8 Types of Rehabilitation

At some point in your life, you may have been or will be recommended to undergo rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is designed to help individuals regain essential functions to improve their quality of life. 

Whether you’re recovering from a traumatic injury or simply need help completing daily tasks, there are different types of rehabilitation available to aid you in the recovery process. Rehabilitation can help improve your physical, mental and emotional well-being. 

Below is a description of eight types of rehabilitation, as well as factors to consider when undergoing rehabilitation. 

Anyone interested in working in a rehabilitation career should check out the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences’ College of Rehabilitative Sciences graduate programs. Learn more about each graduate program by contacting an enrollment advisor for more information. 

1. Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is used to help individuals strengthen body movements and navigate pain management. Physical therapists work with patients with injuries, chronic health conditions and patients who have undergone surgery¹. 

Physical therapy and occupational therapy are both hands-on treatments. However, physical therapy focuses on relieving pain and improving patients’ ability to move their bodies. Occupational therapy focuses on improving a patient’s ability to perform daily tasks. 

Objectives 

Physical therapists should be able to²:   

• Review a patient’s medical history 
• Assess and treat a patient’s injury or condition
• Outline goals and a treatment plan 
• Educating patients and family members about the recovery process 
• Utilize stretches and exercises to improve a patient’s physical condition and reduce pain
• Record patient progress and modify the treatment plan if necessary

Outcomes

The overall goals of physical therapy include³:

• Improving joint range of motions
• Increasing physical strength
• Decreasing body pain  
• Improving metabolism
• Restoring overall physical health

Common Cases

Cases that may require physical therapy include³: 

• Injuries
• Vertigo
• Stroke or nerve damage
• Joint stiffness and weakness
• Arthritis 
• Other chronic illnesses

Note: USAHS offers several graduate programs in physical therapy. Contact an enrollment advisor for more information on the DPT programs at USAHS. 

2. Occupational Therapy 

Occupational therapy is used to improve an individual’s ability to perform essential daily tasks. Occupational therapists assist patients with injuries, disabilities and illnesses, and help patients redevelop and maintain the necessary skills to regain independence. This includes providing accommodating equipment to aid patients¹. 

Objectives 

Occupational therapists should be able to⁴:   

• Assess an individual’s condition and needs
• Create treatment plans for patients
• Provide therapeutic techniques for patients to use at home
• Record patient progress and modify the treatment plan if necessary
• Educate patients and families on the treatment plan and progress

Outcomes

The overall goals of occupational therapy include¹:

• Improving fine motor skills
• Improving ability to complete daily activities
• Restoring and maintaining independence

Common Cases

Cases that may require occupational therapy include⁵: 

• Autism
• Mental health conditions
• Physical disabilities
• Developmental delays
• Arthritis
• Spinal cord and brain injuries 
• Amputations 
• Chronic illnesses

Note: USAHS offers several graduate programs in occupational therapy. Contact an enrollment advisor for more information on the OT programs at USAHS.

3. Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and language therapy involves the treatment of speech, language and swallowing disorders. Speech-language pathologists help individuals improve issues involving pronunciation, swallowing, language and voice¹. 

While both occupational therapy and speech therapy involve functions of the human body, they are quite different. Speech and language therapy focuses on language and communication mechanics. Occupational therapy focuses on regaining and improving skills needed to perform daily tasks. 

Objectives 

Speech-language pathologists should be able to⁶:   

• Evaluate, diagnose and treat speech and swallowing disorders
• Provide language intervention treatments and activities
• Teach swallowing and feeding techniques
• Stimulate language development 
• Record patient progress and modify the treatment plan if necessary
• Educate patients and families on the treatment plan and progress

Outcomes

The overall goals of speech and language therapy include¹:

• Strengthening speaking muscles
• Improving pronunciation 
• Improving ability to swallow liquids
• Improving language skills 

Common Cases

Cases that may require speech and language therapy include⁷:

• Dyslexia
• Fluency problems
• Dysphagia
• Down syndrome
• Cleft palate
• Neck, throat or head cancer
• Autism
• Hearing impairments
• Chronic hoarseness 
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Huntington’s disease
• Aphasia
• Oral swallowing or feeding issues 

Note: USAHS offers a graduate program in speech-language pathology. Contact an enrollment advisor for more information on the MS-SLP program at USAHS. 

4. Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy

Cognitive behavioral rehabilitation therapy aims to improve an individual’s cognitive abilities, or brain-based skills. Cognitive rehabilitation can help individuals build new skills to counteract an injury or limitation. It can also help individuals regain cognitive function by strengthening particular skills¹.   

Objectives

Cognitive rehabilitation therapists should be able to⁸:   

• Assess individuals to develop treatment plans 
• Record patient progress and modify the treatment plan if necessary
• Educate patients and families on the treatment plan and progress
• Provide techniques to improve memory and thinking skills
• Teach patients new ways to perform common actions and activities 
• Establish short- and long-term goals with patients

 Outcomes

The overall goal of cognitive rehabilitation is to improve the independence of those dealing with cognitive disabilities and injuries¹. 

Common Cases

Cases that may require cognitive rehabilitation include⁹: 

• Strokes 
• Traumatic brain injuries 
• Neurodegenerative diseases

Note: USAHS doesn’t offer a cognitive rehabilitation degree at this time. 

5. Recreational Therapy   

Recreational therapy involves recreational or therapeutic activities to improve the emotional and physical well-being of individuals with disabilities and illnesses. Recreational therapists help improve independence and self-confidence in these individuals’ everyday lives¹. 

Objectives 

Recreational therapists should be able to¹⁰:  

• Assess patients and recommend suitable activities
• Provide recreational activities to improve well-being and mobility
• Support patients in maximizing independence and developing skills
• Decrease stress and anxiety 

Outcomes

The overall goal of recreational therapy is to improve the well-being of individuals¹.

Common Cases

Cases that may require recreational therapy include¹¹: 

• Disabilities, injuries and illnesses
• Mental health disorders and addictions

Note: USAHS doesn’t offer a recreational therapy degree at this time. 

6. Vocational Rehabilitation  

Vocational rehabilitation involves aiding patients with various disabilities and impairments with finding and maintaining a career. Vocational rehabilitation counselors provide support for those returning to work after a serious medical event or injury¹. 

Objectives 

Vocational rehabilitation counselors should be able to¹²:  

• Assess an individual’s skill set, training potential and interests
• Assess patient limitations
• Create a career plan that includes employment steps and goals 
• Provide skills training and resources

Outcomes

The overall goal of vocational rehabilitation is for patients to re-enter the workforce and maintain employment with greater independence¹. 

Common Cases

Cases that may require vocational rehabilitation include¹³:

• A serious medical event or injury
• Disability barriers (physical, mental and emotional) 

Note: USAHS doesn’t offer a vocational rehabilitation degree at this time. 

7. Pharmacotherapy

Pharmacotherapy is a unique type of rehabilitation that involves treating individuals with pharmaceuticals. Psychopharmaceuticals, or drugs that affect a person’s mental state, are used to improve the physical and mental well-being of the user¹. 

Pharmacotherapy also involves substituting illegal drugs with a legally prescribed drug if an individual is dealing with drug dependency. This is typically combined with other forms of therapy, such as counseling¹. 

Objectives 

Pharmacotherapists should be able to¹⁴:  

• Diagnose the patient’s health issue 
• Prescribe the correct legal drug for the patient’s diagnosis
• Provide other resources and therapy treatments 

Outcomes

The overall goals of pharmacotherapy include¹⁵:

• Reducing alcohol and opioid cravings
• Decreasing likelihood of relapse 
• Improving sleep patterns
• Improving mental well-being

Common Cases

Cases that may require pharmacotherapy include¹⁶:

• Depression
• Substance abuse 
• Dementia
• Insomnia 

Note: USAHS doesn’t offer a pharmacotherapy degree at this time. 

8. Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory therapy involves the treatment and management of breathing and lung disorders. Respiratory therapists provide care for patients of all ages—from infants to seniors¹⁷. 

Objectives 

Respiratory therapists should be able to¹⁷:  

• Diagnose lung and breathing disorders
• Conduct breathing tests with patients
• Administer prescribed medications
• Plan treatment options and therapy techniques
• Open and maintain airways to improve breathing 
• Educate patients and families on how to use inhalers, ventilators and supplemental oxygen 
• Educate patients and families about respiratory disorders and diseases

Outcomes

The overall goal of respiratory therapy is to improve patients’ respiratory function. This also includes reducing symptoms of breathing disorders and lung diseases¹⁷. 

Common Cases

Cases that may require respiratory therapy include¹⁸:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Lung development with premature infants
• Cystic fibrosis 
• Asthma 
• Pneumonia
• Acute bronchitis
• Lung cancer

Note: USAHS doesn’t offer a respiratory therapy degree at this time. 

3 Things To Consider With Rehabilitation 

For patients, there are several things to consider when going through any type of rehabilitation.

Insurance

Insurance cost and coverage vary depending on the insurance provider and the type of rehabilitation. Patients will typically need to make a co-pay along with the insurance coverage. Most times, insurance covers a limited number of therapy sessions or continues until patients reach a reported stage; there are set metrics used by therapists during a patient’s recovery and these are reported to the insurance company¹⁹.

For example, if someone is in physical therapy for an injury, insurance may cover costs until the therapy is deemed not medically necessary for the patient. The patient may continue receiving treatment but will have to pay for it out of pocket.

Duration

How long the treatment lasts will depend on the type of rehabilitation and the individual case¹⁹. 

For physical therapy, some injuries may heal quicker than others. Again, this will depend on the individual patient and the level of effort they put into completing at-home activities intended to speed up the recovery process. Cognitive rehabilitation may involve a longer recovery process for a patient dealing with a traumatic head injury. 

For therapists in these fields, it’s important to meet patients where they are and walk them through the process step-by-step. Positivity and support can be just as important as the therapeutic activities themselves.  

Physical and Emotional Demands

Rehabilitation asks a lot of patients—pushing them through activities and tasks to support their recovery process. Depending on the type of rehabilitation, this can include many physical and emotional demands¹⁹. Recovery is not always linear, and outside factors can slow down the pace. Therapists can evaluate how hard to push without draining the patient so they continue to progress. 

Choose USAHS for Your College of Rehabilitative Sciences 

Interested in working in one of the types of rehabilitation discussed above? At USAHS, we offer several rehabilitative science graduate programs for students interested in advancing their education. 

USAHS offers graduate programs in:

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech-language pathology

For more information on USAHS’ graduate programs, contact an enrollment advisor or fill out the request information form. 

The University has five campuses in St. Augustine and Miami in Florida; Austin and Dallas in Texas; and San Marcos, California. Our entry-level, first-professional degree offerings include: Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree (DPT), Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), Master of Occupational Therapy Degree (MOT), and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP). The University also offers graduate post-professional education including the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Health Administration (MHA), Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS), Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy Degree (PPOTD), the Doctor of Education (EdD), and Continuing Education Seminars and Certifications for currently licensed therapists.

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and maintains programmatic accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Learn more about the University’s institutional and programmatic accreditation.

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) completed a rigorous assessment by B Lab®, an independent non-profit organization that serves as a global movement of people using business as a force for good, and became a Certified B Corporation®.

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