Allied Health Services Group

Physical Disability

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 16:04:45 +0000

Post Traumatic Accident

When someone you love experiences a traumatic event ensure that their recovery is the best it can possibly be, by ensuring they are receiving treatment and management from those leading the way in rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation At Home will provide you with a highly professional and qualified physiotherapist to successfully guide you through your rehabilitation process.

Education and management strategies in addition to “hands on” evidence based clinical treatment will be provided in order to facilitate and expedite a positive final outcome.

Progressive Disability

Maintain mobility, independence, functional capacity and ultimately “maximum quality of life”. You remain in control of your disability and don’t allow it to control you!

Rehabilitation At Home will provide you with a highly professional and qualified physiotherapist to successfully guide you through your rehabilitation and/or maintenance process.

Education and management strategies in addition to “hands on” evidence based clinical treatment will be provided in order to facilitate and expedite a positive final outcome.

Neurological Conditions

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Stroke

Rehabilitation is essential following a Stroke (cerebral vascular accident)

Your participation in an intensive rehabilitation program will assist with achieving the following:

Return of lost skills or which have been affected by the stroke, for example walking, eating or speaking.
The acquisition of new skills to help you cope with any longer term changes due to the stroke. Such changes could be physical (eg. leg weakness), psychological (eg. the way you think, feel or respond to things) or social (eg. activities you enjoyed doing or the way you interact with friends or family).
The ability to readjust to life after you leave hospital by providing social, emotional and practical support.
The education of family and carers to provide optimal care in order to cater for your physical and cognitive needs during your recovery/ rehabilitation process.

Rehabilitation is specific to your problems. Plans and goals will be made with you to help with your particular problems. Although there are common symptoms and physical and cognitive deficits that are regularly encountered with a stroke, each patient’s deficits are individualised with regard to their severity and therefore require an individualised one on one program.

It is important that rehabilitation begins as soon as possible after a stroke. When you practice activities over and over again, your body learns to do things differently, helping you to recover.

It is vital that you put the most effort you can into rehabilitation to increase your chance of a better recovery. Rehabilitation should also be viewed as something you do all the time – 24 hours a day (even getting out of bed at night to go to the toilet is part of the process).

A team of rehabilitation professionals will work with you and your family to help you. Your attitude and involvement as well as that of your family and friends play an important part in the recovery.

(Please also visit our Equipment / Products page under ‘Resources’ for further information on products we have available that may help with this condition)

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy represents a leading cause of childhood physical disability affecting function and development. This disorder affects the development of movement and posture that is believed to arise from non-progressive disturbances in the developing fetal or infant brain. In addition to the typically observed deficits in motor control that negatively affect fluent movement, individuals with cerebral palsy often experience epilepsy, secondary musculoskeletal problems (including contractures), disturbances of sensation, cognition, perception, communication, and behavior.

The typical person with Cerebral Palsy will develop a strong relationship with their physiotherapist as a result of the many ongoing treatment interventions and equipment prescription that is usually required for this population. Developmental rehabilitation is required to ensure that all achievable physical milestones are gained throughout the developmental years of ones life.

Furthermore, maintenance therapy is also essential to ensure the absence of physical regression and subsequent loss of the ability to complete as many personal care and “activities of daily living” needs as possible.

Prescription of complex manual and power wheelchair seating systems may be required, in addition to splints, pressure care, walking systems and anti tone/ spasticity products and devices.

To achieve maximal quality of life and physical capacity, expert physiotherapy intervention is highly recommended.

(Please also visit our Equipment / Products page under ‘Resources’ for further information on products we have available that may help with this condition)

Spinal Injury

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is perhaps the most devastating orthopedic injury and with prolonged survival being the rule, rehabilitation of these injuries has an essential role. The primary goals of rehabilitation are the prevention of secondary complications, maximisation of physical functioning and reintegration into the community.

It is important that the effects of de-conditioning accumulated subsequent from many months of lying immobilised in a hospital bed be reversed. Upon reversing these effects, positive steps forward can be achieved with regard to maximising functional potential, particularly for those patients who have experienced an incomplete injury. Peak functional capacity is required if one is to be capable of accessing and moving around their living environment whilst being able to attend to as many daily personal care tasks as possible; thus minimising the need for external assistance from carers and family members.

With the advancement in technology and more importantly “stem cell” research, it is imperative that a person experiencing a spinal cord injury is maintained absent of comorbidities or complications that may inhibit the accessibility and effectiveness of ground breaking advancements in the coming years. Comorbidities such as contractures, pressure sores and muscle wastage are examples of factors that may inhibit future treatment success.

Upon achieving maximium functional ability, “maintenance therapy” is an ongoing necessity that will prevent the negative decline in general health and physical function as the years progress. Rehabilitation At Home will provide you with a Physiotherapist that has extensive experience with this patient population group to ensure optimal treatment outcomes are achieved.

(Please also visit our Equipment / Products page under ‘Resources’ for further information on products we have available that may help with this condition)

Acquired Brain Injury

Acquired brain injury – or “ABI” – refers to any damage to the brain that occurs after birth. That damage can be caused by an accident or trauma, by a stroke, a brain infection, by alcohol or other drugs or by diseases of the brain

Rehabilitation from brain injury occurs via a “bottom up” approach whereby the brain is stimulated via specific rehabilitation techniques and activities designed to increased the effects of “plasticity”. This term refers to the brain’s ability for one part of the brain to take over another area’s functional role that has been damaged by injury.

Brain injury recovery will vary from person to person and is influenced by the severity and location of the injury. More importantly, recovery of brain injury is often affected by a lack of intense, ongoing and expert implementation of rehabilitation therapy. A thorough neurological assessment is capable of revealing one’s potential of recovery and should be conducted to enable realistic goals and treatment programs to be developed and implemented. Significant gains can be achieved in many cases with appropriate and professional therapy and advice. It is essential that therapy goals are functional and designed to maximise the patient’s functional capacity, ability to care for themself and engage an increased quality of life.

Rehabilitation At Home will guide you through your journey of recovery and ensure that your absolute physical potential is achieved.

(Please also visit our Equipment / Products page under ‘Resources’ for further information on products we have available that may help with this condition)

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition where there is damage to the peripheral nervous system. This system includes the vast communications network of neural tissue that transmits information from the brain and spinal cord to every other part of the body.

Unfortunately when this system is compromised due to pathology, the result is usually a loss of motor control, unusual sensations of the skin and most commonly mild to severe pain.

Rehabilitation treatment is designed to assist with minimising and or reversing the negative effects of the condition via techniques and activities developed from years of scientific research.

Professional and expert education and treatment is important to ensure that the condition has least impact on one’s ability to participate in normal daily life activities and functional activity.

Rehabilitation At Home will assist you in successfully managing your Peripheral Neuropathy.

Neurodegenerative Conditions

Degenerative nerve diseases lead to a decline in many physical functions, including balance, movement, talking, breathing and heart function. Many of these diseases are genetic, which means they run in families or have a genetic mutation.

Rehabilitation and Maintenance therapy is absolutely essential for this population of people. Although a gradual decline in physical capacity is expected, strategies and physical treatment programs are implemented to minimise the effects of both the condition as well as the associated de-conditioning that commonly exists with these patients.

Education and professional, expert advice on appropriate management of the signs and symptoms, in addition to the most appropriate techniques and ideas for successfully managing these patients is vital. Maintaining minimal care requirements and maximising “quality of life” is the highest priority whilst the prevention of unnecessary accidents such as falls is sought.

The main goals of treatment are usually to improve/ manage disease symptoms, relieve any pain, maintain mobility and enhance functional capacity.

Respiratory Conditions

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Asthma

Asthma is a condition affecting the airways of the lungs. Patients with asthma have airways that narrow (otherwise known as bronchoconstriction) in response to certain ‘triggers’. The effects are that the patient experiences difficulty in breathing. This difficulty in breathing can range from mild to very severe in some cases, if not adequately managed. The bronchoconstriction is reversible with appropriate medication, whilst the triggers that cause the constriction may be avoided with care and appropriate education. The airway narrowing is caused by inflammation and swelling of the airway lining, the tightening of the airway muscles and the production of excess mucus. This results in a reduced airflow in and out of the lungs.

At present there is no know cause or cure for asthma, however with adequate education and management, the symptoms can be successfully managed. A physiotherapist can greatly assist you providing a plentiful supply of successful techniques and strategies aimed at improving delivery of medications, avoidance of triggers and management of breathing during an asthma attack.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a severe lung condition which is characterised by infection caused by either a bacteria, virus or sometimes fungal origin. Often associated with fevers and general poor well being. This type of lung infection will require intensive physiotherapy intervention in order to remove unwanted secretion and ensure appropriate oxygen saturation levels remain within the body at levels satisfactory to sustain life.

A physiotherapist will provide hands-on secretion clearance to continuously remove the secretion until such time as the infection is removed via the correctly prescribed medications. Furthermore, they will carefully monitor severity and advise on most appropriate courses of action. Failure to adequately manage a severe incidence of pneumonia can prove fatal in some cases.

A Rehabilitation At Home, physiotherapist can provide the essential treatment necessary to enable the successful management of this potentially life threatening condition.

Emphysema

Emphysema is characterised by severe shortness of breath, coughing, decreased exercise tolerance, increased respiratory infection and increased secretions. Typically most cases of Emphysema are caused by years of smoking. Effective management of this condition is imperative if you are going to slow its progression and reduce its dramatic and debilitating effects on lung function.

Physiotherapy intervention aims to reduce shortness of breath, reduce secretions, reduce the rate of chest infection and maximise functional capacity with limited oxygen saturation. Treatment strategies will not fix the already damaged lungs, rather they will ensure that the remaining healthy lung is clear and effective in its ability to deliver oxygen to the body.

Atelectasis

Atelectasis is a disease of the lungs that is characterised by the collapse of the balloon like structures known as alveoli. These alveoli are located at the very ends of the airways. It is at this site that the gas exchange occurs between the blood and the lungs. Any deficit or restriction in this process will result in reduced or absent gas exchange.

Patients experiencing Atelectasis will have impaired clearance of secretions which often elicit greater numbers and severity of respiratory infections such as pneumonia. Treatment focuses on maximising lung function by ensuring optimal secretion clearance and adequate ventilation.

Optimal lung function is obtained through implementation of effective lung secretion clearance techniques and careful respiratory monitoring. Physiotherapy will assist with the education of these techniques, monitoring of lung function and secretion levels, whilst active hands on intervention will increase the rate of secretion removal from the lungs. All intervention is targeted at decreasing lung damage via increased secretion clearance and subsequently avoiding respiratory infection scarring of the lung.

Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a disease of the lungs characterised by localised, irreversible dilation of the bronchi. This disease process leads to the destruction of the muscle and elastic tissue that lines the lungs. Bronchiectasis results in bronchi that are dilated, inflamed, and easily collapsible, subsequently resulting in the obstruction of air as it exits the lungs. Patients experiencing Brochiectasis will have impaired clearance of secretions which often elicit greater numbers and severity of respiratory infections such as pneumonia. Treatment focuses on maximising lung function by ensuring optimal secretion clearance and adequate ventilation.

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic condition passed down through families that affects the quality of lung function. The condition is commonly known for its increased mucus production within the lung, whilst it also affects the pancreas and other body organs. Life quality and expectancy can be significantly, positively influenced through appropriate ongoing treatment, education and self management strategies. Physiotherapy intervention is typically regarded as a routine occurrence for most children experiencing this condition.

Optimal lung function is obtained through implementation of effective lung secretion clearance techniques and careful respiratory monitoring. Physiotherapy will assist with the education of these techniques, monitoring of lung function and secretion levels, whilst active hands on intervention will increase the rate of secretion removal from the lungs. All intervention aims at decreasing lung damage through increased secretion and subsequent respiratory infection scarring.

Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is a chronic inflammation of the medium sized airways of the lungs. This condition is often referred to as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The inner lining of the bronchi are chronically inflamed and as a result there is an increase in secretions that require removal from the lungs. Failure to maintain adequate secretion clearance leads to greater numbers of respiratory infections and subsequent complications.

Optimal lung function is obtained through implementation of effective lung secretion clearance techniques and careful respiratory monitoring. Physiotherapy will assist with the education of these techniques, monitoring of lung function and secretion levels, whilst active hands on intervention will increase the rate of secretion removal from the lung. All intervention is targeted at decreasing lung damage via increased secretion clearance and subsequently avoiding respiratory infection scarring of the lung.

Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease

Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease is a collective term used to encompass a number of lung conditions that have the capacity to dramatically affect optimal lung function. Otherwise known as chronic constructive pulmonary disease this condition can include emphysema and chronic bronchitis as its main constituents. Although there are no present cures for COAD, there are certainly a variety of effective treatment and management strategies that can be provided by your physiotherapist in order to slow the progression of these progressive conditions.

Even those experiencing severe disease will significantly benefit from seeking intervention from a physiotherapy intervention program. The aim of all physiotherapy intervention is to decrease secretions, maximise lung function, reduce chest infection, increase exercise tolerance and functional capacity, whilst reducing shortness of breath.

Allow a Rehabilitation At Home physiotherapist to guide you to your optimal respiratory health today!

Orthopaedic Conditions

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 16:03:10 +0000

Rehabilitation At Home will provide you with a highly professional and qualified physiotherapist to successfully guide you through your rehabilitation process.

Education and management strategies in addition to ‘hands-on’, evidence based clinical treatment will be provided in order to facilitate and expedite a positive final outcome.

Post Fracture
Post Surgical
Post Spinal Surgery
Post Tendon Repair
Post Ligament Repair
Arthritis Management
Total Joint Replacement

Paediatric Conditions

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 16:01:35 +0000

Better Start for Children with Disability Initiative

Rehabilitation At Home are early intervention professionals who are members of the Better Start Early Intervention Service Provider Panel.

Who is eligible to receive support under Better Start?

Eligible children are aged under six years and have been diagnosed with:

Down syndrome
Cerebral Palsy
Fragile X Syndrome, or
a moderate or greater vision or hearing impairment, including deaf blindness.

How can you register your child?

Parents or carers of eligible children will need to register their child for the Better Start early intervention funding before the child turns six years of age. Registration of eligible children is managed by the dedicated Registration and Information Service (RIS), which is operated by Carers Australia.

What We Do

At Rehabilitation At Home we are committed to the comprehensive delivery of the highest quality of care. We use current, evidence based physiotherapy practices to assist in the treatment of a variety of paediatric conditions. Our skilled physiotherapists offer a variety of treatment methods to help restore, increase and maintain optimal physical function and mobility and provide you with customised and tailored exercise programs to allow children to continue and aid with self management.

Conditions Treated

Rehabilitation At Home treats a variety of paediatric conditions including, but not limited to:

Cerebral Palsy
Genetic Disorders
Motor Control & Learning Disorders
Physical Disability Conditions
Musculoskeletal Conditions
Orthopaedic Conditions
Neurological Conditions
Respiratory Conditions

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy represents a leading cause of childhood physical disability affecting function and development. This disorder affects the development of movement and posture that is believed to arise from nonprogressive disturbances in the developing fetal or infant brain. Additionally to the typically observed deficits in moto control that negatively affect fluent movement and control, individuals with cerebral palsy often experience epilepsy, secondary musculoskeletal problems (including contractures), disturbances of sensation, cognition, perception, communication, and behavior.

The typical person with Cerebral Palsy will develop a strong relationship with their physiotherapist as a result of many, ongoing treatment interventions and equipment prescriptions, that is usually required for this population. Developmental rehabilitation is required to ensure that all achievable physical milestones are gained throughout the developmental years of a child’s life.

Furthermore, Maintenance therapy is also essential to ensure the absence of physical regression and subsequent loss of the ability to attend to as many personal care and activities of daily living needs as possible.

Prescription of complex manual and power wheelchair seating systems may be required, in addition to splints, pressure care, walking systems and anti tone/ spasticity products and devices.

To achieve maximal quality of life and physical capacity, expert physiotherapy intervention is highly reccommended.

Genetic Disorders

There are numerous genetic disorders that may present with one or many cognitive and/or physical signs and symptoms. Management of these symptoms are essential if these children are to reach their maximal functional capacity in readiness for their adult life. For some children this may represent becoming as functionally capable (eg transfer, personal hygiene etc) as possible whilst using their wheelchair for mobility and for others it may be walking and achieving a normal functional capacity.

Professional intervention with regard to everything from treatment through to the prescription of highly specialised equipment may be the requirement of the day. Ensure that your child gets the most out of life and achieves their absolute potential by accessing professional and expert physiotherapy advice and intervention.

Motor Control & Learning Disorders

A variety of motor control and learning disorders exist with many requiring professional intervention in order to prevent their effects becoming intrusive or inhibiting to a child’s ability to lead a functionally successful life.

Often these disorders can be managed and the effects of the condition limited, if the appropriate advice and treatment is afforded during the developmental stages of a child’s life. Comorbidities can develop if not closely monitored and these in themselves can contribute further to physical deficit.

Developmental Coordination Disorders

Developmental Coordination Disorders, otherwise referred to as “Developmental Dyspraxia”, is a condition with often multiple and varied causes, however all presenting by way of a disruption of the signals coming from the brain to the muscles, leading to poor coordination and motor control impairment. These children are generally the ones that struggle to ‘keep up’ with their faster-paced and more coordinated friends in the playground and subsequently get left behind when it comes to athletic success. Daily activities such as tying shoe laces, doing up buttons and sometimes simply walking without stumbles and falls can be very difficult for this population.

Physiotherapy intervention can significantly assist with ‘catching up’ on many of the developmental milestones that were either missed or not grasped successfully and subsequently has lead to the ongoing coordination deficits. Although these children take longer to learn and develop, it does not mean however that they can not achieve high levels of physical function and coordination if they are afforded the appropriate level of active intervention.

It is very important that the maximal level of coordination is achieved, to ensure that this population are able to function at the best of their ability during teenage and adult life, otherwise activities that we generally take for granted such as driving a car or riding a bike, may be not possible. A successful and coordinated life will depend entirely on accessing an apporpriate intervention program at a young age.

Mobility and Balance Decline

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Prevent Falls

Falls can unnecessarily represent the beginning of the end for many patients. Unfortunately, a simple event such as a fall can lead to a cascade of events that without appropriate rehabilitation and professional health care intervention, will often see the rapid decline of one’s health. A fall more often than not, can lead to a fractured joint (most commonly the hip) which leads to major surgical intervention, a hip replacement and a period of immobilsation. During this period of reduced activity and/or immobilsation is where the patient rapidly loses strength, mobility and balance and will often develop health complications that can be life threatening.

It may also be of value to read information contained on our Equipment/Products page (under the ‘Resources’ tab), about Easycarer 24hr automated telephone monitoring.

Remain Independent

Independence is essential if one is going to remain living free from, or requiring minimal assistance from, other family members or carers. However, as one gets older, remaining independent is something that one must strive for and not just expect. It is important that activity is maintained and that professional rehabilitation occurs promptly after each and every period of immbolisation or ill health. Failure to achieve this will often see the patient drop several levels of function and mobility. This decline subsequently causes the need to access greater assistance with tasks such as personal hygiene, mobility and other activities of daily living.

Improve Mobility & Balance

De-conditioning represents the most common cause for balance decline and subsequent falls. The same muscles that allow one to walk and stand from a chair are equally the ones that contribute to maintaining balance. It is easy to allow these muscles to lose their strength via inactivity, a period of immobilisation or a gradual reduction in their general use. However, what is very positive is the fact that one’s balance with focused mobility therapy can be quickly returned to normal, thus reducing falls risks and minimising the reliance on mobility aids such wheeled walkers and walking sticks.

Maintain Functional Strength

Sound lower and upper limb strength are vital if one is to remain independent and with the greatest functional capacity. Daily tasks such as rising from a chair, getting into the car, walking a flight of stairs or getting up off the ground are all essential activities of daily living which one requires if they are to remain functional and independent and therefore maintain a maximal quality of life.

Rehabilitation At Home staff can provide an intensive 1:1 program of physiotherapy intervention aimed at reducing falls rates and improving the patient’s general functional ability. Treatment consists of individualised functional strengthening and balance programs delivered as 2-3 treatment sessions per week.

Mobility therapy is designed to ensure that the patient maintains their capacity to remain independent and mobile, subsequently reducing the patient’s reliance on mobility aids. The maintenance of the patient’s functional capacity will reduce the risk of falls and the typical downhill spiral of health complications commonly directly related to their occurrence.

Musculoskeletal

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Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are injuries that occur as a result of participation within an athletic activity. More often than not these types of injuries are often due to overuse or acute trauma of a part of the body when participating in a chosen sport. It is essential that all sports injuries are afforded adequate attention to ensure the absence of further long term pain, dysfunction or complication.

Rehabilitation At Home will provide you with a highly professional and qualified physiotherapist to successfully guide you through your rehabilitation process.

Education and management strategies in addition to hands-on, evidence based clinical treatment will be provided in order to facilitate and expedite a positive final outcome.

Work Injuries

Rehabilitation At Home are approved providers for Work Cover Queensland and subsequently offer a variety of services for the injured worker. (Please see occupational rehabilitation section)

All treatment and management programs are designed to quickly progress the patient through their recovery to a level where they are able to:
• Take ownership and successfully self-manage their injury.
• Be confident and enthusiastic with an expected return to active working duties.
• Have the knowledge to prevent further episodes of injury.
• Injury treatment, management and education;

In early injury management, patients are treated with evidence-based approaches such as manual therapy, modalities, exercise prescription, correct technique relearning, manual handling retraining and education to return to activity.

Hands On Treatment “Manual Therapy”:
The latest and most effective evidence based treatment approaches are used. Each therapist has expert experience with an extensive variety of effective clinical techniques and treatment methods required, in order to achieve successful patient outcomes.

Pain Management Programs:
These are evidence based programs, designed to decrease/avoid chronic pain syndromes and promote self management. A combination of education, modalities, exercise and self management techniques are utilised. The inclusion of a musculoskeletal physician, psychologist and occupational therapist to provide treatment is also integrated when appropriate.

Back and Spinal Rehabilitation Programs:
Evidence based treatment approaches are used to maximise spinal strength and movement, whilst ensuring the patient has the knowledge to avoid re-injury and subsequent episodes via safe work practice. Safe manual handling techniques are instructed.

Back Pain

Back pain originates generally from either the nerves, bones, discs or muscles of the spine.

Back pain may present from a single mechanism of injury, or may be part of a chronic, recurring condition that requires ongoing management. The pain can be constant or intermittent and may remain centrally located or at times radiate to other areas. Pain variety may include a dull ache, sharp pain or burning sensation. Other symptoms in addition to the pain may include weakness, numbness or tingling.

Back pain is one of the population’s most frequent complaints and although quite mechanical in nature, is likely to cause significant disability if not adequately managed. Take control of your back pain; don’t let it take control of you!

Rehabilitation At Home will provide you with a highly professional and qualified physiotherapist to successfully guide you through your rehabilitation process.

Education and management strategies in addition to ‘hands-on’, evidence based clinical treatment will be provided in order to facilitate and expedite a positive final outcome.

Hands On Treatment “Manual Therapy”:
The latest and most effective evidence based treatment approaches are used. Each therapist has expert experience with the extensive variety of effective clinical techniques and treatment methods required in order to achieve successful patient outcomes.