Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation comprises health care services and procedures the aim of which is to eliminate developed functional losses to the greatest extent possible and optimise and restore functional ability and physical performance ability. Developed functional losses can be of various origin (movement, speech disorder, reduced heart function, etc.). In every case, rehabilitation is a combination of therapies set up by specialists, physiotherapists and other experts considering the condition of a patient at a given time.
The contents and duration of rehabilitation therapy are designed after consultations with the medical specialist, with the help of a physiotherapist and a rehabilitation specialist, based on a strict professional protocol and tailor-made to the patient’s special needs. There are several types of rehabilitation:
- Early rehabilitation follows immediately after surgery and is part of the hospital treatment. During early rehabilitation, the patient engages in therapeutic gymnastics comprising special elements considering the medical specialist’s recommendations, with the help of a physiotherapist.
- Outpatient rehabilitation takes place as the next step, within the framework of which the patient engages in therapeutic gymnastics and undergoes various treatments necessary for their recovery. Outpatient rehabilitation may be complemented by therapeutic gymnastics done at home, the elements of which are compiled by the physiotherapist considering the patient’s condition at the given time.
- Certain interventions may require what is referred to as programmed rehabilitation, which the patient is recommended to repeat at given intervals.
Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Packages
The rehabilitation of the musculoskeletal (motor) system is a branch of rehabilitation and comprises the followings fields:
- rehabilitation after A&E care or orthopaedic surgery (e.g.: hip fracture, other fracture, hip or knee replacement surgery);
- rehabilitation of stroke patients (e.g.: unilateral limb weakness, limb paralysis, speech disorders);
- rehabilitation after limb amputation (prosthesis);
- rehabilitation after other neurologic diseases;
- rehabilitation of rheumatology patients (arthrosis, rheumatoid arthritis).
Rehabilitation after orthopaedic and traumatology surgery is to help the patient regain their physical activity and health and continue their everyday lives as soon as possible. A well designed rehabilitation programme is of extremely high significance for recovery and it is essential that the rehabilitation process should start immediately after surgery.
Musculoskeletal rehabilitation programmes are always tailor-made and may contain the following elements:
- therapeutic gymnastics: one of the oldest fields of therapy comprising a series of various special gymnastic exercises that facilitates speedy recovery;
- physiotherapy: a conservative method that targets, among others, the healing of musculoskeletal diseases and other disorders as well as post-surgery recovery;
- physical therapy: aims to reduce pain of various origins, strengthen muscles, widen the movement range of joints and ease the restricted movement of joints;
- balneotherapy: a part of physiotherapy that uses the healing effects of mineral waters, muds and curative waters for therapeutic purposes.