Skip to main content

Therapy for the patient who progresses to standing

If your patient has had a severe stroke or other debilitating injury or illness that has left them with little mobility and complex medical needs, you may think they can’t withstand inpatient rehabilitation and the required three hours of therapy, five days a week—but think again.

At Encompass Health, therapy comes in a variety of forms and levels, and those three hours can be spread out in short increments throughout the day—and it doesn’t have to occur in a gym if the patient isn’t ready.

 

 

However, as these patients progress during their stay and are able to tolerate standing, therapists will progress their therapeutic activities—and the patient’s goals—appropriately. Here’s how we define rehabilitation for patients who progress to standing.

Speech therapy

  • Complete daily tasks such as cooking while standing to address safety awareness, following directions and memory
  • Walking to and from the room to address memory of familiar places, orientation to their environment and ability to follow directions
  • Address ability to follow steps safely while participating in a shower or brushing their teeth
  • Navigate obstacles safely in their room to help prevent falls

Occupational therapy

  • Cooking at stovetop
  • Making coffee
  • Loading and unloading the dishwasher
  • Cleaning counter tops
  • Practice feeding animals by placing food and water on a lower surface
  • Ironing
  • Hanging clothes in the closet
  • Standing by the sink washing dishes
  • Washing hands, brushing teeth, combing hair, shaving and applying makeup
  • Arm exercises while challenging balance
  • Utilizing technology which allows the patient to stand such as Easy Stand and LiteGait® while performing upper body activities

Physical therapy

  • Walking in different environments to prevent falls
  • Standing in the kitchen to retrieve an item from the refrigerator
  • Practice ways to keep your steadiness in standing
  • Standing while gardening
  • Standing while using supportive devices
  • Exercising lower legs
  • Utilizing technology such as LiteGait®, EasyStand, Biodex Balance System SD™, tilt table, Dynavision™, Bioness to help improve safety during walking and prevent falls

*Not all Encompass Health hospitals offer the same technologies

Contact us

Give your patients the best chance in their recovery by sending them to Encompass Health, where we will design a therapy and care plan that meets them where they are in the healing process.