Rehabilitation therapy is a set of interventions designed to optimize functioning and reduce disability in individuals with health conditions in interaction with their environment. The goal of rehabilitation therapy is to help individuals recover from illness, injury, surgery, stroke, cardiac events, or other medical issues and regain functional abilities and independence lost to these events. Rehabilitation therapy can be provided in many different places, such as inpatient or outpatient hospital settings, outpatient physio- or occupational therapy practices, and community settings such as an individual’s home, a school, or a workplace.

There are many types of rehabilitation therapy, each designed to address specific ranges of issues. Here are some of the most common types of rehabilitation therapy:

• Physical Therapy: This type of rehabilitation therapy works to improve movement dysfunction. Therapists work with patients to restore movement, strength, stability, and/or functional ability and reduce pain via targeted exercise and a range of other treatment methods.

• Occupational Therapy: This form of therapy focuses on restoring an individuals ability to perform necessary daily activities. This may mean working to improve fine motor skills, restore balance, or assist patients in learning how to increase their functional ability via use of adaptive equipment, among other potential treatment options.

• Speech Therapy: This type of rehabilitation therapy is used to address difficulties with speech, communication, and/or swallowing.

• Vocational Rehabilitation: This form of therapy is geared towards preparing individuals to return to work after an injury, illness, or medical event.

• Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy: This type of therapy helps individuals relearn or improve skills such as thinking, learning, memory, planning, and decision-making.

• Cardiac Rehabilitation: This type of therapy is designed to help individuals recover from heart-related issues and improve their heart health.

• Pulmonary Rehabilitation: This type of therapy is designed to help individuals with lung-related issues improve their lung function and overall health.

Rehabilitation therapy is highly person-centered, meaning that the interventions selected for each individual are targeted to their goals and preferences. The specific goals of rehabilitation therapy depend on what caused the problem, whether the cause is ongoing or temporary, which abilities were lost, and how severe the problem is. When individuals receive rehabilitation therapy, they often have a team of different healthcare providers helping them. They will work with the individual to figure out their needs, goals, and treatment plan.