Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is a very comprehensive term and its lexical meaning is regaining lost functions. Compared to physical therapy, it is a longer process that requires active participation and effort of the patient in the treatment.

The concept of rehabilitation, as a result of the need for treatment of diseases and disabilities that occurred after the 1st and 2nd World Wars, emerged in Europe and the USA. has also emerged. In Turkey, rehabilitation practices started in the following years with the contributions of valuable scientists who went abroad and received training in this new field.

Rehabilitation was previously defined only as 'medical treatment of disabilities'. Later, the scope of this definition was expanded. Rehabilitation is defined as all the activities aimed at partially or completely eliminating the diseases with drugs, surgery, physical methods and assistive devices and ensuring the independence of the patient in terms of physical, mental, social and economic aspects.

Rehabilitation work should not be carried out by a single person, but by a team. The rehabilitation team may consist of medical professionals such as Physical medicine and Rehabilitation specialist (Physiatrist), neurologist, psychiatrist, and orthopedist, and non-physician health professionals such as physiotherapist, sports coach, speech therapist, vocational counselor, and psychologist.

WHAT IS ORTHOPEDIC REHABILITATION?

Orthopedic problems such as fractures, dislocations, ligament and ligament injuries, meniscus and ligament tears must be followed by physical therapy and rehabilitation programs after surgical application or splinting such as plaster or splint. The aim is to restore the normal activity level to the patient as soon as possible.

Illness, accident, posture disorder, etc. As a result of the deterioration of our normal movements due to pain or various restrictions, we apply to the doctor. With appropriate diagnosis and treatment, we make an effort to regress our complaints and to regain our old self as soon as possible. Fracture, strain etc. The pathological condition that occurs in the form of a disease is tried to be treated by the physician according to its causes.

Healing is not just the pain relief or the union of the fracture! Of course, the elimination of the real causes of the complaint will run in parallel with the relief of the pain. However, in this process, some problems such as various movement restrictions, pain with movement, and weakness and fatigue will arise due to these. This situation prevents us from continuing our daily life completely as before.

For example, we cannot easily comb our hair due to shoulder pain. After the surgery, we have difficulty climbing stairs with knee and ankle weakness. Or, typing on the keyboard becomes a great pain due to our complaint in the wrist tendons. "To get back to our old self as soon as possible" This is the definition of recovery. A good rehabilitation process is required in order to complete tissue healing, to recover in the closest form to its former state, and then to allow our joint movements to regain their former comfort and strength.

WHAT IS PRE-SURGERY REHABILITATION?

Recently, pre-op (pre-operative) rehabilitation has been given importance to contribute to the success of surgical treatment and to shorten the postoperative recovery period for a faster ambulation (mobility). It is known that surgical treatment is more successful when problems such as pain, temperature increase, swelling, limitation of movement, muscle weakness occurring in the injured area are reduced after the injury. Therefore, pre-operative rehabilitation is gaining more and more importance day by day.

In addition, by taking precautionary measures, it can be ensured that the problems that may develop after the operation are kept to a minimum. For example, muscle weakening will occur after many operations such as anterior cruciate ligament repair, shoulder surgeries. By strengthening the muscles as much as possible before the surgery, it will be possible to keep this weakness to a minimum. Education on how to cope with the difficulties that may be encountered during the postoperative recovery period is also an integral part of preoperative rehabilitation. For example, using crutches, walking training, using the operated limb, putting on and taking off clothes, etc.

What are the Alternative Treatment Approaches to Physical Therapy?

Various drug treatments and, in some cases, surgical approaches for the treatment of the disease are an alternative to physical therapy.

All of the diseases within the scope of physical medicine and rehabilitation are multidisciplinary diseases (concerning many clinics). Medical support is also obtained from other relevant services when necessary during diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.