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physical therapist helping an elderly man in a wheelchair

Spinal Cord Injury Outpatient Therapy and Day Rehabilitation Programs at Northwestern Medicine

A spinal cord injury can be caused by damage to your nerves, nerve fibers, tissue or bones around your spinal cord. A spinal cord injury can cause temporary or permanent damage. It may impact your mobility, cause pain, restrict feeling in your limbs or affect how you function in everyday life.

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Spinal cord injuries may be the result of:

  • A traumatic injury, like from a car accident or fall
  • A nontraumatic injury, which can be caused by things such as infections, compressive myelopathy, spinal stenosis, or spine tumors or epidural hematomas

At Northwestern Medicine, a licensed therapist will provide you with one-on-one therapy. First, they will evaluate you to better understand your condition, needs and goals. Then, your therapist will work with you to create a treatment plan to help you return to your maximum function for a better quality of life.

They will help you:

  • Improve strength and function
  • Reduce pain
  • Perform everyday activities
  • Assess and identify the need for any special equipment, including bracing, splinting or orthotics
  • Lower your risk for future injury

To schedule an outpatient or day rehabilitation therapy appointment, please call 630.933.1500 (TTY: 711).


What You Can Expect

  • Outpatient rehabilitation for a spinal cord injury is available at many of our 43 locations throughout the Chicago area. They provide the same high standards of care that guide our inpatient spinal cord injury programs.
  • Day rehabilitation therapy offers two or more outpatient therapy services (physical, occupational or speech) with care coordination from a case manager.

physical therapist working on a patients leg in the air while laying on a table

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy aims to optimize your physical abilities, reduce the effects of your disease or injury, and prevent further disability. You will learn how to manage your condition, reduce pain and restore mobility.

Physical Therapy
physical therapist supporting a patients arm while exercising

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists help you do everyday activities, such as cooking, eating, bathing and dressing. They also address issues related to vision and cognition.

 

Occupational Therapy
speech therapist assisting a patient who is wearing headphones and looking at an ipad

Speech Therapy

Your speech-language pathologist specializes in the evaluation and treatment of communication, cognitive and swallowing disorders.

Speech Therapy

More Programs and Services to Help With Your Recovery

Northwestern Medicine offers more services and resources to support your ongoing recovery.
  • Driver Rehabilitation Program
  • Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinic
  • Spasticity Management
  • Support Groups
  • Wheelchair and Positioning Center
Northwestern Medicine is proud to offer driver rehabilitation services at two of its facilities: Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital and The Outpatient Neuro-rehabilitation Program in Crystal Lake. Our registered occupational therapists and certified driver rehabilitation specialists offer a wide variety of services to help people with disabilities gain independence by learning or relearning how to drive.

The Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinic offers custom prosthetic and orthotic devices for adults and children to maximize their functional abilities. Working with a prosthetic and orthotic provider, physiatrists and physical therapists collaborate to achieve the best possible result for each patient.

Many of our Northwestern Medicine outpatient rehabilitation locations can also provide therapy to help you regain mobility and functional capabilities while using a prosthetic or orthotic device.

Spasticity — a condition in which certain muscles are always contracted — can result in reduced motion and limit the ability to perform everyday tasks. Spasticity management, which may include oral medications, injection therapy using BOTOX®, and intrathecal baclofen therapy, is offered through the Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group offices at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.

Experienced therapists at many of our Northwestern Medicine outpatient rehabilitation can also provide therapy to help with stretching, positioning and movement exercises.

Resources for adults, teens and young adults who have sustained a spinal cord injury are available at Northwestern Medicine. Groups can help you learn about living with a spinal cord injury and coping with stress and offer an outlet for socialization

Clinicians recommend and design custom devices to meet your unique wheelchair and mobility needs. Customized seating and positioning systems (including wheelchairs, standing systems and stroller systems) can help you improve function, posture, mobility and independence.

Locations & Contact Information

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