Rehabilitation, rehab for short, is a treatment recovery process that is designed to restore self sufficiency after a physical, sensory or mental loss caused by an injury, illness, disease, addiction or any other debilitating health condition. This treatment method is specifically designed for your particular situation and may involve therapy of strength building, relearning skills or discovering new ways of doing things to compensate for lost capabilities.
There are numerous types of health conditions for which rehabilitation may be prescribed, including:
- ALS
- burns
- stroke
- cancer
- arthritis
- spasticity
- amputation
- fibromyalgia
- lung disease
- heart disease
- knee problems
- spinal stenosis
- plantar fasciitis
- spinal cord injury
- multiple sclerosis
- mental retardation
- neurogenic bladder
- muscular dystrophy
- psychiatric disorder
- post polio syndrome
- neurological problem
- traumatic brain injury
- alcohol, drug addiction
- chronic pain ~ hip, knee, back, neck
- bone, muscle, joint, ligament sports injuries
Rehab for restoring self sufficiency often requires a combination of therapies, such as:
- psychotherapy ~ behavior changes
- aquatic therapy ~ build strength, endurance
- inhalation therapy ~ learn to use breathing aids
- physical therapy ~ strength, mobility,fitness rehab
- speech therapy ~ speak, understand, read, write, swallow
- occupational therapy ~ learn ways to perform common daily tasks
- drugs ~ analgesics, antispasmodics, anticholinergics, anticonvulsants, methadone
The goal of rehab therapy is restoring your normal function as much as possible, at least to a point of self sufficiency. And rehabilitation therapy can help you cope with health deficits that cannot be improved upon through any other form of treatment.
The type of therapy and the goals of rehabilitation differ immensely, therefore qualified therapists are a vital component throughout your rehab for restoring self sufficiency.