What is Physical Rehabilitation?

Physical rehabilitation is the process of physically recovering from an injury or illness as well as learning to adjust daily routine to better manage the injury or illness. Physical rehabilitation focuses on restoring independence, preventing other physical problems that may have arisen from being inactive for so long, assisting in making temporary and long-term physical and environmental adjustments that will help the healing process as well as improve daily life.

Who are good candidates for physical therapy?

Rehabilitation is for those individuals that have lost abilities that are required for maintaining a normal daily life.

Listed below are some of the injuries and illnesses that physical therapy may be used to improve or heal:

1. Injuries and trauma, including burns, fractures (broken bones), traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injuries
2. Sports Injuries
3. Injury caused by accident
4. Severe infection
5. Major surgery
6. Side effects from medical treatments, such as from cancer treatments
7. Certain birth defects and genetic disorders
8. Developmental disabilities
9. Chronic pain, including back and neck pain
10. Stroke

What happens during rehab treatment?

Rehabilitation often consists of a team of various health care providers. This team works with you to establish your needs, goals, and treatment plan. Some of the most common ways these specialists can assist you are:

1. Teach you special exercises that will help strengthen your muscles
2. Teach you how to safely stretch your muscles therefore increasing flexibility
3. Provide range of motion exercises to maintain and increase movement
4. Provide exercises and activities to improve your coordination and balance
5. Teach you how to be safe and independent when you leave the hospital
6. Improve healing by using massage, heat, cold, electric currents and sound waves
7. Physical rehabilitation therapy is a crucial part of the recovery process.

Often, physical therapy and rehab begins in the hospital and will continue several months after leaving the hospital. Continued therapy may take place at an extended care facility, an outpatient physical therapy department or in the comfort of your own home.

The chances of recovery are often improved by learning as much as you can about your condition, asking questions, participating in the daily exercises suggested by your physical therapist as well as working closely with all the members of your rehab team.