Living your
BEST LIFE
Intense physical rehab after an injury, surgery or stroke is key
STARLA S. COLLINS
I
njuries and illness happen, whether it’s a broken femur from a mountain biking accident, shattered pelvis due to a car collision, traumatic brain caused by a rock-climbing fall, stroke, knee and hip replacement, chronic disease, foot amputation due to diabetes or recovering from a long bout with COVID-19. Finding yourself or a loved one in the hospital due to an injury, illness or surgery can be scary and overwhelming. Knowing what to do next when your physician says it is time to leave the hospital can be even more overwhelming and confusing, especially if more time and care is needed to heal and get back to the quality of life desired. That’s where physical rehabilitation at a specialized facility can really make a difference. Rehabilitation is an important part of the recovery process. The goal of rehabilitation therapy, commonly called rehab, is to help patients regain their physical 26 Northern Arizona’s Mountain Living Magazine
For more information The Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Arizona is located at 1851 N. Gemini Road in Flagstaff. Call (928) 774-7070 or visit rhna. ernesthealth.com for more information. or cognitive (mental) abilities so they can return home at their highest level of independence. Some injuries and illnesses that may require short- or long-term care at a rehabilitation facility include stroke, disabling diseases such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis, brain and spinal cord injuries, orthopedic injuries or surgery, amputation, ventilator and breathing support, post-surgery recovery, acute illness and infection, and general wound care. “While it is true that medical treatment can help put the body back together again,” Chris LaFontsee, Jr., CEO of Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Arizona, said, “it is physical rehabilitation that trains and re-trains the body and mind to work together to restore and maintain function
and mobility.” Depending on the severity of the injury or illness or surgical procedure, patients may need a few days, weeks or months of rehab, which can include physical, speech, occupational and behavioral therapies. The more severe the condition, the longer the recovery period. The longer the recovery period, the more long-term effects are likely. “Following surgery or illness, the mind and body often need to be re-trained to move and function,” LaFontsee explained. “Immediate and intense rehabilitation reduces the long-lasting effects of injury or illness, decreases recovering time and helps patients avoid future injuries.” Rehabilitation hospitals are not residential facilities or nursing homes. They are regulated and certified by the federal government. Stays at these facilities are covered by Medicare for up to 100 days. Different from medical hospitals, skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes, acutecare rehabilitation hospitals such as the
