Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi - (Page 25)

You’re recovering from an injury or just had surgery. As you pack your bags to go home, your doctor prescribes six to eight weeks of rehabilitation therapy. “Ugh, what’s the point?” you ask. Well, we’ll tell you. Before you assume that rehabilitation is a painful waste of time, it’s important to understand its purpose and the realities of what to expect. “I think some patients are hesitant about rehab because it seems like an unnecessary inconvenience after all they’ve gone through,” says Michelle H. Cameron, M.D., P.T., author of Physical Agents in Rehabilitation: From Research to Practice. “Others think it’s going to be incredibly painful or that it won’t have any beneﬁt.” They couldn’t be more wrong. “Rehab is not arbitrary, torture or a waste of time,” adds William Micheo, M.D., scientiﬁc program chair for the Sixth World congress of the International Society for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. “It’s a crucial step toward restoring normal function and making a complete recovery that can help get you back on your feet more quickly and prevent injuries down the road.” Here are the most common types of rehabilitation and what you can expect from each, so you can stop dragging your feet—and start feeling better. WHO NEEDS IT: Individuals with brain, spinal cord or musculoskeletal injuries; those with chronic and progressive diseases and disorders; and those recovering from major orthopedic surgeries like knee or hip replacements. HOW IT HELPS: It helps patients gain or regain strength, balance, stability and range of motion. “Your physical therapist will push you enough to help you keep making progress and moving toward your goals without injuring yourself,” Cameron says. “Particularly after orthopedic surgeries, it’s critical that the patient get moving the right way to avoid lifelong limitations and future injuries.” WHAT TO EXPECT: Physical therapy may include physical activity, body-mechanics training or handson treatment, Cameron says. “Rehab isn’t torture. It can be challenging and sometimes uncomfortable, but the discomfort will be manageable.” Believe it or not, Cameron says, most patients come to enjoy—and even look forward to—their sessions. “You may ﬁnd yourself working out in the pool, playing games on the Nintendo Wii or even dancing,” PHYSICAL THERAPY Cameron says. “With the right attitude, it really can be as much fun as it is work.” Your therapy also may include enjoyable activities like a massage or a warm parafﬁn wax or heating pad application to ease muscle tension and improve ﬂexibility. WHO NEEDS IT: Individuals faced with physical, mental, emotional or developmental challenges that affect their ability to complete everyday tasks. HOW IT HELPS: Patients work around their challenges to regain their independence and become a productive member of their homes and communities. “Occupational therapy is usually concurrent with and complementary to physical therapy,” Micheo says. “It’s about helping the patient return home and reenter society as smoothly as possible with their new limitations and challenges.” WHAT TO EXPECT: “Occupational therapists may help patients make changes to their home to make Vim & Vigor · SPRI NG 2012 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY 25

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi
Opening Thoughts
Building Healthier Hearts
Young at Heart
Caring for the Little Ones
Get Real
How Far We’ve Come
Patient Survival Guide
Perfect Attendance
Jennifer Hudson, Grammy-winning recording artist
Lean on Me
Intimidated by the Gym?
What Is Your Volunteer Style?
A Prescription for Relief
Virtual Health
SPECIAL You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby
Get Heart Healthy!
Growing Stronger
The Doctor Will See You Now
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi