Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is an integral part of your rehabilitation process. Physical therapists help you improve movement, strength and overall physical health; reduce or manage pain; and recover from injury, illness, surgery or other medical conditions.

At Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, our physical therapists are skilled and highly trained rehabilitation professionals. In fact, half of our physical therapists have an advanced certification and/or doctorate in physical medicine & rehabilitation.

Importantly, our physical therapists are passionate about patient care and are dedicated to enhancing your quality of life by:

• Creating personalized exercise and therapy plans to improve your balance, endurance, flexibility and strength.
• Helping you regain mobility based on your individual goals. Our physical therapists support patients in diverse objectives — from improving range of motion to relearning how to walk.
• Teaching you how to use equipment like crutches, walkers, wheelchairs or braces to support your recovery, and/or identifying what changes, including equipment, you need to ensure your home or next living environment is accessible.
• Educating you about future injury prevention and proper body mechanics.
• Collaborating with our multidisciplinary care teams and utilizing state-of-the-art equipment to monitor your progress and adjust therapies as needed.

Physical therapy is a key component of the three levels of care offered at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

• Inpatient: Many patients start their recovery journey in inpatient care at our hospital in Chicago, participating in intensive physical therapy after a life-changing injury or illness such as brain injury, cancer, limb loss, spinal cord injury or stroke.
• DayRehab: Often, these patients continue physical therapy in DayRehab at locations in Chicago and the suburbs. DayRehab is an option for those who no longer need hospitalization but still require intensive, coordinated rehabilitation care as they transition back to their community and home life.
• Outpatient: We offer a wide range of physical therapy services on an outpatient basis at locations in Chicago and the suburbs. Patients can continue their recovery from an injury or illness. We also offer short courses of expert, focused physical therapy for common injuries and conditions — including musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis, performing arts-related pain and injury, soft-tissue injury and sports injury; neurological conditions including concussion, Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders; and specialty services such as treatment for chronic pain.