Going through rehabilitation procedures at an old age can be difficult for patients due to both physical and mental weakness. A well balanced and healthy diet is extremely necessary for development and regeneration of the cells in the body, so that rehabilitation has a positive effect on the system. Every form of rehabilitation entails a long term procedure that involves different types of exercises, counselling, and intake of healthy food along with regular medicines. Every elderly person going through a rehabilitation procedure must follow a proper diet chart in order to maintain proficient health conditions ever after the procedure is completed. Here are a few tips to help you build a diet chart with accordance to your health requirements during and after rehabilitation procedures.   Food Rich in Minerals - Minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc restore the body’s energy levels and ensure proper functioning of the brain. Calcium has a special property of keeping the bone health and density intact. Foods rich in minerals must be consumed on a daily basis, so that health problems related to old age can be kept at bay. Such foods include bananas, milk, yoghurt, watermelons, apples, beans, lentils, Bengal gram, whole grains,...

Alzheimer's disease is a common and intense mental degeneration that mostly occurs among the elderly. This disease causes a person to lose track of regular life affairs and forget everything that was once held in high esteem. Recent incidents, acquaintances, and visited places often escape the mind. A person suffering from Alzheimer's disease even fails to recognise close connections like family and friends. A comprehensive and holistic rehabilitation procedure helps the patient cope with regular life in terms of performing activities that are to a certain extent independent of others. Rehabilitation in Alzheimer's disease differs from one person to another, based on the symptoms during extreme cases. However, there are specific guidelines that are followed throughout the general course of rehabilitation for such patients. Physical Exercises and Activities: Patients are treated by therapists on a regular basis, who train them to carry out easy physical exercises so that their bodies regain the energy that is lost due to daily mental fatigue. Exercises and physical therapies rejuvenate the body's central nervous, skeletal, and muscular system, thereby attempting to cease further depreciation of the brain cells. Similar and Rewarding Activities: Therapists make the patients carry out certain important activities on a regular...

A sudden trauma, a strike or jolt to the head, can damage the brain in what we call a Traumatic Brain Injury. A TBI can be as mild as a concussion and as severe as a coma with later proving fatal in many instances.  Traumatic brain injuries can be broadly classified into three kinds based on the level of brain trauma sustained and symptoms experienced by the patient. Three kinds of TBI based on severity Mild, with concussions falling under this category, the patient may or may not lose consciousness for a few seconds or minutes. The symptoms suffered could include a headache, dizziness and vision problems. Moderate, in which the patient can experience prolonged lethargy. Severe, in which the patient often slips into the coma state. Severe TBI can result in fatality as well. Preventing TBI TBI affects the youth and the elderly the most because of their increased risk of falls and sustaining mishaps. Most instances of TBI are preventable by observing caution. While falls are the leading cause of TBI they are closely followed by road traffic accidents as the next cause. Obey road traffic rules- Obeying traffic rules can bring down the instances of road traffic...

Autism Spectrum Disorders are neurological conditions which affect the brain and its ability to function. Children stricken with Autism Spectrum Disorders may experience restricted motor movements, issues with speech and communication and focus. Children with autism can also run into developmental issues, learning difficulties along with restricted social skills. There exists no ‘cure’ as such for ASD and also their exact causes remain elusive. But a comprehensive and dedicated rehabilitation program can help children with ASD lead a more functional and productive life. Tailoring Treatment Each individual exhibits a different pronounced symptom making it difficult to come up with a one-size-fits-all rehabilitation plan for ASD. But there of course exists some basic principles on which the rehabilitation for children with ASD rests on.  A comprehensive rehabilitation program will include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, educational support, plus a number of other interventions to help children and parents. The rehabilitation plan targets child’s – Communication skills – With speech and language therapy Motor functions – With Occupational and physical therapy Social interaction skills – With counselling and simulated scenarios Caring about the carers Along with providing rehabilitative care to the child, another important aspect of the intervention is supporting the...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The term rehabilitation can have varied connotations for different people. However, the one constant thing about rehabilitative care is that it is essential for patients who have suffered grave injuries. It is also vital for those patients who are having difficulty in regaining their independence in daily activities. The primary motive of rehab program is to ensure the optimal recovery of patients who have recently undergone a surgery or stroke attack. Hence, opting for the right method of rehabilitation becomes a crucial decision for the caregivers. Appropriate rehabilitative care can be provided in a proper facility with the right equipment or it can be given to patients as home-based care, as well. It is important to remember that the outcomes may vary depending on the facilities provided at each setting. Understanding the vital points Services offered at assisted living facilities or nursing homes differ vastly from those provided at post acute care inpatient rehabilitation hospital. The latter has certain advantages over home-care based facilities because of the following reasons. • The rehabilitation team ensures the provision of a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to services. • Specialty nursing staff form an essential part of the rehab team and guarantee the...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Rehabilitation post the acute episode could be a long process and traditional methods, though effective, may not be the most efficient always. They could be intensive in terms of time and human resources. In such a scenario the advent of modern technology has eased these concerns to considerable extent. They have widened the scope of the process by inducing efficiency and added reliability and in the case of thousands of patients have pushed the boundaries of expected results. Therefore, within a very short span of time technology enabled rehabilitation tools such as robotics and virtual reality have become an integral part of the rehabilitation process. One such tool is EKSO GTTM. Ekso GT  is a wearable bionic suit that helps individuals with any level of lower extremity weakness or paralysis, including those with complete spinal cord injury, to stand up and walk with a natural fully weight bearing gait. The robotic exoskeleton is a comprehensive rehabilitation tool and is primarily employed to help the patient relearn correct step and weight shift patterns. The battery powered motors drive the legs which initiate the steps once the patient shifts their weight or when the sensors are activated. The tool is designed...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Secondary complications post an acute stroke episode can have immense impact on recovery, rehabilitation and, most importantly, quality of life of the patient during and post rehabilitation. They can be quite frequent and studies have confirmed that as many as 60% of patients in their rehabilitation phase acquire them. Therefore, medical observation and inputs during the inpatient rehabilitation phase is very important for ensuring the recovery and rehabilitation of the patient post the acute phase. Some complications can arise as a direct result of the injury the brain sustained during the stoke episode. Others can be caused due to the physical and neurological changes that can limit the previous physical and cognitive abilities of the patient. For example, persistent shoulder pain as a result of paralysis of an arm which can no longer support the shoulder. Some common secondary complications are - Seizures Aphasia Brain edema Pneumonia Cognitive Impairment Urinary tract infection Bedsores Deep venous thrombosis Clinical Depression Rehabilitation principles followed post the acute episode will dictate how the patient will come to cope with the changes and disabilities as well as prevent further complications. The end goal of rehabilitation process is to ensure that the patient recovers back...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Regaining active movement and improving overall bodily function are some of the primary aspects of rehabilitation. Assisting patients in performing regular tasks with considerable ease is another important motive for rehab specialists. Such experts have to work with patients who might have suffered from a road accident or a slip and fall incident. Such accidents can have an immense impact on their brain or spine and can even lead to some other complex neurological condition. Most incidents also impact the upper extremities of patients and for this reason, rehabilitation becomes an absolute necessity for them! ARMEO therapy is one such effective tool that aids patients in improving the function and movement of their arms and hands. Interestingly, the exercises in this equipment are self-directed and self-initiated. What is ARMEO? This equipment is essentially a rehabilitation exoskeleton which provides intensive arm rehabilitation to patients. These patients might have difficulty in moving their arms or hands actively because of a neurological injury or disorder. With this advanced equipment, patients can practice movement and activities essential for their daily life and therapy progress. Research by experts also indicates that ARMEO Therapy aids in better and faster recovery of upper extremities when compared...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The primary aim of rehabilitation is to ensure that patients lead an independent and contented life. Patients often seek rehabilitative care, after their visit to the hospital, so that they can regain independence. With occupational therapy, recovering and developing skills required for performing activities of daily living independently or with minimal assistance becomes possible. Occupational therapy can be immensely beneficial for patients who are recovering from spinal cord injuries, stroke, traumatic brain injuries, patients having developmental delays, and patients undergoing upper limb surgeries. Some of the positive aspects when it comes to this intensive rehabilitation therapy are mentioned below – The patients first receive therapy that helps in recovery of functions in weak upper limbs. Patients, in whom regaining function in upper limbs is not possible, are taught compensatory techniques to perform their functions with the better hand with the use of assistive devices. Therapists help patients to adapt and work in different environments and settings. Aiding patients in engaging and adapting themselves in varied activities is essential for the rehab specialists. Children having developmental issues and who are affected by behavioral issues like autism and attention deficit hyperactive disorder are immensely benefitted by sensory integration techniques, applied behavioral...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Mobility Assisting Equipment like crutches, walkers, canes, electronic and manual wheelchairs are an essential part of rehabilitation. Be it a severe neurological condition or an orthopedic injury, rehabilitation experts will prescribe patients the appropriate mobility device for early and safe mobility of the patient. This vital piece of equipment is important for the health and independence of patients. The selection of this equipment depends on certain factors based on the patient’s – Cognitive aspects Current functional status Past and current medical history Recent changes in their medical condition The rehab team will select the optimal mobility assistive device for patients, after considering the environment in which they will be using it. Taking into consideration the patient’s mobility limitations and their impact on activities of daily living, here are a few essential points - Physicians will assess and examine patient’s strength and range of motion of his joints. This is because cases of spasticity, joint abnormalities, weakness, and contractures affect their ability to ambulate and transfer safely. A crutch, cane , or walker is advised after taking in account the height , strength of upper extremity muscles and available range of motion of joints . Crucial features of the wheelchair...