What Rehabilitation Therapy Really Is
Rehabilitation Therapy, also called physical therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, or sports medicine, is an area of health care that aims to improve and restore the quality of life and functioning for people with physical disabilities or injuries. It has become a popular field of health care in the United States because of the growing numbers of people who are living with some form of disability. The American College of Sports Medicine identifies rehabilitation as “a specialized area of physical therapy and rehabilitation”. In this article, we will look at what rehabilitation therapy can do for you, and what are its various forms.

Basically, rehabilitation therapy involves physical exercise and therapy, occupational or physical therapy, massage, psychosocial support, and stress management. Rehabilitation usually takes place in one or more settings to help patients recover physical functions that have been affected by an injury or illness. These settings may include hospitals, rehab centers, skilled nursing homes, and home health agencies. Rehabilitation may include different types of activity and settings, depending on the needs of the individual person.
One form of rehabilitation therapy is stroke recovery, which aims to rehabilitate stroke victims in ways to improve their quality of life and recovery from stroke. Rehabilitation can also involve various other forms of treatments, such as physical therapy or physical rehabilitation. Physical therapy is used to improve movement, health, and function of the muscles, joints, and bones of the body. Rehabilitation therapy can also take the form of physical rehabilitation after a traumatic brain injury or the diagnosis of a brain tumor.
Another type of rehabilitation therapy is occupational therapy, which addresses problems in the functional abilities of the patient. The therapy may include physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, nutritional counseling, psychological counseling, and psychotherapy. Sometimes, the physical therapy may need to be combined with other types of therapy to achieve a full range of improvement for the patient. Rehabilitation may need to be used to overcome conditions that are associated with particular disabilities, such as cerebral palsy. Rehabilitation may also be used to help patients with mild to moderate disabilities reclaim their normal life.
Rehabilitation also includes aspects of cognitive therapy, such as therapy focused on communication, management, and social skills. In cognitive therapy, the aim is to improve the ability of the brain to process information. In language therapy, rehabilitation therapy aims to improve a patient’s speech and communication skills, in order to facilitate everyday tasks. Other rehabilitation therapy works on improving motor functions, such as walking, co-ordination, balance, and rhythm.
Rehabilitation services are recommended for all kinds of accidents, irrespective of their nature or severity. However, it is important to note that not every condition requires early rehabilitation services. Most injuries can be treated and managed by the patient himself or herself, over time. If the injured person delays rehabilitation, he or she may risk further injury or disability. Further, if an athlete is unable to participate in sporting events due to an injury, professional sports organizations will usually require a candidate for this service.