Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Normal Therapies Used in Rehabilitation

Physical Therapy is for those who have lost some of their physical mobility due to health-related conditions or injuries, such as back injuries, neck injuries, arthritis, burns, amputations, injuries related to work or sports, and stroke. The goal of physical therapy is to make the activities of daily living (ADLs) easier for the patient. In pursuing this goal, physical therapists usually work with other specialists, such as nurses, social workers, and doctors. Since each patient's case is different, physical therapists use individualized treatment plans to meet the needs of each patient. They use a wide range of procedures to restore function of the body and reduce pain: Hydrotherapy, therapeutic exercise, the application of ice and heat, electrical stimulation, ultrasound therapy, etc.

Hydrotherapy is a kind of treatment that uses water. rehab service southern california It is widely used for patients who suffer arthritis, back pain, work or sports injuries. Supported by a pool of warm water, patients can perform therapies aimed at increasing strength and muscle tone while relieving pain.  Or, the patient can be immersed in a whirlpool or Jacuzzi. The use of water jets is also a popular treatment option. Sometimes, hydrotherapy also includes the application of wet towels to the skin. Research shows that hydrotherapy can be highly beneficial. 

Therapeutic exercises are activities designed to restore and improve physical strength. Some sort of therapeutic exercise is present in almost every physical therapy case. Therapeutic exercise is one component of physical therapists' holistic patient care.

Research shows that external temperature changes can release pain and relax muscle. Physical therapists use both ice and heat therapy. Each is beneficial for differing conditions. The use of ice therapy is called cryotherapy. The usual techniques for cryotherapy are the direct application of ice, the use of special cold packs, cold water baths and cold water sprays. Conduction and convection are two types of heat therapy. Conduction heat therapy uses the heat directly. Convection heat therapy transfers heat via the circulation. Hydrotherapy with warm water is an example of convection therapy.

Sometimes, physical therapists will use electrical currents to activate nerves affected by spinal cord injury, head injury, stroke or other neurological disorder.  The approach is considered safe and effective for pain relief, muscle strengthening, muscle re-education and tissue healing.

Ultrasound is not just for pregnant women! Physical therapy practitioners use ultrasound therapy to ease the pain associated with certain physical conditions or injuries. There are two types of ultrasound therapy: thermal and mechanical.  Thermal ultrasound therapy involves continuous transmission of sound waves, which causes small vibrations deep inside tissues. The vibration increases heat and friction, and this warming influences healing. Mechanical ultrasound therapy uses pulses of sound waves to penetrate tissues, which reduces the inflammatory response and eases pain.

The goals of physical therapy are to restore the patient's movements back to pre-injury levels as much as possible. rehab southern california Physical therapists have a wide range of choices for the treatments available to the patient. However, physical therapy, although it is very important, is just one component of a holistic view of patient health.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Different Rehabilitation Services for Different Therapies

Rehabilitation services, also called rehab services, cover a range of treatments that are especially designed to help the addicts or those who have faced some kind of serious illness. Usually, it takes time to complete the rehab process. Sometimes, it may take months or even years. Typically, there are 4 types of rehab services.

Physical Rehab Services: Physical therapy is used by the experts to help out those who suffer from a bone or muscle injury. The injury might hinder the movement and may result in pain in shoulder, back and neck. Injury caused as a result of an accident, sport or an occupational injury can be cured at a physical rehab center. Other disorders that got developed with time, although they are not the result of accidents, are also treated, such as stroke, arthritis and strain.

Aquatic Rehab Services: The aquatic rehab services orange county are basically used when there is a problem related to strength, endurance or flexibility. The treatment is also utilized in case of joint problems. Water has the great ability to absorb the body weight and in turn shock the body. An important thing to note is that there is no standard aquatic therapy and the experts design the treatment in accordance with the injury and the lifestyle of the person. The treatment has seen great results in the past. It may take some time but there are positive results for sure.

Low Vision and Speech Rehabilitation Services: The service is similar to the occupational therapy but focuses only on the problems related to vision and speech. Also, the therapy is a little different in the approach as compared to other services. This is because while other services tries to reverse the extent of damage and bring the patient or organ as close to normal working condition as possible, the low vision and speech rehabilitation services trains the people to survive and adapt to the situation. For example, for people with low visions, training is provided on how to use the available vision to survive and lead a normal life. They are also taught skills to utilize the other senses including sound and smell to aid the low vision in day to day activities.

Occupational Therapy: In case of loss of skills which affect the day to day activities of yours, you need to consult as occupational therapist. The rehab services southern california are generally for the problems related to upper part of the body but may include those which are related to mental skills as well like a stroke or brain trauma. The patient might not be able to eat properly or able to do day to day work including reading, cooking or walking. The time required for the treatment varies a lot depending on the type of problem.

The rehab services work in close relation with other medical treatment to provide a better life to the patients. Once successfully completed the process, the patient may be requested to participate some counseling sessions and take prescription medication.