About Inpatient Therapy

The philosophy of therapy at TIRR Memorial Hermann is to promote recovery of lost movement in addition to teaching functional skills. This promotion of recovery uses hands-on techniques to make the weaker limb(s) move and activate as much as possible.

Skills Practiced in Inpatient Therapy

The range of skills practiced in therapy include:

• Cognition and communication tasks which work on speaking, processing and memory
• Activities of daily living which include eating, grooming, dressing, hygiene, bathing and toileting
• Mobility skills which include moving in bed, transferring to different surfaces (car, furniture, wheelchair, bed), standing, walking and climbing stairs.

Aquatic (pool) therapy is available if indicated. It allows the body to be supported while working on strengthening and functional activities, walking, etc.

Bodyweight-supported treadmill training is available as indicated to assist in recovery of walking and standing skills.

Patient Participation in Inpatient Therapy

The patient’s ability to sit up, the amount of endurance the patient has to tolerate therapy, as well as his or her medical and nursing needs, determine the ability to participate in therapy services. Many factors are involved and decisions are made by the team as to what is most appropriate for the individual.

Therapy Groups

There are many different therapy groups that support the educational needs, physical needs, cognitive and psychosocial needs of the patient. Therapy groups are just as important as individual treatment sessions.

Patients who are on certain restrictions, such as isolation, may be limited in their ability to participate in groups. Group treatment is added to the schedule as the patient’s endurance and medical needs allow.

Frequency of Inpatient Therapy

The goal for acute inpatient rehabilitation is to provide a minimum of three hours of therapy per day, Monday through Friday. The maximum amount of therapy a patient would receive is approximately six hours.

Weekend therapy is also offered depending on patient needs and abilities. Practice on the patient care unit, as well as opportunities with rehabilitation nursing, are also important components of the rehabilitation program.

Location of Inpatient Therapy

Therapy is provided in many areas. Patient rooms and even hallways can be therapeutic environments depending on the goal for the particular session. Therapy is mostly provided in one of our many gym areas: 1st floor main gym, 2nd floor gym, 3rd floor gym or 4th floor gym.

Additional Activities for Patients and Families

Patients and families are strongly encouraged to attend all of the relevant education classes we offer, such as RAPS (Readiness and Preparation for Self-care) classes for SCI patients and Family Times for brain injury and stroke patients.

The chaplain offers classes and services for all patients and families. Weekend activities and occasional evening activities are also offered and encouraged for patients and families.

Weekends Inpatient Therapy Options

Individual weekend therapy (Saturday or Sunday) is offered to patients on a priority basis depending on multiple factors, one of which is the day of the patient’s admission. Therapy groups are also offered to encourage therapeutic progress on the weekends.

Your therapy team will work with you to determine what is most appropriate on any given weekend. In addition to therapy groups and individual therapy, other activities are offered for all patients and families on the weekends.

Therapeutic Recreation

Therapeutic recreation specialists use recreational methods and experiences to improve functional abilities in therapy, provide education and training in recreational skills and attitudes for healthy recreation, and promote social interaction and healthy living through group and community recreational and leisure.

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The Interdisciplinary Team at TIRR Memorial Hermann

Rehabilitation is a complex process. Its success depends on multiple disciplines seamlessly working together to set treatment goals and monitor progress. The care of each patient admitted to TIRR Memorial Hermann is managed by a full interdisciplinary team of highly qualified individuals with specialized training in the field of rehabilitation.

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