Rehabilitation is the process of helping an individual, with physical or communication challenges, achieve the highest level of independence and quality of life possible.

Hoag Hospital's rehabilitation team works closely with the physician, patient and family to provide evaluation and treatment for a variety of disorders.

Physical Therapy

Each Hoag physical therapist is specially trained to improve movement, restore function and relieve pain for the following disorders:

• Orthopedic injuries

• Neurological disorders such as stroke, head injury, and brain tumor

• Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders

• Balance and vestibular problems

• Degenerative neurological diseases

• Burns and wounds

• Incontinence and pelvic pain

• Lymphedema

• Functional mobility and transfer training

• Gait training

• Balance training

• Exercises for strength and flexibility

• Joint and soft tissue mobilization

• Neuromuscular re-education

• Wound care

• Patient, family and caregiver education

The occupational therapists at Hoag support individuals who are experiencing performance deficits in daily life skills as a result of injury or disease, such as:

• Stroke

• Head injury

• Brain tumor

• Cancer

• Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders

• Degenerative neurological diseases

• Orthopedic injuries with emphasis on the hand and elbow

• Training in self-care and activities of daily living

• Instruction in use of adaptive devices and equipment

• Suggestions for environmental modifications

• Upper extremity exercises for strength and dexterity

• Provision of orthotics

• Cognitive training: attention span, memory, concept formation, time management, problem solving and thinking skills

• Perceptual training: ability to interpret sensory information received from the environment

• Visual processing therapy: visual eye control, reading, reduced vision due to double or blurred vision and visual field deficits

• Neurodevelopmental treatment

• Edema management

• Computerized strengthening equipment

• Vocational simulation

• Patient, family and caregiver education

The speech language pathologists specialize in assessment and treatment of the following:

• Communication and cognitive problems after stroke or brain injury

• Aphasia: loss of the ability to use or understand spoken or written language

• Dysarthria: disturbance in the strength or coordination of the muscles of the speech mechanism

• Apraxia: difficulty sequencing movements or actions related to speech

• Dysphagia: swallowing difficulties

• Voice disorders such as hoarseness, vocal nodules and paralyzed vocal cords

• Communication problems after surgical procedures

• Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders

• Lee Silverman Voice Treatment¨ for Parkinson's disease

• Neuromuscular electrical stimulation for the treatment of swallowing disorders