Globally, 2.4 billion people need rehabilitation. But in many low- and middle-income countries, the need for restoration goes largely unmet.
Integrating rehabilitation into health systems can improve outcomes from medical and surgical interventions and mitigate the profound economic and social impacts of nonfatal injuries and illnesses. This essential package includes rehabilitation for all ages.
Physical Therapy
A physical therapist is an experienced healthcare professional who works with patients to minimize pain and improve their quality of life. Working in various venues allows occupational therapists to provide their services in private clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, schools, nursing homes like Westminster Manor, Bradenton, and even their patients’ homes.
You might need physical therapy if you have fibromyalgia, which causes widespread pain and tenderness in your muscles and soft tissues. You might also need physical therapy after a stroke or other injuries. Your physiotherapist will craft a tailored treatment plan that perfectly addresses your needs.
Whether you are an early-career PT or a seasoned clinician, this guide is your source for the most comprehensive information on practice issues and trends in physical therapy. It will help you enhance the quality of care you deliver and serve as a foundation for helping you optimize outcomes through data collection and analysis.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy (OT) is a highly effective method that utilizes everyday activities to help individuals confidently participate in personal care, household and work-related tasks, leisure activities, play, and social involvement. This approach is based on a client-centered model of practice, in which the client’s goals are the primary focus of rehabilitation services.
OTs assess motor function, sensation, and cognition limitations that may inhibit engagement in daily occupations. They also evaluate a person’s strengths that can be leveraged to compensate for these impairments.
In addition to regaining daily living skills and returning to work or hobbies, OTs often focus on helping people cope with their condition and improve their mental health. It can include developing coping strategies like mindfulness and meditation or teaching the skills to manage anxiety and depression. OTs may also help a patient re-learn to socialize, rebuild a regular walking route, or learn to cook healthy meals.
Speech Therapy
There are a wide variety of definitions of rehabilitation. Those who pay for it, those who provide it, and those who receive it all have different interpretations of what it is.
For example, people with tremors or other symptoms related to dementia may benefit from “vestibular rehabilitation,” which helps to improve balance and coordination. Dysarthria can be treated with speech therapy, which helps slow the speaking rate and increase control over the tongue and lips.
Rehabilitation facilities often have working kitchens and laundry rooms, just like one’s home, to help people learn how to accomplish everyday tasks using different methods or with assistive devices. Energy-saving techniques are also taught to help people avoid fatigue. Many of these methods can be delivered over the telephone, called telerehabilitation. One study found that it was as effective as face-to-face psychosocial interventions. It may be more convenient and affordable for people who live alone or in rural areas.
Social Work
The primary objective of rehabilitation is to reduce the impact of sickness, trauma, or incapacity on individuals’ daily activities. It does this by teaching patients to accomplish their daily tasks differently, with the help of assistive equipment, and addressing any health complications that may arise.
A rehab facility usually has a large physical therapy area with various exercises and tools to increase strength, tone, flexibility, and mobility. This area will also have working kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathrooms set up just like someone’s home, where the physiotherapist will work with clients to practice techniques for everyday chores and activities while focusing on safety and energy-saving strategies.
The social worker’s role in rehabilitation is vital, as they will guide the client and their family through their short-term rehab journey. It will include explaining all the options and walking them through the best choices to make after their initial diagnosis has been made. The social worker will also be there to assist with any legal issues that could occur.
