Rehab therapy makes a positive difference in the lives of so many. A customized rehab program can help individuals return to their prior level of functioning. When not possible, we teach compensatory strategies that make life worth living with the noted medical condition.
Primary care doctors often refer patients to rehab therapy at the first sign of a problem. The reason: Rehab is considered a conservative approach to managing problems. In addition, for individuals that are residents of the nursing home, we often complete screens to identify other ways we can prevent falls and improve function so they can live happier, healthier lives. Here are some ways rehab has been shown to be of benefit... to you or a family member:
- Reduce or eliminate pain. Manual techniques, exercise therapy, and modalities might all be used to relieve pain and restore function. In addition, we educate on energy conservation techniques, develop activity schedules, and provide monitoring tasks to identify and prevent pain from returning.
- Avoid surgery. If therapy helps eliminate pain or heal from an injury, then surgery may not be needed. And even if surgery is necessary, recovery may be even easier. Why? If one goes into a surgery stronger and in better shape, they may recover faster. One more note here: healthcare costs are reduced when surgery is prevented.
- Improve mobility. If a person is having trouble standing, walking, moving, caring for themselves or even communicating or swallowing, then rehab can help. Whether by exercises and activity or with assistive devices or equipment, we can help. By customizing an individual care plan, we focus on what is important to an individual. We can make a difference by ensuring maximum performance and safety.
- Recover from a stroke. We commonly identify some degree of deficit in function, mobility, and self care after stroke. We help in the process of re-learning that takes place. This might include improving one’s ability to transfer and move around in bed so they can be even more independent. This may include ambulation tasks. This might also include dressing, toileting, bathing, and even eating and speaking. Regardless, rehab is here to help.
- Improve your balance and prevent falls. If one is at a high risk for falls, rehab therapists provide exercises, often simulating real-life situations, to safely and carefully improve balance. Therapists also work on coordination tasks and provide assistive devices such as walkers, when these prove beneficial for safe walking.
- Manage diabetes and vascular conditions. As part of an overall diabetes management plan, exercise can help effectively control blood sugar. Rehab therapists are excellent with developing a good individualized exercise plan. Sometimes diabetes can affect the sensation in one’s feet and lower legs. This challenge is taken into consideration with this individualized exercise program.
- Manage and recover from age-related issues . As individuals age, they may develop arthritis or osteoporosis or need a joint replacement. Rehab therapists are experts in helping patients recover from joint replacement, and manage arthritic or osteoporotic conditions conservatively.