Rehab Select Blog

Right now, we’re experiencing an unprecedented experience together as we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. Although many of us share feelings of uncertainty, we can find proactive ways to minimize our exposure and to be encouraged by the discoveries that are being made every day. We can find comfort in the many proven strategies to combat the virus together.

One fact researchers do know is that certain populations appear to be at higher risk when exposed to the virus, especially seniors living in long-term facilities. It’s important that these facilities follow stringent safety measures to reduce the risks of exposure to vulnerable residents as much as possible.

If you have an open wound, bedsore, burn, or ulcer after surgery or a medical complication, your doctor may provide a referral for a wound care center. A wound care center provides targeted services to help your wound heal and reduce the pain associated with it. The complex nature of wound care requires specialized medical attention, especially when associated with chronic health conditions like:

• Diabetes
• Vascular disease
• Obesity
• Incontinence
• Lymphedema
• Surgical breakdown
• Traumatic injury
• Renal failure
• Congestive heart failure

These medical conditions can slow healing time, decrease blood flow, or cause nerve damage that requires skilled attention. Your wound care specialist should have special training in addressing wounds associated with these conditions.

The average stroke recovery takes anywhere from 3-4 months to 1-2 years, and sometimes recovery efforts can last a lifetime. Early intervention is critical for the best results, and rehab often starts within a day or two of hospitalization. 

“Remember to breathe. It is after all, the secret of life.”  – Gregory Maguire

Breathing is a necessity of life. So, it can be pretty alarming when you feel like you can’t catch your breath or like you’re choking on air. Lung issues can make you feel like the very source of your vitality is compromised. 

A recent study from the American Heart Association reported that nearly half of U.S. adults are living with some form of heart condition today, and as many as 6.9% have severe cardiovascular disease. If you are one of the many people suffering from severe chronic or acute heart disease, have recently experienced a heart attack, or have undergone heart surgery, your physician may recommend inpatient cardiac rehab.

In this article, we’ll break down what you can expect from your rehab program, how to choose between inpatient and outpatient treatment, and how you might benefit from cardiac rehab. 

Today, over 1.8 million Americans are living with an amputation. Amputations may be medically necessary and, at times, even lifesaving, but they can also be deeply traumatic, both physically and emotionally. Amputation rehabilitation can help patients recover, increase their quality of life, and adjust to the new reality of life after the loss of a limb.

Osteoporosis is a condition that results in weakening bones, but osteoporosis rehabilitation gives you the proactive power to counteract the condition. Osteoporosis rehabilitation typically consists of orthopedic rehab, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutrition counseling, and various other personalized treatments to help you tackle your condition and improve the quality of your life.

Lumbar spine injuries are those that affect the vertebra in the lower back. Injuries to this area are often severe, but unlike damage further up the spine, they are not life-threatening. 

Over 250,000 people are living with a spinal cord injury in the United States today. Every year, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons estimates that over 17,000 people will experience a spinal injury.

When you suffer a fracture, you may be required to stay off your injured limb for a prescribed amount of time. After a certain point, however, immobilization can do more harm than good. So, your doctor may recommend orthopedic rehabilitation to help your injury heal in the most effective way possible.