1. Introduction to rehabilitation
What is rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation is a set of health interventions* designed to optimize functioning and reduce disability in individuals with health conditions in interaction with their environment.
*A health intervention is an act performed for, with or on behalf of a person or population whose purpose is to assess, improve, maintain, promote or modify health, functioning or health conditions. Examples include prescribing medicine, dressing a wound, educating on tobacco cessation and exercise training.
Rehabilitation focuses on peoples functioning
It addresses the effect a health condition such as a stroke or osteoarthritis has on a person’s life. It focuses mainly on maintaining a person’s function or helping a person to function better.
Difficulties in functioning occur as a result of:
- airments in body functions – examples include pain, muscle weakness, poor vision and hearing
- limitations in activities – examples include difficulties with dressing, doing household chores, difficulties with bathing and using the toilet
- restrictions in participation – examples include restrictions with attending community activities such as par
Rehabilitation optimizes peoples functioning by targeting these three areas; the impairments in the body, the limitations in activities and the restrictions in participation.
Question
Meet Aida
Aida has had a stroke. This has caused weakness on the left side of her body. She finds it hard to walk, balance and use her left arm.
Aida has difficulty getting to toilet in time, standing up and sitting down on toilet seat. She also finds showering and dressing difficult.
Aida used to be very active in the community, attending meetings and religious activities but cannot do so as a result of her body weakness.
1. Which of the following is Aida’s impairment in body function?
Select all that apply.
- a. Difficulty in showering
- b. Inability to attend community meetings
- c. Weakness on the left side of her body
- d. Difficulty dressing
If you selected c, you are correct.
Aida’s weakness on the left side of her body is an impairment in body function.
2. Aida’s inability to be active in the community is?
Select all that apply.
- a. An impairment in body functioning
- b. A restriction in participation
- c. A limitation in activity
- d. All of the above
If you selected b, you are correct.
A restriction in participation for Aida is her inability to be active in the community
3. Aida can have improved functioning if she receives rehabilitation for which of the following areas of her life?
Select all that apply.
- a. Difficulty getting to the toilet
- b. Weakness on the left side of her body
- c. Inability to attend religious activities
- d. All of the above
If you selected d, you are correct.
Rehabilitation improves functioning in body function impairments (eg. weakness on the left side of the body), activity limitations (eg. difficulty getting to the toilet) and participation restrictions (eg. Inability to attend religious activities)
