Functional Neurology in Hilton Head

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Dr. Saponara has found this neurological assessment, designed at the Cleveland Clinic to address concussions and other neuro-degenerative diseases, to be so useful in assessing brain dysfunction that he has incorporated it into his practice.  All patients will receive a free baseline assessment, as well as follow-ups as needed. Learn more»

Vestibular Technologies CAPS™ Machine – Balance Assessment

Using the Vestibular Technologies CAPS™ machine, Dr. Saponara will determine if you are at an increased risk of falling and if any balance problems are triggered by specific positions or activities that would otherwise go undetected.  Posturography aids in determing the patients center of pressure(CoP), among other things. For more info click Learn more»

Saccadometry

Another helpful diagnostic tool is the Saccadometer, which is helpful in determining neuro-degenerative conditions by measuring eye movements.  The instrument projects laser images and records how your eyes find and follow them. The saccadometer measures eye speed and latency and relays results to Dr. Saponara in real time.

VisualEyes™

VisualEyes™ Video Oculography or VOG is the proven technology for testing patients with dizziness and balance disorders. The binocular video goggles were designed for enhanced patient comfort and simplified use.

The continued use of these diagnostic tools allows Dr. Saponara to objectively measure your progress and make any necessary adjustments to enhance and speed you recovery.

Pupillometry

Pupillometry measures a response called the pupillary light reflex (PLR). This allows us to identify biomarkers that might be used in clinical diagnosis, treatment and decision-making for concussions, and other brain based conditions.

Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Treatment

The treatment of concussion and traumatic brain injuries are very dependent on the patients condition, mainly what can, and cant be tolerated before fatigue becomes a factor. Specific neurological therapies are used to aid the brain, improve it’s functionality through incorporating neuroplasticity, these appropriate neuroplastic changes allow your brain to accurately, and efficiently determine the appropriate motor, cognitive, or limbic response.

Accurate brain perception of the world surrounding us is the key to achieving optimal health, longevity, and most certainly sports performance. Good brain function enables us to become the most healthy, happy, intelligent , and of course successful human beings possible.

Learn more about how football teams utilize Dynavision for concussion management: http://www.si.com/edge/video/2015/12/17/football-teams-dynavision-concussion-management

Complex Movement Exercises

This type of therapy activates motor regions of the brain. It is specific, and performed on the side which is deficient, or dampens the area which is over-activated. They may include copying movements, mirror therapy, throwing/catching a ball, kicking/stopping a ball, pointing/tracing therapy. While these may seem simple or trivial, in a brain/body that has a functional deficit they are in fact very powerful forms of rehabilitation, as the specific movements have particular areas of the brain which they target.

Balance/Proprioception/Coordination Exercises

We utilize balance boards, balance platforms, and balance balls which increases activation of the cerebellar structures that control posture, head and eye yoked movements, and core stability. This therapy may be combined with other movement patterns such as ball throwing/catching, or complex movements of the extremities to target cortical and cerebellar brain structures.

NSI Treatments

The NSI machine is used to aid treatments using the following:

Saccadic Trainer Function- Useful in therapy for all patients to enhance eye-hand coordination, visual reaction time, central-peripheral integration.

Tactile Feedback- Uses the hand rather than a keyboard or laser pointer so the patient gets “real life” tactile and proprioceptive feedback

Hand Speed Function- Used in the Sports Vision Evaluation of Olympic athletes. Useful in therapy for Sports Vision both to measure and increase visual reaction time and hand speed

“Visual Search” Saccadic Function- Unlike saccadic procedures like the Hart Chart, the SNS Saccade 2 Function simulates real life where the majority of saccades are not to an anticipated fixed point in space, but rather to “unexpected” events in the environment.

Metronome Function- Helps all patients to enhance rhythm and timing and visual-auditory integration

Tachistoscope Functions- Helps to increase speed of both visual and auditory information processing and memory.

Algiamed Stimpod NMS 460

A revolutionary waveform generates electromagnetic effects, utilizing PRF which affects the cellular metabolic activity of a neuropathic nerve. The resulting cellular response changes the characteristics of the nerve, which in many cases causes the nerve to recover back to its normal function.  The therapy is administered with a pen-like stimulation probe on the skin surface and elicits a light electrical sensation.

The patented waveform delivers brief bursts of pulse stimulation triggering a long-lasting recovery through a metabolic biochemical cascade which targets the root cause of neurologically related diseases. The induced electromagnetic field oscillates at frequencies in the range of the radio spectrum. It propagates as short bursts through the skin to the nerves and travels along the axons to the spinal dorsal horn, restoring the intra-neural communication pathways and the natural nerve functionality.  The short-burst electromagnetic stimulation in the radiofrequency range is what classifies this non-invasive electromagnetic therapies as PRF.