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Ryan's Story: Surviving a Stroke at 20
Ryan survived a stroke when he was just 20. After months of therapy, he has made an incredible recovery. He has learned to walk and has improved hand function.
Patient Story

Reconstructive Surgery for People with Spinal Cord Injury
The Journal of Neurophysiology recently published a review by Adenike Adewuyi, MD PhD — a 2022 graduate of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) residency program — and her mentor, Colin Franz, MD, PhD, physician-scientist, at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. The review defines a clinical framework for evaluating patients with spinal cord injuries to determine their candidacy for nerve transfer surgery.
Research Project

Spinal Cord Injury
See why our innovative, interdisciplinary approach to spinal cord injury rehabilitation has made us the #1 choice for patients worldwide for more than 60 years.
Condition

Multi-site, non-invasive electrical stimulation helps restore function in patients with spinal cord injury
In novel research led by scientists at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, patients with spinal cord injury who received non-invasive electrical stimulation simultaneously targeting motor neurons in the arms and legs followed by physical therapy had lasting improvements in walking and grasping.
News

Wheelchair-Based, Robotic, Upper Extremity Exercise and Power- Assisted Propulsion
Develop a robotic, power-assist lever drive for a manual wheelchair that people with severe upper extremity impairment can use to both exercise and ambulate.
Research Project

$8.7 Million NIH Grant for First-of-its-Kind Bionic Arm Osseointegration Study
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab was awarded $8.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance the field of bionics by applying osseointegration in a novel manner.
In the News
New research tracks trends among Medicare beneficiaries with traumatic brain injury treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities
Between 2013 and 2018, the number of Medicare beneficiaries with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who were treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities increased by 28%, according to a new study published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
In the News

Therapeutic Electrical Stimulation to Accelerate Diaphragm Muscle Reinnervation after Phrenic Neuropathy (1R01NS136683-01)
Read Regenerative Neurorehabilitation Laboratory's research proposal that aims to enhance recovery from this condition through a novel Therapeutic Electrical Stimulation protocol, in conjunction with a custom-made, wireless, bioresorbable implant.
Research Project

Will self-direction be the new normal?
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, there were approximately 12 million people receiving long term services and supports – mostly older Americans, and about 4 million people receiving home and community-based services (HCBS).
In the News
Edelle Field-Fote: Helping People with Spinal Cord Injury Through Accessible Neuromodulation
Throughout her career, Edelle Field-Fote has been conducting research on how combining practice with stimulation promotes neuroplasticity in people with spinal cord injuries.
In the News
Advocates push for inclusive emergency response planning as natural disasters become more frequent in the U.S.
Last year was the eighth consecutive year the United States had 10 or more severe weather events, known as ‘billion-dollar disaster events’ due to the amount of damage they cause.
In the News

How can patients make life decisions when it’s tough to talk?
Individuals with aphasia can demonstrate their decision-making capacities with the assistance of skilled conversation partners and supportive communication techniques. Supporting patients in this way is a critical step in allowing them to maintain autonomy.
Blog