Outpatient Rehabilitation Services at St. Luke's Health - Brazosport Hospital - Lake Jackson, TX

The surgical removal of a body part such as a limb, hand, foot, finger, or toe. An amputation can be a life-altering experience, forcing the patient to relearn how to move and interact with their environment without a part of their body. An amputation may be caused by a traumatic accident (known as a traumatic amputation) or by disease, destruction, or infection of bodily tissue (known as surgical amputation).

Cardiopulmonary dysfunction refers to a range of (often serious) conditions that affect the heart and the lungs, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Treatments may range from lifestyle changes to medication to surgery, depending on the individual case.

Chronic pain is persistent, ongoing pain that lasts for more than six months, such as migraines, back pain, nerve pain, arthritis, and cancer. Chronic pain affects daily life; does not generally have a clear, present underlying cause; and often leads to fatigue, changes in appetite, and mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and anger.

General debility — which refers to muscle weakness, not fatigue — often results from pain/injuries, heart/lung problems, and metabolic or neuromuscular disorders, and it interferes with daily tasks. Treating general debility requires rehabilitation therapy

Injury is a term to describe damage to the body caused by falls and other types of accidents, physical violence, and weapons. Injuries can be minor or they can be severe and even life-threatening.

Injury treatment may include rest, medication, physical therapy, and/or surgery, depending on the severity and location of the injury. While simple sprains can be resolved with the “RICE” treatment (rest, ice, compression, elevation), it's important to receive a full assessment of sports injuries to ensure the treatment plan aligns with the injury and does not miss underlying causes.

Neuromuscular disorders cause problems with the muscles, the nerves that control them, and communication between the two (e.g., neuropathy, muscular dystrophy). Neurological disorders are issues with the brain, spinal cord, and nerves (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, stroke, migraines, epilepsy).

Performance enhancement physical therapy works toward injury prevention, recovery, and overall fitness. Performance enhancement training starts with a thorough assessment of an individual’s biomechanics and functional/musculoskeletal imbalances and works to improve balance, proprioception, and coordination as well as strength, power, and flexibility.

A cerebrovascular accident (CVA, or stroke) can cause other conditions that require treatment and/or rehabilitation, including the disruption or loss of speech, vision, memory, and motor skills. The severity of the CVA and how quickly it was treated will affect the duration and intensity of necessary rehabilitation, such as with occupational and speech therapists.

Rehabilitation and therapy services include inpatient and outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services. These services are provided to people who are recovering from an injury or illness or have a chronic health condition or disability.

Post orthopedic surgery recovery varies by procedure, but all require rehabilitation. This involves cleaning and care of any incisions, carefully following the doctor’s instructions on introducing and increasing movement (for joint replacements, in particular, this is ASAP), and, often, completing physical therapy.