise,
workplace tasks, and so on. Then,
you simply use the app whenever you
need help doing the task.
Evernote (iOS, Android & Windows)
lets you organize your thoughts and
ideas in one app. You can organize
notes, ideas, photos, and to-do lists
in a searchable format. You can also
share your information with your
family.
Medisafe Meds & Pill Reminder
(iOS & Android) allows you to store
important medication information
and provides pill reminders to both
you and your family. The app also
reminds you and your family to refill
prescriptions when needed.
3 - Keeping Memories
Twitter (iOS, Android & Windows)
may be thought of as a social media
app, but it might also be a great way
for some people with TBI to keep
track of memories and reminders.
Simply create your free account,
select “Protect My Tweets” in the
security and privacy settings, and
only you can see your tweets. You
can then post your thoughts, add
pictures with comments, and have
your own private memory bank. You
also have the option of adding friends

The “Smart” Choice For Your Mind

and family to your account if you
would like them to send you notes
and reminders through Twitter.
4 - Finding Community Resources
In Case of Emergency (iOS &
Android) can help save your life.
This app stores your critical health
information, like you condition, the
medications that you take, and your
emergency contacts. If you need
to call 911, emergency medical
personnel can access your medical
information automatically. The app
is also able to locate the closest
hospital to you.
W