Health Science Popularization | Rehabilitation Treatment is Massage and Massage? NONONO

As the saying goes, 'Three parts cure, seven parts nourish'. However, in actual medical treatment, many patients still focus on medication or surgery, neglecting the very important part - rehabilitation treatment.

According to the 2020 survey data from the medical journal The Lancet, China has the highest rehabilitation demand in the world, with a total of 460 million patients, but only about one tenth of them have received rehabilitation medical treatment.

What is rehabilitation therapy? What are the misconceptions of the public about rehabilitation treatment? The expert team from the Rehabilitation Medicine Department of Taikang Xianlin Gulou Hospital will answer questions and clarify doubts for everyone.

Misconception 1

Rehabilitation treatment does not require going to the hospital

As an important component of rehabilitation medicine, rehabilitation treatment refers to a treatment method that promotes the restoration of normal or near normal physical and mental dysfunction or disability caused by factors such as injury, disease, and developmental defects.

In clinical practice, patients with geriatric diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, bone and joint diseases, etc., must not ignore early rehabilitation treatment. No matter how good the surgery is, if scientific rehabilitation training is not implemented, the recovery of physical function will also be hindered.

The Rehabilitation Medicine Department of Taikang Xianlin Gulou Hospital was established in 2018. Currently, it has 34 beds and a rehabilitation treatment area of over 2000 square meters. It is a medical complex that integrates medical treatment, rehabilitation, nursing, and teaching. The department has established specialized departments in rehabilitation medicine, sports rehabilitation, and early childhood intervention clinics, with a total of 23 medical and nursing personnel. It is at the forefront of rehabilitation technology, talent reserves, and facility environment in the province.

Misconception 2

Rehabilitation therapy is massage and tuina

This understanding is very one-sided.

In fact, massage, acupuncture and moxibustion and massage are just part of the "traditional Chinese treatment" branch of rehabilitation therapy. Rehabilitation therapy techniques include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychological counseling and treatment, cultural and sports therapy, rehabilitation engineering, etc.

Rehabilitation therapy provides scientific treatment rather than leisure health care. Every patient who comes to the rehabilitation department will go through a scientifically customized rehabilitation process: functional rehabilitation assessment - rehabilitation treatment plan - rehabilitation treatment - effect evaluation. This series of procedures can help patients recover their physical functions to the greatest extent possible, improve their quality of life, and return to daily life.

Misconception Three

Only 'three paralysis and one section' require rehabilitation treatment

Many people believe that only hemiplegia, cerebral palsy, paraplegia, and people with disabilities need rehabilitation treatment, but this is actually a misconception.

All individuals with functional impairments are suitable for rehabilitation treatment, such as the elderly, children with developmental delays, trauma and post-operative patients, chronic heart and lung dysfunction, sports injuries, and office workers with shoulder, neck, waist, and back discomfort.

At present, the advantage diagnosis and treatment projects carried out by the Rehabilitation Medicine Department of our hospital include:

1. Rehabilitation of neurological disorders: Rehabilitation treatment is provided for symptoms such as hemiplegia, paraplegia, language disorders, swallowing disorders, etc. that occur after stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve injury, and other diseases.

2. Rehabilitation of bone and joint diseases: Rehabilitation treatment is provided for shoulder periarthritis, lower back and leg pain, various types of cervical spondylosis, functional impairment after fractures, scoliosis, etc.

3. Cardiopulmonary and critical rehabilitation: For patients who are bedridden for a long time or lack exercise, a cardiopulmonary function assessment should be conducted first, and then a personalized exercise treatment plan should be developed to improve both limb movement ability and cardiopulmonary function.

4. Child rehabilitation: Various rehabilitation treatments are adopted for children with developmental delays, attention deficit, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, etc., and early intervention is provided for high-risk children.

5. Postpartum rehabilitation: Rehabilitation treatment is provided for uterine involution, postpartum pelvic floor assessment, breast dredging, postpartum lactation, chronic pelvic pain, etc.

Misconception 4

Rehabilitation therapy doesn't have much technical content

In June of this year, China's first university named after rehabilitation, "Rehabilitation University," was officially unveiled and established. Do you still think that rehabilitation treatment lacks technical content?

Famous rehabilitation expert Professor Li Jian'an once said, "In the future, there will be no department that does not require rehabilitation." The Rehabilitation Medicine Department of Taikang Xianlin Gulou Hospital has close cooperation with multiple clinical departments such as cardiology, endocrinology, nephrology, and geriatrics center, implementing cutting-edge rehabilitation technologies such as cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, exercise rehabilitation, kidney disease rehabilitation, and health management to treat diseases while restoring function.

In 2024, our Rehabilitation Medicine Department flexibly introduced Professor Wang Lei, the head of the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, and jointly established a studio with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine to carry out deep cooperation in professional fields such as cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine rehabilitation. We will provide advanced rehabilitation concepts and technologies to patients, truly helping them achieve comprehensive rehabilitation.

Misconception 5

Just lie down and rest, there's no need for rehabilitation treatment

As the saying goes, 'It takes 100 days to break bones and muscles.' Many orthopedic patients believe that after surgery, they can simply 'lie flat' and rest, without the need for rehabilitation treatment. However, this is actually a misconception.

Lying flat may worsen the damage to the affected area, and elderly and frail fracture patients who rest for too long are also prone to bed rest complications. After surgery, it is generally recommended to start rehabilitation training as early as possible and engage in moderate exercise under the guidance of a rehabilitation doctor, which can greatly shorten the rehabilitation time.

Mr. Liu, who suffered from Achilles tendon rupture, underwent 3 months of rehabilitation training in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department of our hospital after surgery. Through Maitland maneuver combined with muscle fascia release, ultrasound therapy, gait and balance stability training, and other methods, he has achieved two rehabilitation goals: jogging 2 kilometers and hiking to the top of Purple Mountain.

To meet the needs of the general public for rehabilitation treatment, our Rehabilitation Medicine Department has now opened evening outpatient clinics for treatment:

Time: Monday to Friday 17:00-19:00

Location: Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Third Floor, Outpatient Department, Phase II Hospital

The Rehabilitation Medicine Department hopes to help more patients recover their health and live a happy life!