Rehabilitation helps people with injuries or disabilities heal and physically function in life. Some common rehabilitation causes are sports injuries, work related injuries, birth defects, genetic disorders and surgery. The goal of rehabilitation is to help you to regain physical independence.
After an illness or accident, in many cases the rehabilitation process starts. The basic health insurance in the Netherlands covers rehabilitation care such as physiotherapy or occupational therapy, under certain conditions. Rehabilitation care after surgery is covered by the basic health insurance, but you need a referral from a doctor. In addition, you pay excess, which is hundreds of Euros a year in The Netherlands.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapeutic care after surgery is only reimbursed from the basic insurance if the disorder is on the chronic list. The basic insurance then covers physiotherapy for a maximum of 12 months, but only to the extent that this is medically necessary. The first 20 treatments physiotherapy you usually pay for yourself. The insurer will reimburse the costs from the 21st treatment. You first pay the excess. Unfortunately, most injuries are not on the chronic list, so your insurer will not reimburse anything.
Occupational therapy
Some patients are eligible for occupational therapy reimbursement after their operation. The basic insurance covers 10 hours as standard. This falls under the compulsory (and possibly voluntary) excess. An additional insurance can cover extra hours of occupational therapy.
Common types of rehabilitation therapy
- Physical therapy: physical therapists work to restore movement, strength and functional ability and reduce pain through exercise and a range of other treatment methods.
- Vocational Rehabilitation: This therapy helps individuals to return to work after an injury or illness.
- Occupational therapy: this therapy aids in improving fine motor skills and restoring the balance of patients. It also helps in learning how to increase their functional ability through the use of exercise equipment.
- Respiratory therapy: aids patients with chronic respiratory diseases and breathing disorders. Therapists teach them how to use inhalers and oxygen equipment.
Outpatient Rehabilitation
Where inpatient rehabilitation refers to the treatment you receive in a hospital, outpatient therapy refers to the blend of services from physical therapists, occupational therapists and other therapists. Outpatient rehabilitation provides treatment for neurological disorders, psychological disorders, physical disorders and mental disorders.
Top 5 most common sports injuries
- Knee Injury (ACL tear)
- Tennis or Golf Elbow
- Hamstrings strain
- Shin splint
- Hip flexor strain
Reimbursement through health insurance
When someone injures their knee during sports, it might be a tear in the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) of the knee joint. This ligament controls the movement of the knee. A sudden jerk like stopping and changing directions or landing with a hard impact can cause strain of the ACL. When you hear a cacking and popping sound and experience swelling, it can be an ACL injury. This injury needs medical care after which physical therapy is necessary for rehabilitation.
Tennis or Golf elbow
Tennis elbow occurs due to repeated strokes on the lateral/outer side of the elbow. Golf elbow is inflammation on the medial/inner side of the elbow. These conditions are common among athletes. Immediate treatment, icing and rest are necessary to heal from these injuries.
Hamstring strain
Hamstring strain is also a very common sports injury. The hamstring is the group of muscles at the back of your thighs. Hamstring stretch occurs due to the outstretching of muscles. Recovery takes time. Rest, ice and medication are recommended in this injury. Also, you might need physical therapy.
Shin splint
If you have a shooting pain down the front of your leg, you may be suffering from shin splints. This usually happens to runners who increase the intensity of exercise too much or too soon.
Hip flexor strain
Hip flexors are a group of muscles that are present in front of your thighs. When an athlete skips warm-up exercises, hip flexor strain can occur. Bruising and pain are symptoms of hip flexor strain. Many field hockey players and soccer players suffer from this injury every year.