Top 10 Reasons Inpatient PT is Better for Shoulder Injury Rehab
Your shoulder is one of the most complex joints in your body. In fact, it’s actually the combination of several joints. This allows it a wide range of motion that is needed for everyday activities.
But suppose you’ve injured your shoulder, whether it’s a rotator cuff or you need a shoulder replacement.
Where do you go from here?
After a shoulder injury, you may consider outpatient rehabilitation, hoping that you will get what you need during your sessions scheduled throughout the week. However, by doing so, you may be missing out on the many advantages offered by inpatient physical therapy.
At East Carolina Rehabilitation and Wellness, we’ve spent decades building a health care team that places you and your needs first in a compassionate and caring environment.
We’ll take a look at a few commonly asked questions about physical therapy (PT) as well as reasons that inpatient PT is better for shoulder injury rehabilitation.
Top 10 Reasons Inpatient PT is Better for Shoulder Injury Rehabilitation
1. Availability of Physical Therapists
We have a wonderful staff of physical therapists who are available when you need them. In addition to following your course of care, they also meet with the treatment team to ensure things are going as they should.
Our physical therapists are always available to answer any questions you might have.
2. Easy Access to Help If You Need It
If you have difficulty getting dressed or if you’re unable to take a bath easily, we have the staff on hand that can help. We pride ourselves in offering a peaceful, engaging community full of dedicated employees who are always willing to lend a helping hand.
3. Your Meals Are Prepared for You
Reaching for ingredients or lifting even small pots and pans can spell trouble for your recovering shoulder. In certain cases, your doctor may want you to eliminate lifting objects altogether while your shoulder heals.
At a rehabilitation community like East Carolina Rehabilitation and Wellness, we have nutritious, delicious meals that can accommodate any dietary plan.
4. Your Medication is Managed
You’ll likely be on a regimen of pain medications. If you have other chronic diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure, there will be more medicines in the mix.
Having one place to monitor all your medication can allow you the peace of mind to concentrate on recovery.
5. It’s Often Better if You Live Alone
When you live alone, the responsibilities of daily living often fall to you. When you’re recovering from an injury, that’s exactly the time you do NOT want to be burdened by household chores that may be difficult, if not impossible to do.
While you could hire a housekeeper to take care of some things, this would not include tasks such as aid with dressing or bathing.
This is another reason that inpatient PT offers distinct advantages.
6. It Can Speed Up Your Progress
Inpatient PT tends to be a bit more intensive, which can speed up your healing. At East Carolina Rehabilitation and Wellness, our main goal is for you to improve and get better. In fact, most of our residents are only here temporarily while they recover. After their course of treatment, they are discharged back to their home so they can be with the ones they love.
7. You Get a Dose of Inspiration
If you’re an inpatient, chances are you’ve met people who are facing the same challenges you are. This not only gives you an opportunity to bond with each other, but it provides an avenue of support. You can not only establish new friendships, but you can gain inspiration from others.
And who knows? Maybe others will be inspired by you as well.
8. It’s Safe and Convenient for Family and Friends to Visit
We encourage safe visitation practices. If you have a family member or friend who wants to visit, contact us. We’re always adjusting our visitation practices in a manner to keep you safe during these challenging times.
9. Nurses Are Available 24/7
We hope that your recovery progresses smoothly, but if for some reason, you need experienced health care assistance, we have RNs on staff 24/7 who are always ready to help you. They also communicate across the entire health care team, so you can be assured that your doctor’s orders are being followed to the letter.
10. It Can Reduce “Readmissions”
Did you know that the first two weeks after you are discharged to home can be the most important weeks of your recovery? If you don’t have close guidance and supervision, you could cause damage to the joint you just recently got fixed. As a result, you may need to be “readmitted” to a hospital or care center.
With inpatient physical therapy, you’ll have a safe, attentive environment where you’re surrounded by experts. You don’t have to “go it alone” where most of your recovery time is at home.
When Should I Start PT After an Injury?
There’s no one answer that covers each situation. It depends upon the scope of the injury and your doctor’s instructions. In general, starting with gentle range of motion exercises 72 hours after an injury may help.
However, you should not do this on your own. Work with your physical therapist and doctor to ensure you’re doing the exercises correctly and at the right time.
Why Is PT Important After an Injury?
A supervised physical therapy regiment strengthens the muscles that are associated with your injury. In addition, you’ll find that it helps the surrounding muscles. It also helps by:
- Improving surgical results
- Relieving pain
- Preventing scar tissue
- Improving your range of motion
When do you no longer need PT?
This is not based upon a certain amount of time, but rather when you’ll reach your physical therapy goals. For example, your goal may be to regain your full range of motion for your shoulder or to be able to lift your arms above your head without pain.
Your doctor and physical therapist will work with you to determine your goals and help you work toward achieving them.
Typically, it may take as long as eight weeks for soft tissue to heal. However, for a more extensive surgery, such as a shoulder replacement, it may take 12 weeks or more to reach a full recovery.
Let East Carolina Rehabilitation and Wellness Guide You on Your Physical Therapy Journey
Not all of our residents are here full-time. Many are simply here for inpatient rehabilitation until they are ready to go back home to their families and the ones they love.
That’s why we are with you every step of the way throughout your recovery, whether you’re had shoulder surgery or a hip replacement. Our compassionate, professional therapists will work closely with you to ensure you’re ready to go home.
Want to know more? Contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.