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Photograph of a male physical therapist working with an elderly woman
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Also called: Rehab

After a serious injury, illness or surgery, you may recover slowly. You may need to regain your strength, relearn skills or find new ways of doing things you did before. This process is rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation often focuses on

  • Physical therapy to help your strength, mobility and fitness
  • Occupational therapy to help you with your daily activities
  • Speech-language therapy to help with speaking, understanding, reading, writing and swallowing
  • Treatment of pain

The type of therapy and goals of therapy may be different for different people. For example, an older person who has had a stroke may simply want to dress or bathe without help. The goal of younger person who has suffered a heart attack may be to return to work and normal activities.

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