Drug Therapy and Physical Function in the Elderly Rehabilitation Patient

Physical function can be affected by drug therapy and, in turn, affect the assessment and progress of rehabilitation. Drug therapy can be used, intentionally, to try to improve functional status. However, many drugs can adversely affect physical function. Furthermore, adverse drug effects are unintended, secondary effects of drug therapy and, therefore, often unrecognized.

The elderly are at greater risk of experiencing an adverse drug reaction compared to younger patients. Therefore, it is particularly important for the practitioner involved in the rehabilitation of elderly patients to be aware of potential effects of drug therapy on physical function.

Several classes of drugs, likely to be encountered by the geriatric rehabilitation practitioner, are examined with regard to physical function.