Why Rehabilitation Is Important

By Richard C. Senelick, MD

You never expected to get sick or injured, but now you find yourself in the hospital after experiencing a stroke. Your right side is weak, and your speech is a bit slurred. How will you ever get home and get your life back on track?

We never think we will need rehabilitation, yet there are more than 50 million people with disabilities in the United States. Rehabilitation is the key to getting back to your community and the activities you love.

Just Like School
Going for therapy and rehabilitation is kind of like going back to school later in life. You may have to relearn information that you had previously acquired. You may need to learn to walk again, speak clearly or improve your memory. Like school or learning a new skill, there are certain principles that make a difference.

Dose Matters
When we take a medication for a medical problem, we carefully adjust the dose. Too little or too much antibiotic and the infection worsens or never goes away. The same is true of rehabilitation. The intensity and amount of therapy you receive matters. Typically, an inpatient rehabilitation hospital will provide at least three hours of therapy a day, five days a week.

Function Matters
If you want to learn to play a piano, you need to practice on a piano and not just read about it. The same is true for rehabilitation. If you had a stroke and have lost the use of your right arm, you will need to do tasks and therapy that require the use of your right arm. Performing these tasks will help rewire your brain.

Know the Guidelines
According to the adult stroke rehabilitation guidelines released by the American Heart Association, whenever possible, stroke patients should be treated at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, such as Encompass Health rehabilitation hospital, rather than a skilled nursing facility.

By using an interdisciplinary team approach, which includes physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, physicians, case managers, pharmacists and dietitians, clinicians at Encompass Health rehabilitation hospitals work together to create a customized care plan designed with each patient’s unique goals at the center.

Dr. Richard Senelick is a neurorehabilitation physician and editor of Encompass Health Press.

To learn more about Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley, visit encompasshealth.com/sewickleyrehab. To learn more about Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Harmarville, visit encompasshealth.com/harmarvillerehab.