Bridging the Gap: Why neuroplasticity matters

In the Bridging the Gap series we are making comparisons between strategies and ideas used in training for elite sport and seeing if they are relevant to rehabilitation. In this article we are looking at the natural “learning process” of neuroplasticity which is the source of much hope and effort in rehabilitation.
The exciting discovery, revealed in glimpses over the last century, that the nervous system is plastic and adaptable even in adulthood, is a source of great hope to people with a spinal cord injury and other disorders such as stroke. We now call this inherent ability of the body to adapt, neuroplasticity, and recognise that the central nervous system (CNS) can undergo structural and functional change in response to new experiences.

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