Getting to Know the Role of Medical Rehabilitation Doctors

Medical rehabilitation doctors are specialists whose role is to help restore the bodily functions of patients suffering from impaired bodily functions or disabilities. This condition can be caused by injury, accident, or disease. With the help of medical rehabilitation doctors, patients are expected to have a better quality of life. Medical rehabilitation doctors can provide care to patients based on their medical history. There are various kinds of therapy that can be done to restore the physical and emotional health of patients.

Conditions Treated by Medical Rehabilitation Doctors

There are various conditions that are handled by medical rehabilitation doctors. The following are:

• Patients who have an accident and suffer an injury, resulting in limited bodily functions.
• Patients undergoing treatment of diseases that cause limb weakness, making it difficult to move or even experience paralysis, such as
• Patients suffering from chronic pain, such as arthritis, back pain, and repetitive injuries.
• Patients have excess weight, making it difficult to move or do sports activities.
• Life phase changes, such as postpartum or menopause, which affect a person's physical abilities.

Various Types of Therapies by Medical Rehabilitation Doctors

There are various kinds of therapeutic treatments that can be performed by medical rehabilitation doctors to restore a patient's health condition. The type of therapy given, will be adjusted to the needs and conditions of each patient. Medical rehabilitation therapy that is given can be in the form of:

• Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy is a special treatment performed by medical rehabilitation doctors to help patients with physical, mental, and cognitive limitations. With occupational therapy, patients can be more independent in undergoing various kinds of daily activities. When occupational therapy is carried out, medical rehabilitation doctors will pay attention and assess the difficulties faced by patients in carrying out various activities. From there, medical rehabilitation doctors will provide appropriate training to facilitate patients in carrying out these activities. For patients with stroke, for example, medical rehabilitation doctors will help and train patients to be able to carry out a variety of physical activities safely, such as training the balance of the body, re-teaching how to bathe, dress, and various other activities. Occupational therapy is not only given to people with stroke, but also to people with arthritis, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, children with birth defects, to autism.

• Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a treatment that is recommended or given by a medical rehabilitation doctor with the aim of increasing the function or strength of the joints and muscles. By doing this therapy, the limitations of motion experienced by patients can be overcome so that the patient's ability to stand, walk, move, and climb stairs will be better than before. Physiotherapy is recommended for patients who have injuries, physical disorders, limited movement, starting from the sufferer stroke to patients who have undergone a certain amputation of a limb, so they need to adapt to the aids they wear to move.

• Speech therapy

A medical rehabilitation doctor will give speech therapy to patients who have speech problems and find it difficult to compose words. Patients suffering from stuttering will usually be advised to undergo this therapy, including those with apraxia and dysarthria. Some diseases that can cause speech disorders, such as strokes, polyps, vocal cord paralysis, dementia or senile dementia, ADHD, and autism, will also usually be recommended for undergo this therapy. In speech therapy, the doctor will perform treatments according to the speech disorder suffered by the patient. The exercises provided by medical rehabilitation doctors serve to strengthen the muscles in the face and throat, so that they can speak words or speak more smoothly.

• Social rehabilitation

This is part of medical rehabilitation which helps patients to adapt to the changes experienced, as a result of certain illnesses, injuries, or disabilities. With social rehabilitation, patients can re-blend or socialize with the community with more confidence.

When to Visit a Medical Rehabilitation Doctor?

You are advised to visit a medical rehabilitation doctor, if:

• Suffer from certain diseases or injuries that cause physical disorders, such as paralysis or loss of normal function in certain body parts.
• Suffering from physical disability that causes the space for normal activities to be limited or hampered.
• Has physical or disability limitations.

Things You Must Prepare Before Meeting a Medical Rehabilitation Doctor

Before consulting a medical rehabilitation doctor, the patient must first prepare a referral letter from the doctor, so that the medical rehabilitation doctor knows what actions are needed based on the illness. In the letter of reference is usually listed in detail the medical history and therapy needed to maintain quality of life or strive for a higher quality of life.