he impacts of suffering a serious injury can be significant and wide-ranging, while the consequences can be far more than purely physical. Your mental wellbeing can also be considerably affected, as could your financial situation – especially if you are no longer able to work as a result of what’s happened.
Those who have the misfortune of sustaining such an injury can expect to receive a high level of medical care, whether that be in a private or an NHS facility. This may well involve a period of rehabilitation, which is absolutely vital in the course of recovery. Anyone who feels they have received sub-standard care may have grounds to make a hospital negligence claim and seek compensation, but the vast majority of patients will be well looked after as they take the first steps towards piecing their lives back together.
So, what are some examples of serious injuries and what are the various types of rehabilitation that are available?
What are some examples of serious injury?
There are many different kinds of serious injury. These can include amputation (the loss of a limb or a digit) and head or brain injuries, which may have occurred as the result of a road traffic collision. Then there are spinal injuries, bone breaks or fractures, severe burns as well as psychological issues including post-traumatic stress disorder – anxiety which is brought on by extremely frightening, disturbing or distressing events.
The above are just a few examples, and each injury or disorder can range in severity, which in turn makes the rehabilitation process unique to each individual patient.
What are the different types of rehab?
As you might expect, the wide range of serious injuries means that there is a need for a vast array of rehabilitation therapies. The recovery process cannot be treated on a one-size-fits-all basis, and there are a few different forms of rehab that can help people in the aftermath of an injury. Below are some of the more common examples:
- Physical therapy, where work is done to improve a patient’s movement, strength and stability via a number of exercises.
- Occupational therapy, which concentrates on enhancing a patient’s ability to carry out fundamental daily activities such as eating, drinking and bathing. Exercises will be done to improve motor skills, while specially adapted equipment is likely to be used.
- Speech therapy, where a therapist aids the patient in overcoming difficulties relating to communication and potentially swallowing.
- Cognitive therapy, where patients undertake a programme of exercises to try and improve their memory and thinking.
- Respiratory therapy, which is used for those with breathing difficulties. This type of rehab may involve teaching the patient how to use respiratory equipment such as inhalers or oxygen tanks.
