Eye and Neck Coordination: A Crucial Exercise for TBI Recovery
- jordanswellness
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
In this post, I discuss the importance of the neck-eye coordination exercise I perform as part of my TBI recovery. This exercise, which uses a resistance band, helps strengthen the neck muscles and improve visual tracking, key components of recovery. I explain why it’s essential for rebuilding neural pathways, improving balance, and preventing compensatory issues during the healing process.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is based on my personal experience and research regarding brain injury and recovery. It is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding your health or treatment.
When you first hear about TBI recovery, you might think of rest, physical therapy, or medication, but one of the most important aspects of rehabilitation often gets overlooked: the connection between your neck and eyes. For me, understanding and improving this connection has been a game-changer in my healing journey. A key exercise I incorporate into my routine to help rebuild neural pathways is the noodle exercise, where I use a small resistance band looped around my head while working on eye coordination and neck stability. Let me walk you through why this exercise is so important and how it helps with TBI recovery.
The Neck-Eye Connection
After a TBI, many people experience vision problems like double vision, blurred vision, or difficulty tracking moving objects. What many don't realize is that these issues are often tied to neck instability. The neck and the eyes work together in a coordinated effort to keep our balance and focus. When the neck is injured or not functioning properly, the eyes can struggle to work efficiently too. For me, this connection was one of the more subtle yet impactful symptoms of my injury. My neck felt stiff, and my ability to focus on objects, especially when they were moving, became challenging.
This is where the noodle exercise comes in.
How the Noodle Exercise Works
To perform this exercise, I lie flat on my back with a small resistance band looped around my head. As I pull the band to one side, I keep my head straight and centered. The trick is to not just move my head but also use my eyes to shift focus—moving them to the opposite corner and then back to the center. The resistance from the band helps to engage the muscles in my neck, while the eye movements strengthen the connection between the neck and the eyes.
It might seem simple, but this exercise requires a lot of concentration. Every pull of the band and movement of my eyes is building coordination, helping improve both my neck stability and my ability to track visual stimuli. It's an effective way to train the brain to reconnect and regain lost function after a TBI.
Why It’s Important for TBI Recovery
Improves Neck Stability: For many people recovering from a TBI, neck instability is a major issue. This exercise helps to engage and strengthen the muscles in the neck that often become weakened or stiff due to the injury. A stable neck is essential for both posture and balance, which can be impacted after a brain injury.
Enhances Visual Tracking: After a TBI, visual tracking—the ability to smoothly follow a moving object with your eyes—can be impaired. By moving your eyes to one side and then returning to center, you are essentially retraining your brain to improve its visual coordination. This can help with symptoms like dizziness or difficulty focusing.
Rebuilds Neural Pathways: Like many recovery exercises, this one works on rewiring the brain. The brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections (neuroplasticity) is essential for healing after a TBI. By performing exercises that involve both the eyes and the neck, I’m giving my brain the chance to build new pathways and regain lost functions.
Prevents Compensatory Issues: Without proper neck-eye coordination, the body may start compensating for the weakness by adopting poor posture or inefficient movement patterns. This can lead to further pain or strain in other areas. Regularly practicing this exercise helps prevent those compensations and promotes healthier movement patterns.
Incorporating This Exercise into Your Routine
While this exercise has been incredibly helpful for me, it’s important to remember that each person’s recovery journey is unique. What works for one person may need to be modified for another. If you're recovering from a TBI, it's always a good idea to consult with a professional, such as a neuro-physical therapist, who can guide you in safely incorporating exercises like this into your routine.
For me, this exercise is just one of many ways I am rebuilding strength, stability, and coordination in my body and brain. It requires consistency, patience, and most importantly, awareness of how the small movements I make every day are contributing to my long-term healing.
Small Wins in TBI Recovery
When you’re recovering from a brain injury, progress can feel slow, and some days it’s hard to see the improvement. But exercises like this remind me that healing doesn’t always show up in big, noticeable milestones. It’s the small wins—the gradual improvements in movement, stability, and focus—that lead to meaningful recovery.
So, the next time you feel frustrated or overwhelmed by the recovery process, remember that the little things count. Each exercise you complete, each movement you regain, is a victory. And as I continue my journey, I know that each small step forward brings me closer to healing and regaining the life I once had.
All my light. All my love. Namaste.
Jordan
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