Orthopedic Rehabilitation Program

Orthopedic Rehabilitation can help you increase range of motion, strength and functional abilities.

The Orthopedic Rehabilitation Program at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center provides rehabilitative services to people with a variety of muscular, skeletal and orthopedic conditions.

After an evaluation by our multidisciplinary team of specialists, a personalized rehabilitation program is created for each patient. The program aims to help you increase your range of motion, strength and functional abilities. The ultimate goal is improved health and wellness that contributes to a better daily living experience.

Our Patients

We help patients who have experienced:

  • Amputation (total or partial limb loss)
  • Arthritis (join inflammation due to osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis)
  • Bursitis (inflammation of small sacs of fluid in the joints)
  • Cancer resulting in impairments of the musculoskeletal system
  • Dizziness or vestibular disorders (balance conditions related to the inner ear)
  • Fibromyalgia (a chronic condition marked by widespread muscle and bone pain)
  • Muscle and joint disease
  • Spinal pain in the neck or back
  • Sprains (ligament injury)
  • Strains (muscle or tendon injury)
  • Surgery effects (related to arthroscopic, minimally invasive/laparoscopic, orthopedic or reconstructive joint surgery)
  • Tendonitis (tendon inflammation)
  • Urinary incontinence (difficulty holding urine in the bladder)

Why choose The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center? 

There are many important reasons to choose our programs and services:

Personalized Care: You will receive a personal evaluation that helps create an individualized care plan to meet your needs and lead you toward your health goals.

Unique Services: The Orthopedic Rehabilitation Program offers innovative treatments based our profession’s best practices. You care plan may include some of our specialized equipment and resources. 

Accredited Programs: We are proud that our Inpatient Rehabilitation Programs at Dodd Hall and our Outpatient Medical Rehabilitation Programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). CARF recognizes our programs as meeting the highest standards in quality, safety and outcome measures, which provide risk-reduction and accountability in our patient care. In addition, several of our therapists have attained Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) certification through The American Physical Therapy Association. This certification demonstrates advanced clinical knowledge and skills in the specialty of orthopedic physical therapy.

Nation’s Best: Ohio State’s rehabilitation program consistently ranks among the best in the nation. As an academic medical center, Ohio State offers comprehensive medical expertise, the most advanced technologies and treatment techniques, and innovative care backed by research knowledge.

Our Services

Our Services

This program offers rehabilitation services after you have returned home from the hospital or another rehabilitation facility. These are known as outpatient services. These services help achieve your highest level of recovery.

Following a physician’s referral, your rehabilitation may include:

  • Ergonomic assessments, or designing the workplace environment to fit the user, and work-related injury prevention
  • Exercise programs to improve range of motion, increase muscle strength, improve flexibility and mobility and increase endurance
  • Fitting and care for orthotics (casts, braces, splints) or prosthetics (artificial limbs)
  • Functional retraining of activities
  • Gait (walking) retraining and methods of safe walking including the use of a walker, cane or crutch
  • Help with obtaining assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, braces and special computer equipment that promote independence
  • Therapies used to decrease symptoms and assist with restoring function
  • Muscle and joint mobilization to improve limb mobility
  • Nutritional counseling
  • Pain management
  • Patient and family education and counseling
  • Stress management and emotional support
  • Vocational counseling to help patients find meaningful employment or successfully return to a previous job

Treatment Team

Your Treatment Team

Your personalized treatment plan starts with a team of specialists who may include:

  • Neurologists who specialize in disorders of the nervous system
  • Neurosurgeons who specialize in surgery on the brain and other parts of the nervous system
  • Orthopedic surgeons who specialize in surgery for muscular and skeletal conditions
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians or physiatrists who specialize in helping people regain body functions lost due to medical conditions or injuries
  • Podiatrists who specialize in care for the feet
  • Chiropractors who specialize in hands-on therapy that involves manipulation of the spinal column and other body structures
  • Prosthetists who specialize in fitting, adjusting and care of artificial limbs
  • Orthotists who specialize in mechanical devices to support or supplement weakened or abnormal joints or limbs
  • Exercise physiologists who specialize in the body's metabolic response to short-term and long-term physical activity
  • Physical therapists who specialize in helping patients achieve maximum strength, balance and mobility
  • Occupational therapists who specialize in improving patients’ ability to complete activities of daily living
  • Speech-language pathologists who specialize in helping patients improve communication, cognition and swallowing
  • Recreational therapists who specialize in providing education and community-based interventions to improve patients’ physical, mental, social and emotional well being
  • Rehabilitation nurses who specialize in nursing care for people with disabilities
  • Case managers who specialize in the coordination of inpatient and post-hospital care and services for patients and families
  • Social workers who specialize in the social, emotional and financial needs of families and patients
  • Dietitians who specialize in nutrition and dietetics
  • Vocational counselors who specialize in helping patients find meaningful employment or successfully return to a previous job

Other specialists who may consult on your care include:

  • Cardiologists who specialize in diagnosis and treatment of heart disorders
  • Pulmonologists who specialize in disorders of the lungs
  • Rheumatologists who specialize in treating arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles and bones
  • Psychologists who specialize in clinical psychology, counseling or guidance
  • Dentists who specialize in the prevention and treatment of diseases of the teeth, gums and mouth
  • Internal medicine physicians and family practice physicians who specialize in the prevention and treatment of adult diseases
  • Physician assistants who practice medicine under the supervision of physicians and surgeons
  • Nurse practitioners who are registered nurses with advanced training in a medical specialty

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