Brain & nerves Neurological Rehabilitation
Brachial Plexus Injury
- Weakness or paralysis of part of the arm
- Numbness in a band down the arm
- Burning or shooting pain
- Loss of shoulder or elbow movement
Quick answer
The brachial plexus is the network of nerves running from the neck into the arm. Injury to it — from trauma, traction at birth or compression — causes weakness, numbness and pain in the arm. Recovery depends on severity and is measured in months to years, with rehabilitation preventing secondary stiffness throughout.
Typical recovery
Months to years, depending on severity
The brachial plexus is the network of nerves that leaves the spine between the neck and the first rib and supplies the entire arm. Injuring it can affect anything from a single muscle group to the whole limb.
How it happens
- Motorcycle and road accidents, where the head and shoulder are forced apart
- Traction injuries during difficult births, affecting the newborn's arm
- Falls onto the shoulder
- Compression from a tumour or radiotherapy
- Carrying heavy loads on the shoulder over long periods
What it looks like
Weakness or complete paralysis of part of the arm, numbness in a band down the limb, and often severe burning pain. Which movements are lost tells the examiner which nerve roots are involved — an upper plexus injury affects shoulder and elbow, a lower one affects the hand.
How physiotherapy helps
Nerve recovery, where it happens, takes months. Rehabilitation runs alongside it and prevents the secondary problems that would otherwise make a recovered nerve useless:
- Maintaining full passive range in the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand so joints do not stiffen while the muscles are inactive
- Splinting and positioning to prevent contracture and protect the limb
- Progressive strengthening as muscles reinnervate, in the order they recover
- Retraining functional tasks with whatever function is available
- Pain management, since neuropathic pain is often the most distressing feature
How long it takes
A stretch injury may recover over weeks to months. A more severe injury takes a year or more, and some do not fully recover. Where a nerve is torn from the spinal cord, surgical reconstruction is considered, and it is time-sensitive — early specialist referral matters.
Medically reviewed by Nasir Mughees, BPT, MPT, Orthopaedic Physiotherapy · Last reviewed September 2026