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Spinal Cord Injury
Our goal is to help you achieve your best outcome with cutting-edge treatments. As the world’s #1 referral choice for spinal cord injury, you benefit from our integration of medicine, research and technology.
Program & Services
You want to recover what’s most important in your life — be it mobility, independence or walking again. Together we reach for those goals.
SCI Recovery Program
See what sets us apart from other rehabilitation hospitals and why our outcomes for spinal cord injury patients are exceptional.
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SCI Specialty Services
Our wide array of services, many available only here at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, will help you and your family navigate your recovery.
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A Guide to Common Terms: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
To help patients navigate their recovery, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab offers a guide to terminology about Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).
read morePatient Stories
Read stories of patients' recovery journeys through SCI.
Steph Returns to College after Spinal Cord Injury with Service Dog at His Side
After experiencing a spinal cord injuy, Steph returns to college with the help of his service dog.
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Tracy’s Big Year: From the Paralympics to Parenthood
It has been a whirlwind of a year for Tracy O. — who has gone from competing as a Paralympian at the 2024 Paris summer games to embarking on a new adventure, parenthood.
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Lucy’s Story: Embracing Pediatric Rehabilitation with a Bright Smile
After a severe car accident left
Lucy unable to walk at just two
years old, she came to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab to begin intensive rehabilitation.
How We Heal
Our integrated team of physicians, nurses, therapists, researchers and case managers understand the most complex injuries. They create programs for each patient – tailored to your individual goals. Therapy may take place in one or several ability labs.
Legs + Walking Lab
Arms + Hands Lab
Strength + Endurance Lab
Pediatric Lab
Innovations in neuroscience have led to outcomes once impossible for spinal cord injury patients.
Science-Driven Care
With hundreds of clinical studies under way — several specifically dedicated to improving recovery from damage to the vertebrae and spinal cord — we offer you access to the world’s most advanced research, which can directly impact your recovery.
Neuromodulation & Motor Control Lab
Over the last several years, we have been developing protocols to enhance the activity of residual sensorimotor pathways in individuals who suffered from spinal cord injury (SCI). We are happy to communicate that we are starting Phase IV of our protocol and we are actively enrolling participants. Led by P.I. Monica Perez
view labClinical Trials and Research Studies
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A Multi-Center Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Intermittent Hypoxia Therapy in Individuals with SCI
A study to investigate the effectiveness of daily acute intermittent hypoxia therapy (dAIH), coupled with a massed practice intervention or the use of high repetition training.
read moreReferenced Node
Biofeedback with Wearable Sensors to Facilitate Neuroplasticity in Spinal Cord Injury
To determine if playing games with muscle activity feedback can help people with spinal cord injuries get better at using their arms and hands.
read moreReferenced Node
Repetitive Acute Intermittent Hypoxia for Spinal Cord Repair
This research is being conducted to study the effects of breathing low oxygen air (hypoxia) and exercise training on recovery of upper limb (arms and hands) and lower limb (legs) function in people with spinal cord injury.
read moreOur Clinicians
Our doctors, therapists and scientists are leaders in their fields. We bring together these experts with the most advanced medical research and technology to give you superior care and the greatest chance for your best outcome.
