Walking your dog in a park. Dashing down a basketball court. Mowing your lawn. We usually don’t think about the great gift we have to move, bend, lift, throw or push without limitation. But an injury or illness can take away those abilities and suddenly everyday activities become extraordinary tasks.
Physical rehabilitation is the process of restoring and regaining physical strength and function. Physical rehabilitation can be used to help treat a simple ankle sprain or to help a stroke survivor walk, talk and eat again.
“Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, nurses and physical, occupational, speech and recreation therapists work as a team to help patients reduce their dependency on others and achieve the highest level of functional independence,” says Frank Hyland, vice president of rehabilitation for Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network. “Successful rehabilitation helps you get back to doing the things you love with the people you love.