Rehabilitation Services

Rehabilitation Services for Inpatient and Outpatient Adults and Children

Loyola Medicine provides rehabilitation services for both inpatient and outpatient adults and children. The program includes occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language pathology and other specialized services. Our programs emphasize an individualized approach with tailored treatments.

Loyola provides rehabilitation services in a variety of settings dependent on your needs. As you progress in your abilities, your healthcare team may move you from one setting of care to another to enhance your recovery process and improve the effectiveness of your care. Depending on your condition, your individualized rehabilitation plan may include:

• Acute inpatient rehabilitation — Loyola Medicine 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. Our acute rehab unit, on the sixth floor of Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, provides specialized, certified care that is proven to improve range of motion and help patients resume normal activities as quickly as possible.
   
• Day rehabilitation — This is a structured, comprehensive outpatient program for adults with impairments from stroke, traumatic brain injury, musculoskeletal or other neurological disorders. The day rehabilitation 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.
   
• Driver rehabilitation — Loyola offers a comprehensive evaluation to assess a person's ability to safely continue to drive or return to driving. Perhaps you are concerned about an elderly relative or you have been challenged by conditions such as stroke, brain injury, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, poor vision, dementia or cognitive impairment.
   
• Home care rehabilitation — Loyola offers in-home rehabilitation for homebound patients following illness or injury. Therapy is provided in the comfort of your own home, often shortening or eliminating a hospital stay. Learn more about home care.
   
• Inpatient stroke rehabilitation — Our inpatient specialty program for stroke takes a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. Loyola's acclaimed Stroke Center offers extensive rehabilitation services for adults and children and provides support services for patients and families.
   
• Neurology rehabilitation — Loyola’s rehabilitation specialists will help you to regain or improve upon skills such as walking, talking, muscle control and daily activities and tasks. Our team of dedicated physical and occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists also can help you recover range of motion, coordination, communication skills and swallowing control. Learn more about neurology rehabilitation.
   
• Outpatient rehabilitation — Loyola offers skilled physical, occupational and speech services that aim to reach the highest level of each patient’s physical activity and enhance patients’ lives by promoting fitness and wellness for more active lifestyles.

Why Choose Loyola for Rehabilitative Services?

Whether in the hospital, in an outpatient setting or in your home, your healthcare team will focus on providing you the highest level of clinical care, as well as engaging you in your treatment plan. We encourage you to ask any questions you may have at any time during your treatment.

Our goals are to help you return to all of your activities of daily living without pain or other symptoms and provide you with the knowledge needed to prevent problems in the future.

You can utilize Loyola rehabilitation services once you have a referral from your primary care or specialty physician, even if your doctor doesn't practice at Loyola Medicine.

Your therapist's initial evaluation of your condition and therapy needs will be sent to your doctor within the first week of care, and subsequent status updates are sent as needed.

Unique Rehabilitation Programs for Exceptional Recovery

Loyola’s rehabilitation program provides comprehensive treatment in outstanding, conveniently located facilities. We have multidisciplinary facilities at the Loyola University Medical Center campus, in addition to outpatient services at other locations.

We offer the following specialized services to provide you with the most comprehensive care:

• Aquatic therapy — During 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.
   
• Biofeedback therapy — Through biofeedback therapy, patients learn to use special instruments that provide instant feedback on their stress levels. Patients also become more aware of the effects of stress on the body, such as tense muscles, increased heart rate, more rapid breathing, a drop in blood flow and increased skin conductivity. Learn more about biofeedback therapy.
   
• 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.
   
• Lymphedema management — Lymphedema therapy is crucial; and the sooner it is initiated, the easier it is to manage. Treatment options may include manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), compression bandaging, exercise (including a home exercise program), compression pump therapy and patient education.
   
• Pediatric rehabilitation — For children who have lost muscular strength, coordination or function due to an illness or injury, Loyola’s pediatric rehabilitative services team provides expert care. We work with children to help restore their ability to perform normal, daily activities, from brushing teeth to playing sports. Learn more about pediatric rehabilitative services.
   
• Pelvic floor physical therapy — Loyola’s pelvic floor physical therapy program provides a comprehensive approach to the treatment of chronic pelvic pain. Our team has vast experience in diagnosing and treating pain that may have been misdiagnosed elsewhere; often our patients have suffered for years without an accurate diagnosis. Loyola’s team of experienced, compassionate therapists will develop an individualized treatment plan to eliminate or reduce the source of your pain and discomfort. Learn more about pelvic floor physical therapy.
   
• Post laryngectomy voice restoration services — Loyola offers voice restoration services after patients have had a laryngectomy to regain speech. Some patients will need an electrolarynx while others will require a voice prosthesis. Once fitted, our speech language pathologists will help you recover your proficiency in speech.
   
• Pulmonary rehabilitation — Outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation services are available at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital to help manage breathing problems, increase stamaina, reduce shortness of breath and more. A physician referral is required to participate in this monitored program for patients with pulmonary problems.
   
• Speech and language therapy — Speech and language pathologists provide evaluation and therapy services for patients with communication, cognitive and swallowing difficulties. Loyola's experienced, certified and licensed speech/language pathologists are committed to your speech impairment prevention, rehabilitation and education. Learn more about speech and language 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.
   
• Swallowing therapy — Loyola’s speech language pathologists and radiologists use advanced imaging to evaluate a person’s swallowing ability. Your therapy team will develop an individualized treatment plan that may include strategies for swallowing food and liquids to prevent aspiration, therapeutic exercises to improve swallow function and recommendations for alternate means of nutrition if safe swallowing is not possible. Learn more about swallowing disorders.
   
• Vestibular rehabilitation — Patients who experience dizziness may be referred to a physical therapist for vestibular rehabilitation. Symptoms may include lightheadedness and a feeling that you are spinning, floating or unsteady. Loyola’s therapists are specially trained in treating vestibular disorders and will tailor an individual exercise program designed to address balance, dizziness and overall fitness.
   
• Wound care — Loyola’s physical therapists are specially trained in treating patients with a wide variety of wounds including those from arterial insufficiency, venous insufficiency, diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, dehisced surgical wounds, trauma, graft or flap postoperative care and wounds from dermatological and metabolic conditions. Loyola offers advanced treatment options that include electrical stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound, negative (vacuum) pressure, pulsed lavage, selective debridement and compression therapy. Learn more about wound care.