DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (also known as Physiatry) at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, assists patients in regaining their health and function after an injury or disability. Apollo Hospitals provides a comprehensive spectrum of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation treatments as an integral part of the hospital. We have a cutting-edge rehabilitation center with Robotic training resources. Our team comprises proficient experts who collaborate to enhance your recuperation and assist you in gaining functional independence.
Rehabilitation is helpful when patients are recovering from an injury, illness, or surgery. Some of medical conditions requiring rehabilitation include:
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Stroke
- Stroke
- Parkinsonism
- Multiple sclerosis
- Critical illness neuro-myopathy
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Myopathy
- Limb Amputation
- Diabetic foot
- Musculoskeletal deformities
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Post hip and knee replacement surgeries
- Sports injuries
- Chronic lung diseases – ILD, COPD
- Heart failure
- Cardiac rehabilitation Post heart surgeries or Percutaneous interventions
- Elderly patient deconditioned due to post long hospital stay following any medical or surgical cause.
It is a goal oriented approach. The goals might vary depending on patient’s medical condition. Common goals identified by the patient and family include:
- To maximise recovery by making the most of neuroplasticity
- To walk/ move independently and prevent falls
- To improve capability of performing daily activities like showering independently
- To improve thinking ability
- To improve the fine functions of the hand
- To help speak more clearly
- Guidance for swallowing safety and preventing pneumonia
- To improve continence: Guidance for managing bladder and bowel issues
- To improve exercise capacity
- To get back to work or education
- To get back to driving safely
Rehabilitation helps younger patients return to work or school and prevents older patients from becoming bedridden. The department has demonstrated that it can reduce the duration of acute hospital stay and avoid re-admissions, which can result in significant cost savings.
Assessment Is The First Step
Once the treating doctor recommend rehabilitation, the Rehabilitation Physician will assess the patient to determine level of preparation and also will discuss the possible outcomes. After conducting an initial examination, the rehabilitation team will determine what is crucial for the patient and the family. The patient along with the family sets the goal for rehabilitation and the team works together to achieve it. Our team will provide a weekly update regarding the progress.
The Rehabilitation Team At Apollo
Our key team members and their roles:
- Rehabilitation Physicians (Physiatrist): Help with the medical requirements.
- Rehabilitation Nurse: Encourages independence and educates family members.
- Physiotherapists: Helps with mobility
- Occupational therapists: Aids patient in becoming independent in day-to-day tasks, improving hand function, enhancing cognitive function. They also suggest home modifications and wheelchair modifications and assistive devices.
- Speech therapists: Improve speech, help patient to safely swallow food.
- Psychologists: Behaviour management.
- Dietician: Optimise nutrition.
- Prosthetist and Orthotist: Makes appropriate splints and artificial limbs.
State Of The Art Rehabilitation Equipment At Apollo Hospitals
Robotics are proven to make your recovery journey faster through task oriented training to improve neuroplasticity. At Apollo, we have a wide range of robotic training devices. Our robotic training centre is the first and is the best in India.
- Motomed letto: Robotic cycling while you are still in bed
- Hocoma Erigo: Robot assisted tilt table for assisted standing and exercising
- Hocoma Lokomat: Robotic walking trainer
- Hocoma Armeo: Robotic hand exerciser
- Hocoma Andago: Robotic walker
- Functional electrical stimulation
- Mirror therapy
- Constrain Induced movement therapy
- Bio feed back training
Rehabilitation might take place at a rehabilitation hospital, home or a day care centre, depending on your needs and where you live. An earlier start improves the result.
Rehabilitation can be initiated while your loved ones are still in the intensive care unit. Prior to discharge, our rehabilitation team would also recommend appropriate assistive devices (such as a wheelchair and walker) and home modifications.
Remember, the first 4 to 6 weeks after stroke, brain injury, or spinal injury is critical to develop neuroplasticity; make the most of it through our rehabilitation services for faster recovery!
