ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the key principles and components of a post-fracture rehabilitation program for geriatric patients. This includes a review of the main components of a rehabilitation assessment in an older adult patient, the key elements of a rehabilitation program including the healthcare practitioners involved in the rehabilitation process, the continuum of rehabilitation care post-fracture, including the rehabilitation facilities where post-fracture rehabilitation can occur, and other considerations during rehabilitation. While functional training is the key emphasis of a post-fracture rehabilitation program, often the process may be hampered by pain. The primary goal of a post-fracture rehabilitation program is to provide an individualized therapeutic program, in conjunction with continued orthopaedic and medical management, in order to optimize functional recovery. Ideally, a comprehensive individualized rehabilitation program will allow older adult fracture patients to recover at least their pre-morbid functional abilities, if not even greater functional independence.
