Rehabilitation Ung 1

Sopaul K. Ung

Professor Bruce

English 301

18 September 2018

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is a therapy that is used to restore the health and wellbeing for individuals

that have suffered from diseases, incidents, addiction, or any traumatic event that which causes

an imbalance in their lives. The complexity of rehabilitation has various types of therapies which

assist patient’s everyday needs and to improve their health physically, mentally, and emotionally.

However, a victim of a life changing experience may have lost bodily functions, rehabilitation

focuses mainly on retaining the ability to get back on their feet and to reconnect back into

society. The jobs of therapists that rehabilitate patients can be specialized in different fields of

practice which depends on what parts of the body was impaired. For example, a physical

therapist would focus on the mobility of a disabled patient while an occupational therapist would

focus on the wellbeing of a patient to achieve fulfillment or contentment in their life.

Rehabilitation is a practice that aids those who are in need and refurbish independence and

adaptability from life altering circumstances.

Table of Contents

1. Etymology
2. Background
3. Rehabilitation Requirements for Practitioners
a) Career, Jobs, and Education
4. Recovery treatments and Counseling
Rehabilitation Ung 2

[8]

Etymology Examples of some rehabilitation methods

The word “Rehabilitation” comes from the late 16th century Middle French word, réhabilitation,

which means “restoration” and is derived from the Medieval Latin rehabilitationem (Etymonline,

2018). The prefix re means “again” while habitare means to “make fit” (Etymonline, 2018).

Together, the word rehabilitation is deconstructed to combine into “to make fit again”.

Background

Rehabilitation and therapy may get confused sometimes and have misconception that

these services are the same. The anatomy and physiology of a human being consists of many

joints, tissues, bones, and muscles that require to simultaneously work as a system to create

movement. Rehabilitation is not about maintaining the need of movement but to retain the

movement. It is the outcome of the loss of function that was previous required and the process of

regaining the function. According to Barbara Gibson, movement is a concept that can “be

mobilized to foster [connectivities], to re-form, re-consider, re-fuse, re-figure, re-collect, and re-

assemble care, research, and education practices” (Powell, 2018). The primary goal of

rehabilitation of a person is recovery but many clients that are hoping for growth do not realize it

will be a strenuous effort. Therapy is just one of the many rehab options that may assist in part a
Rehabilitation Ung 3

disabled patient’s recovery. Researchers and health care professionals are trained to withstand

the necessary steps to be able to motivate those who are seeking for help (Blount, 2011). The

progression of patients reaching their goal to get back onto their feet is a key principal of

rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation Requirements for Practitioners

Specifically, in the United States, it is required for practitioners of rehabilitation and

therapy to have a minimal education of a master’s degree or a doctorate’s degree. While

obtaining a master’s degree, training and volunteering are needed for many hours to receive a

license to practice under this field. It is required to have a license in all states to practice physical

or occupational therapy.

a) Careers and Jobs

There are many options in the rehabilitation field that can offer different kind of services

for various needs. Some of the many popular options are: Physical, Occupational, Respiratory,

Nursing, Physician, Psychotherapeutic, Radiation, and Recreational Rehabilitation. However,

these occupations vary in salary and sometimes education, but mainly require a minimum of a

master’s or doctoral/professional degree. The National Institutes of Health’s Clinical and

Translational Science is an organization that is designed to train research teams and develop

more scientific advancements for rehabilitation. In CTS (clinical and translational science), it

carefully prepares those who are interested in rehabilitation careers improve foundations in the

scientific field, utilize the right resources, research career paths, and be more involved in this

career (Kelly and Mattacola, 2010).

Rehabilitation Ung 4

Bureau of
Labor Statistics
for
Rehabilitation
Careers

[2]

a) The salary range for a career or job in the rehabilitation services field goes from

around $40,000 to $90,000 depending on the position, location, and education.

b) The booming of this health occupation is expect to see employment increase by 24%

for occupational therapists and about 28% for physical therapists (Powell and Jurling,

2018). These estimates were according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which

have predicted these numbers from the growing activity of impaired clients.

Recovery Treatments and Other Types of Rehabilitation

b) Physical therapy is one of the popular treatments for rehabilitation that may be used after

a traumatic event. Some examples consist of having trouble walking, spinal issues, pain

managing, stroke recovery, and much more (MedStar Health, 2018). When a patient has

become ill and/or disabled, they start to feel muscle atrophy or weakness in their body in

which causes them to not physically function correctly (Blount, 2011). The start of the

treatment can include stamina or endurance, strength, and functional motor exercises.

With these traits and characteristics, physical therapists combine different exercises to
Rehabilitation Ung 5

focus on full range movement to precisely help patients recover from whatever was

damaged and relieve joints and muscles in the body (Sanchez, 2016).

c) Occupational therapy is another treatment use in rehabilitation where a therapist

observes, analyze, and assist patients by helping them in various ranges of activities or

abilities throughout daily life. This treatment is more hands on with clients in which they

possibly teach on how to cook, use assistance devices, dress, and other daily functions

(Sanchez, 2016). Mainly, the goal of an OT is to help an individual reunite with their

society and become independent.

d) Speech-language therapy where professionals treat language or speech issues through

diagnosing treatment plans for “stuttering, voice or language disorders, developmental

issues, cleft palate, hearing loss, mental or emotional difficulties, injury, stroke, or

equipment” (Powell and Jurling, 2018).

e) Respiratory therapy works with breathing exercises and relates with the respiratory

system. Some examples may be with lung diseases and disorders such as asthma,

smoking addiction, or apnea (Powell and Jurling, 2018). Treatments may be medications

like aerosol or physiotherapy of the chest. These therapists teach how to use medication

or devices such as inhalers.

f) Cancer rehabilitation is another very popular type of therapy used among patients that are

diagnosed with various types of cancer. The treatment that is most utilized is

chemotherapy which stops or decreases the growth of cancer cells from multiplying and

spreading throughout the body.

References
Rehabilitation Ung 6

1. Harper, Douglas. “Rehabilitation (n.).” Index, Douglas Harper, 19 Sept. 2018,

www.etymonline.com/word/rehabilitation.

2. Powell, Jen, and Jennifer Moser Jurling. “Careers in Rehabilitation Therapy.” Learn.org, 19

Sept. 2018,

learn.org/articles/Careers_in_Rehabilitation_Therapy_What_Are_My_Job_Options.html.

3. Blount, Robin, and Dean Schuyler. “Rehabilitation.” The Primary Care Companion for CNS

Disorders, vol. 13, no. 3, 2011, pp. The primary care companion for CNS disorders, 2011,

Vol.13(3).

4. “Treatments.” MedStar Health System, 19 Sept. 2018, www.medstarhealth.org/mhs/our-

services/rehabilitation/treatments/.

5. Sanchez, Danny. “Rehab and Physical Therapy - What's the Difference?” Rehab and

Physical Therapy - What’s the Difference?, On Site Physio, 16 Mar. 2016, www.onsite-

physio.com/reports/rehab-and-physical-therapy-whats-the-difference.

6. Gibson, Barbara. Rehabilitation. 1st ed., CRC Press, 2016.

7. Kelly, Thomas H, and Carl G Mattacola. “Training and Career Development in Clinical and

Translational Science: An Opportunity for Rehabilitation Scientists.” Journal of Sport

Rehabilitation, vol. 19, no. 4, 2010, pp. 369–79.

8. Dickinson, Cooley. “Cooley Dickinson Rehabilitation | South Deerfield.” Cooley Dickinson

Health Care, www.cooleydickinson.org/programs-services/rehabilitation-services/south-

deerfield-clinic/.

Post Write Up
Rehabilitation Ung 7

This extended definition was a very different experience to what I ever wrote in any English

class. Usually, I would have to write about certain specific themes about a novel or a film that

the classes was given. However, this challenge was helpful because not only did it push me to

get out of my comfort zone but also required me to look through my major to understand what I

need to know about the topic in more detail. It will definitely help me choose what career path I

am seeking in the future by understanding what schools, degrees, and jobs I will look into after

my undergraduate degree.