Before we begin: Rehabilitation is the process that assists a person in recovering from a serious injury, illness or surgery to regain strength, or relearn skills.
This tutorial walks you through everything you need to know about rehabilitation. We explain it in plain language, step by step, so whether you are a student, a patient, or simply curious, you will come away with a solid understanding.
We cover what it is, why it matters, how it is diagnosed, and what you can do about it. Key facts are called out along the way.
What is rehabilitation? Rehabilitation is care that can help you get back, keep, or improve abilities that you need for daily life. These abilities may be physical, mental, and/or cognitive (thinking and learning). You may have lost them because of a disease or injury, or as a side effect from a medical treatment. Rehabilitation can improve your daily life and functioning.
Who needs rehabilitation? Rehabilitation is for people who have lost abilities that they need for daily life. Some of the most common causes include:
Injuries and trauma, including burns, fractures (broken bones), traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injuries
Stroke
Severe infections
Major surgery
Side effects from medical treatments, such as from cancer treatments
Certain birth defects and genetic disorders
Developmental disabilities
Chronic pain, including back and neck pain
What are the goals of rehabilitation? The overall goal of rehabilitation is to help you get your abilities back and regain independence. But the specific goals are different for each person. They depend on what caused the problem, whether the cause is ongoing or temporary, which abilities you lost, and how severe the problem is. For example,:
A person who has had a stroke may need rehabilitation to be able to dress or bathe without help
An active person who has had a heart attack may go through cardiac rehabilitation to try to return to exercising
Someone with a lung disease may get pulmonary rehabilitation to be able to breathe better and improve their quality of life
What happens in a rehabilitation program? When you get rehabilitation, you often have a team of different health care providers helping you. They will work with you to figure out your needs, goals, and treatment plan. The types of treatments that may be in a treatment plan include:
Assistive devices, which are tools, equipment, and products that help people with disabilities move and function
Cognitive rehabilitation therapy to help you relearn or improve skills such as thinking, learning, memory, planning, and decision making
Mental health counseling
Music or art therapy to help you express your feelings, improve your thinking, and develop social connections
Nutritional counseling
Occupational therapy to help you with your daily activities
Physical therapy to help your strength, mobility, and fitness
Recreational therapy to improve your emotional well-being through arts and crafts, games, relaxation training, and animal-assisted therapy
Speech-language therapy to help with speaking, understanding, reading, writing and swallowing
Treatment for pain
Vocational rehabilitation to help you build skills for going to school or working at a job
Depending on your needs, you may have rehabilitation in the providers’ offices, a hospital, or an inpatient rehabilitation center. In some cases, a provider may come to your home. If you get care in your home, you will need to have family members or friends who can come and help with your rehabilitation.
Also known as: Rehab.
Related topics: Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy.
Categories: Surgery and Rehabilitation.
Key Takeaways
Understanding rehabilitation is an important part of taking charge of your health. Here is what to remember:
- Know the signs — Recognizing early symptoms can lead to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.
- Talk to your provider — If you have concerns or a family history of this condition, bring it up at your next checkup.
- Stay informed — Medical knowledge evolves. Keep learning and asking questions.
- You are not alone — Many people deal with this condition. Support groups and educational resources can help.