What is rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation services help restore your physical abilities so you can return to living an active life. Rehabilitation or therapy programs help you recover from a serious injury, illness such as cancer or stroke, or following surgery.
There are many different types of rehabilitation, including:
- Lymphedema therapy: for swelling associated with lymphedema
- Neurological rehabilitation: for building strength and coordination following a neurological procedure, condition or illness
- Occupational therapy: for helping regain fine motor skills and independence
- Pelvic floor physical therapy: for strengthening musculoskeletal areas around the pelvis
- Physical therapy: for helping regain movement, stability and range of motion
- Vestibular therapy: for inner ear and balance disorders such as vertigo, dizziness, visual disturbance and imbalance
Prehabilitation may also be part of your care plan. Prehabilitation occurs when patients meet with rehabilitation experts before their procedure or treatment to begin exercises that improve their strength and endurance. Prehabilitation can help patients recover faster following treatment.
You and your care team will talk about and decide on the types of rehabilitation you will receive.
Getting started with rehabilitation
Your physician may refer you for rehabilitation services before, during or following your treatment.
After a rehab therapist evaluates your condition and reviews your medical history, together you will create short-term and long-term goals. These goals can include pain management, improved mobility and muscle strengthening.
The therapist will then create a personalized rehabilitation program to help you meet your goals. You will work on them while in the hospital and once you are back home.