Enhabit Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley

After experiencing a life-changing stroke or other illness, your doctor may recommend rehabilitation as the next step in your journey to recoverybut what does that mean, and where should rehabilitation take place? These settingsknown as post-acute careinclude home health, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing homes and long-term acute care hospitals. Should you need additional care, your care team could refer you to one of these settings based on your abilities and goals; but as a patient, you have the right to choose where you go for post-acute care.Your doctor said you need rehabilitation. What next?Independent studies show that inpatient rehabilitation hospitals are a better setting for stroke, hip fracture, and hip replacement patients. Unlike skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals are required to provide at least three hours of therapy five days a week and will allow access to trained physicians and rehabilitation equipment and technology that may not be available elsewhere.On average, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals have a lower length of stay and discharge more patients home than skilled nursing facilities. This means inpatient rehabilitation hospitals are able to help individuals return to their families, their jobs and their communities more effectively and more quickly.The services delivered at inpatient rehabilitation hospitals serve as a next step for many patients who are ready to leave the acute care hospital, but need extra rehabilitation and recovery before returning home. Doing your research and selecting the right inpatient rehabilitation hospital is a critical step for a successful recovery.Your local inpatient rehabilitation hospital of choice. Editors Note: This article was submitted by Lisa Hopkins, OTR/L, of Encompass Health Harmarville Sewickley Kennedy.  At Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Harmarville and Sewickley, we are committed to helping you regain independence after a life-changing illness or injury. Serving Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas, we are a leading provider of inpatient rehabilitation for stroke, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis and other complex neurological and orthopedic conditions. To learn more, visit encompasshealth.com.

In a matter of minutes, Danilo Sangco went from being a fully functional 49 year-old to not being able to walk or even use his hand to grip his smart phone.Sangco had a hemorrhagic stroke. Once his medical condition was stabilized at the hospital, his doctors recommended inpatient rehabilitation to help him recover from the stroke.Making the Right ChoiceSangco was skeptical. He thought he could manage and recover through outpatient therapy, but after some consideration, he took his doctors advice.The more I thought about it I knew I needed inpatient rehabilitation, he said. My sister searched all the inpatient centers, and we chose Encompass Health because they had the best reviews. I am glad I made the right choice.When Sangco arrived at the rehabilitation hospital, he couldn't walk and had little movement in his left side. His recovery goals: he wanted to walk again and just feel like himself.I wanted to feel normal again and do the things I normally would be able to do, he said. I wanted to get my left hand and left leg working again and wanted to ultimately be able to work and ride my motorcycle again.Getting Back to NormalSangcos care team used the advanced technologies and equipment at Encompass Health to help him get back on his feet safely.The Vector, a gait and safety technology system, helped Sangco learn to walk again while the systems harness protected him from falling. As his strength increased, he moved to the parallel bars, where he could practice walking with the assistance of his therapy team.Trusting Himself AgainSangco was at Encompass Health for 14 days. He said his care team gave him confidence, something he had little of when he arrived at the rehabilitation hospital.When Sangco left Encompass Health, he was walking again and his balance greatly improved. Thanks to the motivation he received from his Encompass Health care team, he said he was able to trust himself again.Once you have the motivation and dont get discouraged and you trust yourself, thats what creates the biggest impact on your life and recovery, he said.Editors Note: This article was submitted by Lisa Hopkins, OTR/L, of Encompass Health Harmarville Sewickley Kennedy.

We all face challenges when it comes to living a healthier lifestyle, and making changes to our daily patterns can be a challenge in itself. One of the best ways to make an impactful change is to start with small, daily steps that can eventually develop into a habit. One excellent habit to work toward is adding more unsaturated fats into your diet.Why Unsaturated Fats?The current 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting saturated fat to less than 10% of total daily calories. These types of fats are often found in meat, lard, nondairy creamers, palm oil and hydrogenated margarine and shortening.  Unsaturated fat, sometimes called good fat, can actually reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Some of the health benefits of unsaturated fats include:Improving cholesterol numbers (lowering LDL and raising HDL)Reducing inflammation in the bodyReducing feelings of hungerIncreasing fiber intake (some sources)Increasing intake of essential fatty acids and some vitamins and mineralsImproving the health and appearance of skin and hairSources of Unsaturated FatsBelow are some excellent sources of unsaturated fats. (The appropriate serving size has also been included for reference.)Avocado ' 1/3 of a medium avocadoOlive Oil 1 tablespoonPumpkin Seeds ' cupWalnuts 1 ounceAlmonds 1 ounceFlax Seeds 1 tablespoonSeafood 6 ounces (cooked)Simple AdjustmentsThis week, choose one of the unsaturated fat options above to add to your diet each day. To challenge yourself further, try replacing one source of saturated fat in your diet with one of the unsaturated fat options above each day. You may be surprised at how delicious and satisfying healthy fats can be!Below are some simple ways to incorporate unsaturated fats into your diet. Do be aware of serving sizes to ensure you dont consume more than the recommended amounts. When eating nuts or seeds as a snack, for example, it helps to pre-portion your servings to avoid the temptation of eating more than you should.Avocado  Add avocado to your smoothie, or add it to your deli sandwich or wrap in place of mayonnaise.Olive Oil  Add olive oil to your salad as a dressing, or use it when cooking eggs for breakfast or roasting vegetables for dinner.Walnuts or Almonds  Use walnuts or almonds as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack and pair them with a piece of whole fruit.Seafood  Include at least one serving of fish each week. Grilled salmon or tuna can easily be added to a salad.Flax Seed  Add ground flax seed to your smoothie or oatmeal for a healthy start to your day. Youll barely notice a difference in taste, but youll get a boost of nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber.Lifestyle ChangesBy continuing to make these simple adjustments to your diet, you can develop lifelong habits that will positively affect your overall health. You may be surprised with the changes to your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels after only a few weeks. If you want to take your dietary changes a step further, try consuming these healthy fats as part of an overall healthy diet plan, such as the Mediterranean diet or DASH diet, both of which are recommended by the American Heart Association.References:www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/dietary-guidelines-and-myplate/choose-healthy-fatswww.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/types-of-fat/

In a world of fast-paced developments in technology, its important for industries to stay informed of new capabilities to remain on the forefront of progress especially when it comes to health care.HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals of Pittsburgh is no stranger to the benefits technology can bring to patients and their families. Aggressive therapy with the addition of advanced technology can make all the difference in how successfully a patient returns to independence.To maintain its lead in offering the latest technology, HealthSouth has contributed its own revolutionary breakthrough with the engineering and development of the AutoAmbulator.Patients who have experienced a stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinsons disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and other diagnosis resulting in gait deficits can benefit from the AutoAmbulator when its added to their rehabilitation program. Even patients with spinal cord injuries from years ago may see amazing results from treatment.Designed by HealthSouth, the AutoAmbulator is a sophisticated technology unparalleled in its ability to help people replicate normal walking patterns.Equipped with numerous safety features, the AutoAmbulator supports the patient while robotics assist the patients legs as they walk over a treadmill. Sophisticated programs power the AutoAmbulator through its integrated computer system, while sensors track numerous functions, continuously monitoring and adjusting power and speed according to each patients physical requirements.While using the AutoAmbulator, patients can walk because the device holds their body upright while mechanized braces help guide their legs across the treadmill. The system was designed to allow therapists to safely adjust the amount of weight bearing to each patients individual rehabilitation plan. Speed of walking can be varied to each patients tolerance and gradually increased to reproduce gait patterns that simulate normal walking. To eliminate risk of injury, safety features automatically stop the machine when an adverse event occurs, such as a severe spasm, or if the patients foot improperly strikes the treadmill. Some patients use this technology as an inpatient, while others are noticing an improvement in their walking abilities after adding the AutoAmbulator training to their outpatient rehabilitation therapy.Editors Note: To learn more about the AutoAmbulator and if could be of benefit to you or someone you know, contact HealthSouth Hospitals of Pittsburgh at 877-937-7342.

 After experiencing a life-changing stroke or other illness, your doctor may recommend rehabilitation as the next step in your journey to recovery but what does that mean, and where should rehabilitation take place? These settings known as post-acute care include home health, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing homes and long-term acute care hospitals. Should you need additional care, your care team could refer you to one of these settings based on your abilities and goals; but as a patient, you have the right to choose where you go for post-acute care.Your doctor said you need rehabilitation. What next?Independent studies show that inpatient rehabilitation hospitals are a better setting for stroke, hip fracture, and hip replacement patients. Unlike skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals are required to provide at least three hours of therapy five days a week and will allow access to trained physicians and rehabilitation equipment and technology that may not be available elsewhere.On average, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals have a lower length of stay and discharge more patients home than skilled nursing facilities. This means inpatient rehabilitation hospitals are able to help individuals return to their families, their jobs and their communities more effectively and more quickly.The services delivered at inpatient rehabilitation hospitals serve as a next step for many patients who are ready to leave the acute care hospital, but need extra rehabilitation and recovery before returning home.Doing your research and selecting the right inpatient rehabilitation hospital is a critical step for a successful recovery.Your local inpatient rehabilitation hospital of choiceAt Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Harmarville and Sewickley, we are committed to helping you regain independence after a life-changing illness or injury.Serving Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas, we are a leading provider of inpatient rehabilitation for stroke, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis and other complex neurological and orthopedic conditions.  Editors Note:  This article was written by Richard C. Senelick, MD., Encompass Health. To learn more, visit encompasshealth.com.