Orthopaedic Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation for Orthopaedic Injuries or After Joint Surgery

Loyola Medicine offers a full range of comprehensive orthopaedic rehabilitation services. Our physical and occupational therapists work as an integrated team with doctors, nurses, surgeons and pain control specialists to assist in your recovery from major orthopaedic conditions, including:

Loyola offers rehabilitation following surgical procedures including:

• Amputation
• Joint replacement, including hip, ankle and knee
• Limb lengthening
• Orthopaedic oncology procedures
• Spinal fusion procedures

Loyola offers inpatient and outpatient support and physical therapy for both acute and chronic conditions. Our licensed healthcare professionals improve movement, activity and health, restoring your optimal functioning.

Our goal is to help you become as independent as possible and resume your normal activities.

What Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Programs are Available?

Loyola has several rehabilitation programs available to patients recovering from an orthopaedic condition or surgery, including:

• Acute inpatient rehabilitation — Loyola offers highly focused inpatient rehabilitation care to help you recover from a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including fractures, injuries and recovery from surgery. Our certified therapists are supportive and motivate patients to accomplish their goals. Loyola provides specialized, certified care that is proven to improve range of motion and help patients resume normal activities as quickly as possible. Learn more about acute inpatient rehabilitation. 
• Aquatic therapy — With outpatient aquatic therapy, the buoyancy, support and water resistance will help you to regain strength and range of motion impaired by a range of musculoskeletal conditions. In a pool, you are able to walk and run without having to bear all of your weight, allowing you to start rehabilitation earlier. Exercises in the pool are also easier on the joints and provide several levels of resistance. 
• Day rehabilitation — Loyola’s structured, comprehensive outpatient program is designed to ease your transition from the hospital to your home and allows you to achieve your goals in a supportive, safe environment. Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy are offered during day rehabilitation. 
• Hand therapy — Loyola’s physical therapists help patients recover from a range of hand and upper extremity injuries, including traumatic industrial and crush injuries, replantations, amputations, tendon lacerations and other serious injuries. Hand therapy is also part of a treatment plan for pain syndromes and cumulative trauma disorders. Learn more about hand therapy. 
• Home care rehabilitation — Loyola’s supportive certified therapists will travel to your home and help you reach your outpatient recovery goals. Therapy is provided in the comfort of your home, often shortening or eliminating a hospital stay. 
• Occupational therapy — Loyola’s team of certified therapists will provide evaluation and therapy services focused on the tasks and movements associated with daily living. We take a multidisciplinary approach to providing outpatient occupational therapy and will help you regain your independence. In addition, Loyola offers services for adults trying to return to the workplace after an accident, injury or medical condition. Learn more about occupational therapy. 
• Physical therapy — Loyola’s certified physical therapists provide outpatient and inpatient evaluations, rehabilitation and treatment for a variety of acute and chronic conditions. Our dedicated staff will educate and assist you in achieving your rehabilitation goals. We offer balance and coordination training, conditioning and endurance exercises, range of motion therapy, gait analyses and training, prosthetic training and pain management, among other services. Our staff will also help you if you are trying to return to the workplace after an accident, injury or medical condition by providing functional capacity evaluations and work evaluations. Our program emphasizes an individualized approach with tailored treatments. Learn more about physical therapy. 
• Sports rehabilitation — Loyola’s sports rehabilitation team provides customized therapy services for athletes and active people. If you've had an injury, we'll work to return you to your sport quickly and safely. We also offer tool-assisted therapy treatments to aid in soft-tissue mobilization. Learn more about sports rehabilitation.

What to Expect with Orthopaedic Rehabilitation

Your Loyola healthcare team will include a physiatrist, a medical doctor who focuses on nonsurgical physical medicine and rehabilitation, a physical therapist (PT) who specializes in movement problems and an occupational therapist (OT) who will assess and work to improve your functional abilities, helping you become more independent.

Prior to making treatment recommendations, Loyola’s healthcare team starts with a clear assessment of your problem or injury, using a complete physical exam and imaging tests if needed. We’ll evaluate your movement and make a careful biomechanical assessment of your strength, flexibility and mobility.

Loyola provides rehabilitation services in a variety of settings depending on your needs. Therapy services will be coordinated with any ongoing medical treatment you’re receiving from your Loyola doctor. As you progress in your abilities, your doctors may move you from one setting of care to another to enhance your recovery process and improve the effectiveness of your care.

The length of your rehabilitation and the frequency of your visits will vary depending on a number of factors, including the severity of your symptoms and when therapy begins.

What are the Risks of Orthopaedic Rehabilitation?

Orthopaedic rehabilitation does not involve invasive procedures and therefore carries little or no risk. Loyola’s experienced clinicians and therapists are trained in preventing falls and other accidents during sessions.