Aims and Purpose of Rehabilitation

The primary goal of rehabilitation is to provide patients with an expedited recovery from any acute injuries or illness and progressive reintroduction back into society as functional individuals. Rehabilitation seeks to provide meaningful living to saved lives. Rehabilitation aims to improve participation in personal and societal level activities within limits imposed by the patient’s residual deficits and available rehabilitation facilities.

Not all patients require specialist rehabilitation and a few might be able to undergo self-guided rehabilitation programmes. It is anticipated that the rehabilitation coordinator will be able to assist in guiding each patient through the rehabilitation pathway.

Exercise and Physical Activities at home following discharge from an Intensive Care Unit

Many patients who have been through the intensive care unit during their hospital stay often experience deconditioning. Deconditioning refers to a physical and/or psychological decline in function. Prolonged bed rest and inactivity can affect nearly all systems of the body. The person feels weak, tired and exhausted after little or no effort. Many described that they unable to get their energy back even after resting and experience a lot of fatigue. This can affect their ability to get back to their usual activities when they are discharged from hospital.

For further information please click here for a printable Post ICU Rehabilitation Patient Leaflet created by Dr Abayomi Salawu, Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine at Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Network Director of Rehabilitation for the North Yorkshire & Humberside Major Trauma Operational Delivery Network.