REHABILITATION AND RECOVERY CENTER
FOR
INPATIENTS AND OUTPATIENTS
By Mr Dimitrios Shistohilis
M.B.A. 08/2012
Skype ID: Shistohilis
Services Offered
Medical
rehabilitation is concerned with improving functioning throught the diagnosis
and treatment of health conditions, reducing impairments, and preventing or
treating complications (World report on disability, WHO, 2011).
Positive outcomes in medical rehabilitation facilitate the
rehabilitation process for people with disabilities, with the ultimate goal to
enable them to reach and maintain their optimal physical, sensory,
intellectual, psychological and social functional levels, and, to maintain or
reach independence and integration in the society.
Outpatient rehabilitation
services are those provided to patients who are not staying with us overnight:
Occupational &
Physical Therapy
Speech &
Language Therapy
Pulmonary
Rehabilitation
Aquatic Therapy
Hand Therapy
Industrial
Rehabilitation
Other Specialty
Therapy
Occupational
& Physical Therapy T
he Basic Difference between OT and PT
The easiest way to
describe the difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy is
that a physical therapist (or physical therapy assistant)
treats the
patient’s actual impairment, while an occupational therapist (or occupational
therapy assistant) treats that impairment in action. The PT tries to improve
the impairment itself by increasing mobility, aligning bones and joints or
lessening pain. The OT or OTA helps the patient complete necessary everyday
tasks with the impairment. Doing so may involve applying new tools and
techniques.
Breaking It Down
A physical therapist is a
medical professional licensed to assess and treat impairments and functional
limitations. PTs are qualified to recommend appropriate medical and assistive
devices for patients (e.g., shower chairs, braces, walkers, canes, wheelchairs)
or specific exercises. Educating the patient about his/her condition is also a
vital part of the PT’s role.
An occupational therapist may
also recommend adaptive equipment, such as reachers, dressing aids, special
dishes and utensils, positioning splints, etc. Both the OT and OTA ensure
that the patient is equipped to handle regular work and household activities
like dressing, cooking, bathing or writing.
The therapist will provide
comprehensive physical and occupational therapy to help patients regain their
functional independence by allowing them to return to normal daily self-care,
work and leisure activities.
Speech & Language Therapy What is speech and language therapy?
Speech and
language therapy provides life-changing treatment, support and care for
children and adults who have difficulties with communication, or with eating,
drinking and swallowing.
Speech and language therapists
(SLTs) are allied health professionals. They work closely with parents, carers
and other professionals, such as teachers, nurses, occupational therapists and
doctors.
Speech and language therapy helps individuals with
communication and swallowing problems. Speech and language pathologists
evaluate and treat speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders in adults
and children.
The speech and language pathologists provide both
inpatient and outpatient services.
Conditions Treated
Swallowing disorders;
Language impairments;
Stuttering or voice disorders;
Stroke;
Head and neck cancer;
Parkinson's disease;
Head injuries;
Developmental disorders;
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Treatment Programs
SEMG biofeedback training for improvement of
swallowing function;
Recommendations for optimal diet texture and
swallowing strategies to maximize swallowing safety and efficiency;
Training of caregivers in facilitating and enhancing
functional communication and swallowing;
Training in st
rategies to maximize functional
communication skills in cases where return of normal speech and/or language
skills is not a realistic goal;
Development of an exercise program to improve
neuromuscular performance for more effective speech, voice or swallowing
function;
Direct training and instruction to improve the quality
of speech and voice, often through the use of Visipitch biofeedback.
Specialized Services
Video fluoroscopic swallowing study - Used to identify
anatomic and physiologic abnormalities. Using this information, we develop
treatment strategies to improve your safety and efficiency of swallowing.
Swallowing therapy - This includes neuromuscular
re-education through biofeedback, therapeutic exercise and patient/caregiver
training in feeding and swallowing techniques.
Lee Silverman voice training - This is for individuals
with Parkinson's disease, and other conditions resulting in a hypophonic voice,
who wish to increase the volume and improve clarity of their speech.
Aquatic
Therapy
Aquatic therapy refers to
treatments and exercises performed in water for relaxation, fitness, physical rehabilitation, and other
therapeutic benefit.
Typically a qualified aquatic therapist gives constant
attendance to a person receiving treatment in a heated therapy pool.
Aquatic
therapy techniques include Ai Chi, Aqua
Running, Bad Ragaz Ring Method, Burdenko
Method, Halliwick, Watsu,
and other aquatic bodywork forms.
Therapeutic applications include neurological disorders, spine pain, musculoskeletal
pain, postoperative
orthopedic rehabilitation, pediatric
disabilities, and pressure
ulcers
For orthopedic rehabilitation, aquatic therapy is
considered to be synonymous with therapeutic aquatic exercise, aqua therapy,
aquatic rehabilitation, water therapy, and pool therapy.
Aquatic therapy can
support restoration of function for many areas of orthopedics, including sports
medicine, work conditioning, joint arthroplasty, and back rehabilitation
programs.
A strong aquatic component is especially beneficial for therapy
programs where limited or non-weight bearing is desirable and where normal
functioning is limited by inflammation, pain, guarding, muscle spasm, and
limited range of motion (ROM). Water provides a controllable environment for
reeducation of weak muscles and skill development for neurological and
neuromuscular impairment, acute orthopedic or neuromuscular injury,
rheumatological disease, or recovery from recent surgery
Aquatic therapy is a beneficial addition to
traditional occupational and physical therapy. Water eases early
weight-bearing, reduces swelling and pain, and assists and strengthens
movement. Also, the resistance provided in a high-level aquatic workout allows
for excellent strengthening exercises and cross training for all types of
injuries.
Conditions
Treated
Amputation;
Arthritis;
Chronic pain;
Decreased conditioning;
Knee, hip or shoulder replacements;
Back injury or post-surgical back pain;
Muscle spasm;
Orthopaedic trauma;
Reduced endurance;
Spinal cord injury;
Fibromyalgia;
Stroke (CVA);
Reduced endurance;
Prenatal fitness.
Hand Therapy
Hand therapy is the art and science of
evaluating and treating injuries and conditions of the
upper extremity (shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist and hand).
It uses a number of therapeutic interventions to help return a
person to their highest level of function. It evolved from the
need for a specialist with the knowledge and experience required to
manage the challenging recovery of complex hand and upper extremity
injuries.
Hand therapy is the specialized treatment of an upper
extremity injury designed to restore range of motion, strength and overall
function. Hand therapists are part of the occupational therapy department and
treat a variety of orthopaedic, cumulative trauma and hand trauma injuries. Our
specialized hand therapists have advanced training in the treatment of complex
hand injuries.
After carefully evaluating a patient’s injury, hand
therapists design a treatment program specifically for the patient. The
therapists will look at how the injury impacts independence at home and at work
and will modify treatment as needed to help the patient return to normal
activities independently and without risk of further injury. As part of rehabilitation
services’ team-based approach to care, therapists work closely with a patient’s
referring physician and communicate frequently to ensure the best outcome.
Conditions
Treated
Arthritis;
Amputations/replantations;
Nerve injuries/repairs;
Tendon injuries/repairs;
Crush injuries;
Fractures (including postsurgical) of the hand, wrist
and elbow;
Multiple trauma of the hand;
Dupytren’s release (postoperatively);
Repetitive motion injuries (including carpal tunnel
and lateral and medial epicondylitis);
Burn injuries;
Ligament/soft tissue injuries.
Hand therapy is offered at the Center for Sports
Medicine and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, Concord Hospital Medical Office North
and Concord Hospital Medical Office East.
Industrial Rehabilitation
Returning to work following an injury can be
difficult. Industrial rehabilitation services, or return-to-work services,
provide patients with therapy designed to make their transition back to work as
smooth and safe as possible. While the majority of people benefiting from
return-to-work services are those recovering from work-related injuries, these
services can also benefit people recovering from orthopaedic surgery and those
suffering from recurrent injuries and repetitive trauma.
Comprehensive preventive and rehabilitative services
for treating all conditions are available. Services include:
Pre-placement employment screenings;
Treatment of acute injuries;
Functional capacity evaluations to determine a
patient’s optimal performance and readiness to return to work;
Work conditioning program to help patients restore
their functional work level and allow them to return to previous employment and
function;
Work station evaluation to determine if the
configuration may be contributing to symptoms or limiting progress in recovery.
Other Specialty Therapy
Balance,
Dizziness & Vertigo Rehabilitation
WHAT IS VESTIBULAR REHABILITATION?
Vestibular rehabilitation (VR), or vestibular
rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a specialized form of therapy intended to
alleviate both the primary and secondary problems caused by vestibular
disorders. It is an exercise-based program primarily designed to reduce vertigo
and dizziness, gaze instability, and/or imbalance and falls. For most people
with a vestibular disorder the deficit is permanent because the amount of
restoration of vestibular function is very small. However, after vestibular
system damage, people can feel better and function can return through
compensation. This occurs because the brain learns to use other senses (vision
and somatosensory, i.e. body sense) to substitute for the deficient vestibular
system. The health of particular parts of the nervous system (brainstem and
cerebellum, visual, and somatosensory sensations) is important in determining
the extent of recovery that can be gained through compensation.
Vestibular
Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)
Evidence has shown that vestibular rehabilitation can
be effective in improving symptoms related to many vestibular (inner
ear/balance) disorders. People with vestibular disorders often experience
problems with vertigo, dizziness, visual disturbance, and/or imbalance. These
are the problems that rehabilitation aims to address. Other problems can also
arise that are secondary to vestibular disorders, such as nausea and/or
vomiting, reduced ability to focus or concentrate, and fatigue.
Symptoms due to vestibular disorders can diminish
quality of life and impact all aspects of daily living. They also contribute to
emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. Additionally, one of the
consequences of having a vestibular disorder is that symptoms frequently cause
people to adopt a sedentary lifestyle in order to avoid bringing on, or
worsening, dizziness and imbalance. As a result, decreased muscle strength and
flexibility, increased joint stiffness, and reduced stamina can occur.
Treatment strategies used in rehabilitation can also
be beneficial for these secondary problems.
Many suffer from dizziness or vertigo- often referred
to as BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo). Our clinics specialize in
the rehabilitation of patients with vertigo. Patient education, strengthening,
safety awareness, posture and balance exercise, and special techniques that
affect sensory and balance centers of the brain and limbs are all important
components of a rehabilitation program.
Lymphedema
Rehabilitation
Lymphedema is an
abnormal accumulation of lymph fluid that results in swelling, most often in
the arms and/or legs, although it can affect other parts of the body as well.
Lymphedema can develop when lymphatic vessels or nodes are missing, removed or
not working properly.
Left untreated,
lymphedema not only causes an increase in the size of the limb, but also
reduces oxygen to the skin, limits wound healing, and increases the chance of
infection.
Who is lymphedema rehabilitation for?
Individuals with the
following conditions are appropriate for lymphedema rehabilitation:
- Congenital lymphedema
- Oncologic lymphedema (after
lymph node dissection, sentinel lymph node biopsy, radiation therapy)
- Vascular
edema/lymphedema
- Face, neck, trunk, breast,
genital and extremity swelling
- Lipedema
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