Rehabilitation medicine.
This article presents a limited overview of the assistance rehabilitation medicine can offer the elderly surgical patient. Appropriately timed rehabilitation can positively affect surgical outcome of elderly patients by restoring physical abilities and promoting independent function. Specific techniques and programs that follow rehabilitation principles can help offset organ system impairment associated with the aging process itself. Moreover, predictable complications of postoperative bed rest and deconditioning that negatively impact functional mobility and self-care can be prevented or rapidly reversed by adhering to sound rehabilitation precepts. The surgeon should be familiar with the concepts of preserving and restoring function, the members of the rehabilitation team, and the array of programs and settings available for the physically impaired and disabled elderly patient.