Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is about helping people to recover from serious injury, illness or surgery. It is based on your individual needs.
A team of healthcare professionals will look after your recovery including:
- doctors
- psychologists
- physiotherapists
- occupational therapists
- speech pathologists.
Rehabilitation may relate to many different conditions. Therefore, the goals of therapy are different for each person. For example, a young person who has broken their arm in a netball game will be keen to recover quickly so they can continue to enjoy their family, social and work life. An older person who has had a stroke may want rehabilitation to be able to live independently at home – showering and dressing without help.
Benefits of rehabilitation
There are many benefits of rehabilitation soon after illness, injury or surgery. These include:
- reduced recovery time
- learning new life skills to help manage your health condition
- alternative pain management options.
Medical conditions requiring rehabilitation
Medical conditions that may require rehabilitation include:
- amputation
- arthritis
- brain injury
- multiple sclerosis
- muscular dystrophy
- musculoskeletal injuries (pain of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and bones)
- osteoporosis
- Parkinson's
- spina bifida
- spinal cord injury
- spine pain (low back pain, neck pain)
- sports-related injuries
- stroke
- work-related injuries.
Hospital patients and rehabilitation
If you require rehabilitation following your injury, illness or surgery you will be referred to or placed in the most appropriate facility for your condition and recovery.
Your ongoing needs are assessed through your regular appointments with healthcare professionals. This might include sourcing aids to help in your daily life such as:
- supporting collar
- wheelchairs
- crutches.
This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.