Is Rehabilitation Only for Older Adults?
Rehabilitation isn’t reserved for older adults only. People of different ages may need rehabilitative services due to injuries, chronic diseases, surgery, or reduced mobility. Contrary to what most people believe, rehabilitation helps children, adults, and old people achieve independence in their daily activities. It also allows affected persons to participate in their work, life roles, and recreation by addressing underlying conditions.
Who Needs Rehabilitation?
Anybody who has lost the ability to perform activities of daily life needs rehabilitation. Common reasons for rehabilitation include;
- Major surgeries
- Trauma and injuries, such as fractures, burns, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injury
- Severe/chronic infections
- Developmental disabilities
- Genetic disorders and birth defects
- Stroke
- Chronic back and neck pain
The main goal of rehabilitation is to enable these individuals to regain their independence. However, rehabilitation goals vary from one person to another, depending on the underlying problem. For instance, stroke patients may regain their ability to bathe and dress after rehabilitation.
Common Types of Rehabilitation
The following are rehabilitation services offered by most rehabilitation centers.
- Geriatric Rehabilitation
Geriatric rehabilitation is the most common and popularly known rehabilitation service. Advanced age is characterized by progressive declining physiologic functions, increasing the prevalence of multi-morbidity and chronic conditions among aging adults.
While physical therapy can’t halt the biological aging process, activity and regular exercise can slow down and minimize these physiological changes associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Activity limits the progression of chronic medical conditions and reduces fall rates, increasing life expectancy.
- Orthopedic and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
Orthopedic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation are therapeutic approaches to improve recovery, alleviate pain, and correct limitations from illnesses, surgery, and trauma. The musculoskeletal system consists of the tendons, ligaments, cartilage, muscles, joints, and bones.
Orthopedic rehabilitation is done by trained physiotherapists who create personalized treatment plans according to the patient’s condition, abilities, and goals. The physician uses various techniques to improve muscle and joint movements and restore and maintain physical strength and cognition.
- Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation services are complicated interventions that benefit persons with cardiovascular problems, such as myocardial infarction. This includes physical activities, stress management, health education, and risk reduction. The goals of cardiac rehabilitation are to reduce the psychological and physiological effects of cardiac conditions to reduce morbidity and mortality.
On the other hand, pulmonary rehabilitation focuses on improving the physical and psychological state of patients with chronic respiratory conditions. This includes a thorough assessment, nursing care, health education, behavioral changes, and exercise training. Pulmonary rehabilitation aims at optimizing the respiratory functions of an individual and quality of life.
- Burns Rehabilitation
Rehabilitating burn patients have shown plausible positive results. Depending on the severity of burns, hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy can alleviate pain and anxiety in burn patients. Music therapy also lowers pain, muscle tension, and anxiety associated with burn care.
- Renal Rehabilitation
Chronic renal diseases are on the rise. Renal rehabilitation for patients with kidney disease during pre-dialysis and dialysis has shown to increase patients’ tolerance to exercise and improve their quality of life. Sessional renal rehabilitation for patients with stage 3 or 4 kidney disease also improves physical abilities. However, there are no studies linking these results to decreased mortalities.
Improve Your Quality of Life with Rehabilitation Services
Overall, all forms of rehabilitation services are geared towards enabling individuals of all ages to regain their independence. The Arbors, Short Term Rehabilitation Center in Amarillo, Texas, offers effective rehabilitation services to patients with all rehabilitative conditions.
Our experienced and skilled physicians, physiotherapists, and nurses work closely with patients to help them achieve their health goals. We offer tailored programs designed to meet the specific needs of each patient. Contact us today.
