Cognitive Rehabilitation
Patients with the following conditions may benefit from cognitive rehabilitation:
- Alzheimer’s disease.
- Dementia.
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Head trauma.
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- Memory loss associated with Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.
What does cognitive rehabilitation involve?
Our highly trained staff works collaboratively with patients and caregivers to develop an individualized treatment program. Treatment approaches may include use of organization strategies, structuring environment, memory books and brain fitness computer training programs. Goals of treatment may include improving such activities as preparing meals, grocery shopping, managing finances, medication. Another component of the program is aerobic exercise training with an emphasis on walking programs.
How long will cognitive rehabilitation take?
The plan of care is developed specifically to the individual's needs and goals defined by the patient and evaluating therapist.
How do I get started?
Your physician will prescribe cognitive rehabilitation as an integrated part of your treatment plan.
Huntington's Disease Rehabilitation
Huntington’s disease (HD) can be an overwhelming diagnosis but, there is hope for many patients. Cleveland Clinic rehabilitation therapists specialize in HD to assist in your care.
Who is Huntington’s disease rehabilitation for?
Patients with Huntington’s disease may see a physical therapist to help manage the physical symptoms of HD. Symptoms and conditions treated may include:
- Balance problems/fall risk reduction.
- Upper body/trunk weakness.
- Pain or fatigue.
- Difficulty walking.
- Difficulty with activities of daily living - dressing, self-feeding, bathing, grooming, toileting.
- Difficulty with home management tasks - meal preparation/cooking, cleaning, laundry.
- Impaired coordination of movement.
- Changes in cognition.
What does Huntington’s disease rehabilitation involve?
Physical therapists may assess fall risk and prevention, as well as strengthening, stretching, and cardiovascular exercises. Physical therapy can be helpful by providing "compensatory" treatments that help enable you to compensate for the changes brought about by HD. Goals of physical therapy may include:
- Improve your independence and quality of life by providing "compensatory" techniques for movement and function.
- Learn new strategies to cope with the changes that occur in HD.
- Promote safety to prevent secondary problems (such as injuries from a fall).
- Help make adaptations to function for as long and as comfortably as possible.
How long will Huntington’s disease rehabilitation take?
Physical therapy can often be completed on an outpatient basis. The first appointment includes an evaluation and recommendations for exercises. The following appointments check your progress and review and expand your home program. Additional sessions of outpatient physical therapy can be added if needed to attain an expected improvement in function.
Parkinson's Disease Rehabilitation
Who is Parkinson’s disease rehabilitation for?
There is growing evidence that individuals with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease can benefit from treatment that targets flexibility, strengthening and cardiovascular conditioning.
Physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for everyone. These treatments can improve balance, walking and overall functional ability. In addition, therapy may slow down the progression of the disease. Moderate to vigorous exercise/activity should begin immediately upon diagnosis and continue throughout the course of the disease. Evidence also supports that regular aerobic exercise such as walking prevents development of cognitive impairment in healthy elderly individuals and this can hold true in Parkinson’s disease as well.
What does Parkinson’s disease rehabilitation involve?
Our clinicians bring a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to the patient care management of Parkinson’s disease. Patient-centered care is coordinated among occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy in collaboration with your physician.
After a thorough evaluation and development of a plan of care, treatment may consist of:
- Flexibility/stretching and strengthening exercises.
- Fitness (aerobic) activities.
- Strategies to improve mobility: walking, freezing, standing up from chairs, reduce risk of falls.
- Strategies to improve self-care activities.
- Handwriting.
- Stress management.
- Instruction in cognitive strategies.
- Speech training in swallowing as well as rate, control, respiration and phonation.
How long will Parkinson’s disease rehabilitation take?
The plan of care is developed specifically to the individual's needs and goals defined by the patient and evaluating therapist. We will work with your treating physician to optimize your care. Therapy sessions are tailored for the individual patient’s needs. Activities are progressed to an independent routine to maintain gains achieved in the structured setting. Community exercise programs are offered in some locations and are structured to help people maintain and possible improve their functional abilities in a supportive, caring environment once outpatient physical therapy are completed.
Stroke & Neurological Rehabilitation
Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation and Sports Therapy offers a comprehensive outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy program for patients with neurological conditions. This program can help the individual with neurological deficits progress toward a more independent lifestyle. Our therapists specializing in neurological treatment are involved in research and stay abreast of current treatment approaches using evidence-based practice. We are able to address a wide variety of individual needs ranging from the person who requires assistance throughout the day, to the person ready to return to work. Family members and caregivers are encouraged to participate in therapy sessions in order to carry over newly learned skills at home.
Who is stroke and neurological rehabilitation for?
Adults diagnosed with neurological diseases or conditions including, but not limited to:
What does stroke and neurological rehabilitation involve?
Our therapists evaluate the specific needs of the patient and select a technique or a combination of techniques to serve the individual’s needs. These include:
Physical therapy
- gait analysis and training to promote improved skills for walking.
- use of a suspended treadmill for partial body weight support (litegait).
- use of motor learning devices long with skilled treatment.
- balance training (fall risk reduction).
- transfer training (sit to stand, wheelchair to bed or chair, floor to stand).
- equipment for mobility.
- joint range of motion, strengthening and endurance.
- orthotics management.
- aquatics/pool therapy.
- patient and family education.
Occupational therapy
Treatment activities to promote functional use of the hand and arm, which can include:
- strengthening and range of motion.
- coordination training.
- customized or prefabricated splinting; serial casting.
- self-care skills training (activities of daily living), including: dressing, bathing, toileting, self-feeding.
- home management, leisure and work skills training.
- functional cognitive/safety training.
- adaptive equipment for self-care and home management.
- low vision training.
- driving rehabilitation.
- patient and family education.
Speech therapy
- articulation and voice improvement.
- aphasia/language therapy.
- cognitive retraining for memory and attention as well as organizing and planning.
- computer aided speech or alternative non-vocal communication.
- swallowing therapy.
- patient and family education.
How long will stroke and neurological rehabilitation take?
This will vary by person and diagnosis. Activities are progressed to an independent routine to maintain gains achieved in the structured setting. Community exercise programs are offered in some locations and are structured to help people maintain and possible improve their functional abilities in a supportive, caring environment once outpatient physical and occupational therapy are completed. A caregiver must also attend this program.
