Rehabilitation aims to facilitate recovery from loss of function. (See also Overview of Rehabilitation Overview of Rehabilitation Rehabilitation aims to facilitate recovery from loss of function. Loss may be due to fracture, amputation, stroke or another neurologic disorder, arthritis, cardiac impairment, or prolonged... read more .)
Patients with arthritis can benefit from activities and exercises to increase joint range of motion and strength and from strategies to protect the joints. For example, patients may be advised
To slide a pot of boiling water containing pasta rather than carry it from the stove to the sink (to avoid undue pain and strain to joints)
How to get in and out of the bathtub safely
To get a raised toilet seat, a bathtub bench, or both (to reduce pain and stress on the lower-extremity joints)
To wrap foam, cloth, or tape around the handles of objects (eg, knives, cooking pots and pans) to cushion the grip
To use tools with larger, ergonomically designed handles
Such instruction may occur in outpatient settings, in the home via a home health care agency, or in private practice.
Patients who are blind are taught to rely more on the other senses, to develop specific skills, and to use devices designed for blind people (eg, Braille, cane, reading machine). Therapy aims to help patients function to their maximum and become independent, to restore psychologic security, and to help patients deal with and influence the attitudes of other people. Therapy varies depending on the way vision was lost (suddenly or slowly and progressively), extent of vision loss, the patient’s functional needs, and coexisting deficits. For example, patients with peripheral neuropathy and diminished tactile sensation in the fingers may have difficulty reading Braille. Many blind people need psychologic counseling (usually cognitive-behavioral therapy) to help them better cope with their condition.
For ambulation, therapy may involve learning to use a cane; canes used by the blind are usually white and longer and thinner than ordinary canes. People who use a wheelchair are taught to use one arm to operate the wheelchair and the other to use a cane. People who prefer to use a trained dog instead of a cane are taught to handle and care for the dog. When walking with a sighted person, a blind person can hold onto the bent elbow of the sighted person, rather than use an ambulation aid. The sighted person should not lead the blind person by the hand because some blind people perceive this action as dominant and controlling.
Patients with COPD can benefit from exercises to increase endurance and from strategies to simplify activities and thus conserve energy. Activities and exercises that encourage use of the upper and lower extremities are used to increase muscle aerobic capacity, which decreases overall oxygen requirement and eases breathing. Supervising patients while they engage in activity helps motivate them and makes them feel more secure. Such instruction may occur in medical facilities or in the patient’s home.
The term head injury is often used interchangeably with traumatic brain injury Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is physical injury to brain tissue that temporarily or permanently impairs brain function. Diagnosis is suspected clinically and confirmed by imaging (primarily... read more (TBI). Abnormalities vary and may include muscle weakness, spasticity, incoordination, and ataxia; cognitive dysfunction (eg, memory loss, loss of problem-solving skills, language and visual disturbances) is common.
Early intervention by rehabilitation specialists Rehabilitation Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is physical injury to brain tissue that temporarily or permanently impairs brain function. Diagnosis is suspected clinically and confirmed by imaging (primarily... read more is indispensable for maximal functional recovery. Such intervention includes prevention of secondary disabilities (eg, pressure ulcers, joint contractures), prevention of pneumonia, and family education. As early as possible, rehabilitation specialists should evaluate patients to establish baseline findings. Later, before starting rehabilitation therapy, patients should be reevaluated; these findings are compared with baseline findings to help prioritize treatment. Patients with severe cognitive dysfunction require extensive cognitive therapy, which is often begun immediately after injury and continued for months or years.
Specific rehabilitation therapy varies depending on the patient’s abnormalities, which depend on the level and extent (partial or complete) of the spinal cord injury (see Spinal Trauma Spinal Trauma Trauma to the spine may cause injuries involving the spinal cord, vertebrae, or both. Occasionally, the spinal nerves are affected. The anatomy of the spinal column is reviewed elsewhere. Spinal... read more , particularly see table Effects of Spinal Cord Injury by Location Effects of Spinal Cord Injury by Location Trauma to the spine may cause injuries involving the spinal cord, vertebrae, or both. Occasionally, the spinal nerves are affected. The anatomy of the spinal column is reviewed elsewhere. Spinal... read more ). Complete transsection causes flaccid paralysis; partial transsection causes spastic paralysis of muscles innervated by the affected segment. A patient’s functional capacity depends on the level of injury (see Overview of Spinal Cord Disorders: Symptoms and Signs Symptoms and Signs Spinal cord disorders can cause permanent severe neurologic disability. For some patients, such disability can be avoided or minimized if evaluation and treatment are rapid. The spinal cord... read more ) and the development of complications (eg, joint contractures, pressure ulcers, pneumonia).
The affected area must be immobilized surgically or nonsurgically as soon as possible and throughout the acute phase. During the acute phase, daily routine care should include measures to prevent contractures, pressure ulcers, and pneumonia; all measures needed to prevent other complications (eg, orthostatic hypotension, atelectasis, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism) should also be taken. Placing patients on a tilt table and increasing the angle gradually toward the upright position may help reestablish hemodynamic balance. Compression stockings, an elastic bandage, or an abdominal binder may prevent orthostatic hypotension.
Differential diagnosis of foot drop includes common peroneal nerve (fibular) neuropathy, diffuse peripheral polyneuropathy (eg, caused by diabetes), L4 and/or L5 radiculopathy, tumor, stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and other causes. Patients may present with weakness of ankle dorsiflexors, ankle evertors, and/or toe extensors, as well as possible foot slap and steppage gait (compensatory excessive hip and knee flexion). Treatment of foot drop includes treatment of the underlying cause; training in the use of ankle-foot orthosis (AFO); strengthening of weak ankle dorsiflexors, ankle evertors, and/or toe extensors; stretching of ankle plantar flexors; and gait training. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is currently used in multiple sclerosis patients to produce fibular nerve stimulation during the gait swing phase to help with foot clearance.
Critical illness polyneuropathy can present as failure to wean from mechanical ventilation. In multisystem organ failure secondary to sepsis, the systemic inflammatory response syndrome, presumably resulting from cytokine and free radical release, impairs peripheral nerve microcirculation, resulting in polyneuropathy of mixed or motor nerves. Noninflammatory axonal degeneration and resulting neurogenic muscle atrophy may cause weakness of the diaphragm, limbs, and facial and paraspinal muscles. Sensory fibers are minimally affected. Serial serum creatinine kinase levels and serial electrodiagnostic studies are helpful in monitoring the disease course in some patients. Recovery time ranges from 3 weeks to 6 months. Rehabilitation focuses on prevention of pressure ulcers, contractures, and compression neuropathies and return to normal function. Strengthening exercises, mobility and ADL (activities of daily living) retraining, as well as appropriate orthotics and adaptive equipment, should be provided at appropriate stages of recovery.