Physiotherapy After a Hospital Stay
After a long stay in hospital, many older people find they are not as mobile as they were prior to their admission. This is sometimes referred to as “post hospital syndrome”.
Physiotherapy can help people to regain confidence and mobility to manage at home, or in a new setting. At Severn Physiotherapy, our expert Physiotherapists can help you to transition from hospital to your home environment.
Reasons you may not be as mobile after a hospital stay
Often in hospital, people are not as mobile as they usually are. This may in part be due to the reason for their admission, such as an infection. However, as the infection starts to resolve, people often do not move around as much as they do at home. For instance, meals will usually be bought to the bed, it may not be as far to walk to the bathroom and people don’t tend to go outside. In addition, there are often lots of pieces of equipment to help in hospital, such as an electronic bed and rails in the bathroom.
Once home, people may realise that they had lost strength during their hospital stay, or become dependent on particular equipment. There are also difference challenges at home, such as managing steps. Moving around the home environment can be more challenging, meaning that people do not walk as much, further loosing strength and confidence.
How to manage?
It is helpful if in hospital people can work on exercises and their mobility as much as is possible, to maintain their strength. Hosptial staff should also support an individual to plan how they will manage when they get home.
Once at home, a person may benefit from Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy. Amongst other things, they can:
- Practice tasks such as cooking
- Practice mobility and advise on how to mobilise safely
- Give advice to reduce the risk of falling
- Give muscle strengthening and stretching exercises
- Give balance and core stability exercises
- “Hands on” work such as massage
- Support with pain management
- Give advice on equipment that may be helpful at home
- Liaise with family and friends, and support in communication with health and social care professionals
During an assessment, the Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist will find out about a person’s experience so far and find out what goals are important to them. They will then look at how a person is moving and performing certain tasks. They will then devise a treatment plan that fits an individual’s needs. For more information about how an assessment works, click here.
At Severn Physiotherapy, our therapists are experienced is supporting people following a hospital discharge. We can see you at home, without needing to wait on a waiting list. For more information, get in touch for a no obligation chat about your needs
