Rehabilitation – is a word that involves the ‘process of helping a person who has suffered an illness or injury resume lost skills and regain maximum self-sufficiency’.
The rehabilitation process is often directed by a health practitioner. However, understanding the principles of management will allow you to better manage these symptoms on your own.
The word CHANGE is the most complex word in rehabilitation.
Change can be difficult, complicated, and frustrating – even when we can SEE the problem. Change can be even more confusing, when we cannot see the problem.
But integrating the word CHANGE into how and what you are doing -is the ONLY way to adjust, adapt, control, and manage any type of problem -whether you can see it or not.
Tom was a 30-year-old healthy, active young man- working in the construction industry. His favourite sports were handball and tennis.
Tom was injured in a work accident and his left leg was severed so badly that it had to be amputated.
Although it took time, Tom received good rehab care, and was fitted with a prosthesis for his left leg. He now works in the office of the construction company and has returned to tennis but not handball. He has taken up golf!
Louise was a healthy executive assistant working full-time in a law firm. She enjoyed swimming, walking and attended twice weekly exercise classes at the gym.
She injured her neck and back in a car accident and took a few months off work.
Louise made some improvement but continued to experience post traumatic headaches and a very ‘sensitive’ back. She was unable to sit comfortably for more than a half hour.
She attends with her physician and physiotherapist occasionally. Louise is beginning to realize that even when she ready, she may be only able to work part-time.
Cynthia is a woman in her early 60’s who works part-time at the post office. She has suffered from ‘a little bit of depression’ throughout her adult life but has always been able to all her household and cooking chores.
She has a cat and likes to read though only takes a walk ‘when the weather is perfect’.
She has noticed some discomfort in her shoulders and knees though her family physician has told her she is ‘fine’. X-rays showed mild narrowing of the joint spaces (degenerative changes)-‘usual’ for her age.
Cynthia realizes that in order to stay involved in her daily life, she must learn how to manage her aches and pains. She has registered for the seniors’ exercise and education sessions at the Y.