IS REHABILITATION THERAPY EFFECTIVE?
If one has suffered from damage to the brain, nerves, bones, or muscles, there is a good chance of improvement. There is, however, a limit to the benefits that can be expected, especially following severe brain damage. Most therapists can anticipate what degree of improvement might be expected and how long it will take to reach the utmost level of function. In the older person it can take longer.
Once it is determined that further therapy will not result in additional improvement, you will receive instruction on how to maintain optimal function on your own. This advice and information is very important, because it means you can maintain the advantages of a rehabilitation program once it is finished.
The types of rehabilitation treatment and aids are many. Therapists teach special exercises to improve body function. Mechanical aids, including walkers and canes, are used. Treatment with heat, ultrasound (high-intensity radio waves to reduce pain in muscles), and cortisone injections into painful joints may be required. Exercises in a warm pool under supervision may be valuable. Splints may be used to relieve pain. There are special devices to help you to dress and to use the bathroom and kitchen, thus assisting you to become independent.
If you suffer from a neurological disease and want to return home, a consultation and home visit with a rehabilitation expert should be arranged. Changes in your home, such as handrails on walls or near the toilet or tub to help you get up with the least difficulty, may be recommended. Your kitchen may be altered so that the sink, refrigerator, and stove can be used easily and safely. In most cases the degree and cost of alterations are relatively small. And they may make the difference between being able to return home to function relatively independently, or requiring permanent institutionalization.
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