Scientific background

What is Vasa Concept?

Vasa Concept is a neurological rehabilitation that focuses particularly on strengthening control of the body’s center of mass.
The exercises take the whole body into account and aim to provide the brain with an integrated body representation, which is especially important in the rehabilitation of paralysis-related symptoms.
The exercises improve information flow between the body and the brain, supporting automatic, optimal, and voluntary motor movements, and alleviating neuropsychological symptoms.
In practice, Vasa Concept consists of physical exercises that also have a positive impact on cardiovascular health.

Who is Vasa Concept for?

Vasa Concept is suitable for individuals with a neurological condition or injury, such as:

Cerebral palsy (CP)
Stroke, Cerebrovascular disorders, ICH, SAV
Traumatic brain injury
Spinal cord injury

In a modified and lighter form, it is also suitable for individuals with progressive neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, or neuromuscular disorders.

Vasa Concept is particularly beneficial for individuals who experience:

motor weakness or paralysis
spasticity (muscle stiffness)
difficulties with body awareness and balance control
shoulder pain, scapular malalignment, or partial shoulder dislocation (subluxation)
neuropsychological symptoms such as visuospatial difficulties, neglect, apraxia (disorders of voluntary movement), memory problems, or executive function challenges
speech and communication impairments, such as aphasia.

The principles of Vasa Concept are also highly suitable for pediatric physiotherapy and occupational therapy, supporting the development of motor skills, body awareness, visuospatial processing, executive functions, and learning readiness.

Why Vasa Concept?

Vasa Concept has produced clinically meaningful improvements in daily functioning and independent activity, even when several years have passed since the neurological event. This challenges the traditional view that rehabilitation potential is limited to a specific time window after injury. Vasa Concept utilizes the nervous system’s capacity for plasticity and supports cooperation between the body and the brain, even when symptoms have been long established.
The exercises require minimal equipment, often only an exercise mat. Making the method cost-effective and easy to implement.
Rather than focusing on individual muscles or isolated movements, Vasa Concept emphasizes whole-body control and regulation of the center of mass. By addressing the body as a functional whole, everyday activities such as walking, sit-to-stand transitions, balance control, upper limb use, and pain-related limitations may become easier. Improvements have also been observed in aphasia and other neuropsychological symptoms, meaning that simple physical exercises can produce benefits typically associated with multidisciplinary rehabilitation without requiring a full multidisciplinary setting.
From a health economics perspective, both the functional improvements and the low cost of implementation are highly significant.
Vasa Concept also supports the patients sense of empowerment, increasing motivation, engagement, and trust in their own body. These are key factors in long-term rehabilitation.
Experiences and documented progress can be explored further in Vasa Concept materials.

What is Vasa Concept based on?

As control of the center of mass shifts closer to the body’s midline, the brain is more able to utilize bidirectional information for movement anticipation and the restoration of neurophysiological pathways.
The theoretical framework is grounded in physiological, neurophysiological, and neurological research, as well as in knowledge of body function, neuroplasticity, and the reciprocal connections between the brain, the rest of the nervous system, and the musculature.

Key elements underlying Vasa Concept

Center of mass regulation as the core principle of movement
Re-thinking spasticity
Strengthening positive plasticity instead of reinforcing maladaptive or compensatory movement patterns
The impact of brain injury on neural networks (diaschisis)
The spinal cord’s capacity to adapt, learn, and reorganize, serving as more than a passive information relay

Training programs include further theoretical content on topics such as the center of mass (COM), proprioception (movement and position sense), activation of the balance system (vestibular system), enhancement of intra- and inter-limb information flow, whole-body coordination, and anticipatory postural adjustments (APA).

Who developed Vasa Concept?

Vasa Concept was developed by physiotherapist and clinical expert Rajul Vasa. She is originally from India and has also completed her professional education in Europe.
More information about Rajul Vasa can be found at vasaconcept.in

In summary

Vasa Concept focuses on strengthening the production of automatic and optimal movement. The goal is for movement to occur without continuous conscious effort, for example, not needing to visually monitor each step while walking.
The underlying principle of Vasa Concept is that control of the body’s center of mass enables efficient information flow from the limbs to the spinal cord and brain and back again. Spasticity is approached from a new perspective, and rehabilitation aims to promote positive plasticity rather than compensatory movement strategies, while acknowledging the impact of brain injury on the entire neural network and the active, learning role of the spinal cord.
Through Vasa Concept, patients have achieved both motor and cognitive improvements even years after a brain injury.

Here is patients experiences

“Ataxia has decreased and I can carry a tray”

“I can walk with feet straight out, earlier my toes were pointing out”

“My fingers are more relaxed and washing my face is easier”

“My finger is moving after many years”

“My first steps”