The Penn State Health Approach to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

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The physical medicine and rehabilitation team at Penn State Health provides the most comprehensive rehabilitation services in central Pennsylvania. We offer comprehensive care from time of injury through recovery for patients with amputations, musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders, acute and chronic pain, spasticity, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, cancer and more.

As the only academic medical center in central Pennsylvania, we offer the latest approaches and a full spectrum of rehabilitative medicine and services. You can get leading-edge treatments before they’re widely available - methods supported by clinical research and medical innovation. We have the expertise to treat even the most complex problems. Our team develops a treatment plan that helps you live your best life.

Whether you’re living with a chronic condition, recovering from an injury or illness, or need ongoing care, we specialize in improving function and enhancing your well-being.

Complete Rehabilitation Care and Therapy Services

Our rehabilitation experts offer complete rehabilitation services for people of all ages, including pediatric rehabilitation. We provide inpatient rehabilitation care, transitional care from the hospital to your home, rehabilitation facility, or a nursing facility, as well as outpatient rehabilitation. Whether you’re recovering from injury, surgery or illness or living with a condition that affects your quality of life, we work together with you to achieve your goals.

RecFest

People of all ages and abilities come together every year to participate in a multifaceted event featuring adaptive sports and recreational activities. Penn State Health RecFest is presented by Penn State Health Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Penn State Health Rehabilitation Hospital. Activities include adaptive sports like, cycling, tennis, field hockey and soccer, and wheelchair sports such as basketball and fencing. Attendees also learn about resources including service dogs and driving programs.

Why Choose Penn State Health for Rehabilitation

Central Pennsylvania families count on us for our wealth of rehabilitation and advanced expertise.

Nationally Recognized Rehabilitation Care

Penn State Health is an area leader in providing top-quality physical medicine rehabilitation treatment and care. You get leading-edge, coordinated and safe care at several area locations. Our quality recognitions include:

• CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation as a Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program
• Top 15% national ranking by WeeFlN® for short length of stays and good patient outcomes for our inpatient pediatric rehabilitation program
• CARF-certified spinal cord injury care
• Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center - the highest designation
• Recognition by The Joint Commission and CARF as a Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (CIIRP) for both adults and children

Expert, Team-Based Care Designed for You

Our rehabilitation team specializes in a full range of rehabilitation services. Our physiatrists (physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors) work with physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, neuropsychologists, athletic trainers, nurses and others to deliver complete care.

Some of our therapists have expertise in driver’s education and training, hand therapy, pelvic floor rehab, wound care, pain management, adaptive device training, and advanced voice and swallowing therapies like Vital Stim or Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT).

We also work closely with specialists in neurology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, lung care, vascular surgery and more. You get personal attention and all the support you need to get the best possible results from therapy.

Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Trials

As an academic medical center, Penn State Health is continually seeking better treatments to improve people’s well-being. We conduct research in the rehabilitation of spinal cord, traumatic brain injury, peripheral vascular disease, spasticity and more.

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Related Services and Treatments

• Acupressure
• Adaptive equipment training
• Adaptive sports and recreation
• ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Amputation rehabilitation and prosthetic fitting
• Biofeedback
• Bracing and splinting
• Disability assessments
• Electrodiagnostic testing for muscular disorders
• Electrical stimulation
• Flight physicals (Federal Aviation Administration)
• Home safety and equipment evaluations
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• LSVT LOUD® therapy
• Lymphedema prevention and treatment
• Neurological rehabilitation
• Pain management therapies
• Pediatric rehabilitation
• Post-cancer rehabilitation
• Return-to-work physicals
• Spasticity management
• Stroke rehabilitation
• Traumatic brain injury rehabilitation
• Vestibular rehabilitation and balance training
• Wheelchair evaluation and fitting
• Therapy services

Conditions Treated

• Back pain
• Balance/vestibular problems
• Cerebral palsy
• Children’s motor development and function
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches
• Head injuries/concussion
• Incontinence
• Limb amputation
• Muscular dystrophy
• Musculoskeletal disorders and injuries
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neck or back pain
• Nerve compression syndromes
• Neurological and neuromuscular disorders
• Pressure ulcers and other wounds
• Spasticity
• Spina bifida
• Spinal cord injuries and tumors
• Stroke
• Work-related injuries
• Wounds, including burns, pressure ulcers and non-healing wounds