After an accident, injury, or illness, many people will find themselves having to go through rehabilitation therapy in order to regain their strength and address whatever challenges they may be facing. Fortunately, there are many different modalities that can address these obstacles. Depending upon the situation, patients may choose to undergo rehab either in the home or in an inpatient rehabilitation setting. Of course, a patient’s medical team will help them to determine the best course for their care. Each patient’s treatment plan should be customized to their specific needs. Also, not all patients progress at the same pace. As patients are undergoing care, their advocates will continually assess how they are moving along in their program. These seven different types of rehab can help patients to attain wellness and peace of mind in the wake of a traumatic accident.
Vocational Rehab
The goal of vocational rehab is to get patients back to work. In some states, vocational rehab exists under the umbrella of workers’ comp. People who are disabled and experiencing a chronic condition for over six months are usually the ones who will receive vocational rehab. Because of its comprehensive nature, helping patients in a holistic way in order to return them back to their former jobs or preparing them for new positions, and vocational rehab will often include many other types of rehab.
Speech Therapy
After experiencing a stroke, many patients will struggle to speak the way they did prior to their medical crisis. More extreme incidents may lead to someone forgetting how to swallow. Any accident that affects the jaw or facial structure can also impact speech. Fortunately, modern speech therapists have devised a number of different ways to help patients recover their speech and communication skills. Whether they are dealing with a slight lisp or a more advanced impediment, there is always something that a speech therapist can do to help. These days, even patients who have experienced a TBI (traumatic brain injury) are able to work with speech therapists successfully.
Respiratory Therapy
With more and more patients experiencing long-term lung issues recently, the need for respiratory therapists has grown even more. These therapists help patients to recover their ability to breathe as well as they possibly can. Sometimes, they may help patients us learn how to use medical devices like oxygen breathing aids. Because the need to breathe is so fundamental to human beings, working with respiratory therapists can be truly transformative for those who have been experiencing issues.
Cognitive Rehab
Whether someone is dealing with the aftermath of a recent accident or experiencing a foggy brain from a long-term illness, cognitive therapy can be enormously helpful. Dealing with memory issues can be especially traumatic for people, so working with a cognitive therapist can really change their lives for the better. Adept at teaching patients how to process and access information, cognitive therapists can help patients to basically “hack” their brains. Allowing them to create shortcuts and other methods for remembering details, cognitive therapists can play a crucial role in getting patients back into a good place mentally. If a patient is having trouble with reasoning or just their regular thought process, cognitive therapy is a good place to start.
Occupational Therapy
This is the type of rehab that can help patients to reclaim their day-to-day power. After all, most of our days are consumed by completing tasks. When we lose the ability to do something as simple as making a cup of coffee, occupational therapists can help us. For some people, learning how to balance their bodies after trauma can be very difficult. Occupational therapists can be a wonderful resource when it comes to assisting with balance. Basically, occupational therapists can help with tuning up any motor skills that may need tweaking after an accident or traumatic injury.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy may be the most popular and well-known form of rehab. Whether the issue is recovering stability or strength, a physical therapist can really help a patient to regain normal function. Depending upon a patient’s unique situation, a therapist may give them exercises to practice at home while they are growing stronger. One of the best aspects of physical therapy is that it can help to reduce a reliance on painkillers. In an age where everyone is seeking out more natural remedies, physical therapy can be one of the most effective practices a patient can undertake. With an understanding of how a patient’s body parts all interact with one another, a physical therapist can address the root causes of certain deficiencies. After starting physical therapy, many patients are impressed with how quickly they are able to progress in all forms of their recovery.
For patients who want to recover as quickly as possible from any medical crisis or chronic situation, the aforementioned therapies can transform their lives. Of course, it is important to keep in mind that everyone is different. What works for one patient may not work as well for another. It is crucial that patients maintain an open line of communication with their medical helpers in order to heal as quickly and efficiently as possible.