A musculoskeletal rehabilitation (rehab) program is supervised by a team of medical professionals. It is designed for people with impairments or disabilities due to disease, disorders, or injury to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, or bones. These programs can often improve a person's ability to function and reduce their symptoms. They can also improve their well-being.
Some of the conditions that may benefit from this type of rehab may include:
Amputation
Tendon tears, such as Achilles tendon injuries and tears of the rotator cuff in the shoulder
Trauma injuries, such as sprains, strains, joint dislocations, and breaks (fractures)
Back pain
Osteoporosis
Arthritis
Bone tumors
Repetitive stress injuries, such as tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome
Joint injury and replacement
These programs can be done on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Many skilled professionals are part of the rehab team, such as:
Orthopedist or orthopedic surgeon
Neurologist or neurosurgeon
Physiatrist
Internist
Other specialty healthcare providers
Rehabilitation specialists
Registered dietitian
Physical therapist
Occupational therapist
Social worker
Exercise physiologist
Psychologist or psychiatrist
Recreational therapist
Case manager
Chaplain
Vocational counselor
The program is designed to meet the needs of each person, depending on the specific problem or disease. It's vital that both the person and their family are actively involved.
The goal is to help the person return to the highest level of function and independence possible. It's also to improve their quality of life—physically, emotionally, and socially.
To help reach these goals, programs may include:
Fitting and care for casts, braces, and splints (orthoses), or artificial limbs (prostheses)
Exercise programs to improve range of motion, increase muscle strength, improve flexibility and mobility, and increase endurance
Gait (walking) retraining and safely using a walker, cane, or crutch
Help with buying assistive devices that promote independence
Patient and family education and counseling
Pain management
Stress management and emotional support
Nutritional counseling
Ergonomic assessments and work-related injury prevention
Vocational counseling