Medical Rehab Centers

Medical rehabilitation is a serious issue. In this page we will investigate the challenges and benefits of rehabilitation, as well as finding affordable options for you or a family member. If you or someone you know has a medical condition that requires rehabilitation, we urge you to seek out rehab centers in your area to find a rehabilitation center near you. Medical rehab centers, clinics, programs, and treatment options are readily available near you.

Medical rehabilitation centers help patients restore their mental or physical disabilities caused by illness or disease. Conditions where medical rehab can be effective include amputations, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, neurological disorders, orthopedic injuries, spinal cord and brain injuries as well as stroke. Medical rehab centers help patients cope with ailments that can’t be solved by surgery or medication alone. These centers offer a range of services, so it’s important to choose one that specializes in helping patients with your specific problem. Medical rehab centers aim to help patients reengage with their lives despite their limitations.

A good medical rehab center not only deals with a patient’s physical disability but helps with psychological counseling which can be a major obstacle to recovery. These can be one-on-one or group sessions. Many people find it easier to open up to a therapist in a private session, at least initially. The advantage of a group session is peer support.

Social support can make a huge difference. For Easter Seals I once produced a public service announcement about wheel chair tennis. I was amazed at how much grit those athletes possessed as they were as determined as I am to win on a tennis court. These tennis players found camaraderie and fun on those courts, essential ingredients for mental health.

Medical rehab generally breaks down into three main areas: physical, occupational, and speech therapy, although a good program should be customized for each patient and can cut across multiple therapies.

In medical rehab centers a patient’s physician will coordinate help from a range of specialists which could include therapists, nurses, psychiatrists or psychologists, vocational counselors and those who make braces, orthotics and prostheses to counteract physical deformities. Good programs will also involve family members in a patient’s recovery.

Physical therapy is used to help medical rehab patients restore the use of their bodies. Effective techniques include acupuncture, chiropractic, heat, cold, massage, whirlpools, electrical stimulation, and exercise. Physical therapy is intended to improve mobility and retrain musculoskeletal use. Physical therapy usually includes exercise that consists of pushing patients past their limits so it should be supervised by qualified therapists. Be sure to check on their credentials. It’s important to be treated a medical rehab therapist who is experienced in treating your condition and is well aware of what can’t be reversed. If the therapist is doing his job you’ll grow to hate him because the way to restore function is through pain. The duration of physical therapy depends on the extent of the injury. Physical therapy can be ongoing.

Occupational therapy helps restore a patient’s ability to handle everyday tasks, by either relearning old skills or teaching patients how adjust to disabilities through adaptive equipment like artificial limbs, magnifiers, or walkers. A good therapist will visit a patient’s home to suggest changes like rearranging furniture or adding bathtub rails and a wheelchair ramp. A therapist can also suggest modifications to patient’s car to enable her to continue driving. The assessment will also determine the limits to what a patient should do.

Speech therapy helps a patient communicate verbally again. Since a stroke will frequently affect muscles on one side of a body, the therapy is designed to shift muscle control to the working side of the brain. Problems with speech often affect swallowing, another behavior that has to be relearned. Speech therapy can be also employed after a brain injury, cancer, or neuromuscular disease.

Anybody coping with a disability that doesn’t seem to be improving on its own could potentially benefit from help in a medical rehab center. If cost is an issue, don’t despair. Treatment could well be covered by insurance. If you’re a veteran, start your inquiries with the Veterans Administration. You might qualify for help there.