Rehabilitation experts from many disciplines come together to form your treatment team: physical medicine physicians, neurologists, physical and occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists. Your multidisciplinary team of specialists works with you and your family to develop and implement a personalized treatment plan to help you reach your highest potential and level of independence. We have professionals from more than 60 areas of expertise dedicated to making sure you reach your goals.
Patients who come to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Programs can be confident that they are receiving the most advanced treatments and therapies available. Our staff regularly attends rehabilitation specialization courses and earns highly respected rehabilitation certifications. They have nearly 90 types of specializations and certifications in a variety of therapies and for specific conditions.
Specializations
Beckman Oral Motor: Interventions developed for individuals who have impaired cognitive skills or motor skills and are unable to follow verbal commands for oral movement. Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Program has several speech language pathologists (SLPs) certified to use this method to provide assisted movement to activate muscle contraction and movement against resistance to build strength.
Fiber Optic Endoscope Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES): A specialized test using a small camera inserted through the nose to the throat to evaluate a swallowing problem and determine the safest diet.
Modified Barium Swallow Studies (MBS): A specialized test which uses a moving X-ray to determine a swallowing problem and the safest diet for the patient.
Work Well Functional Capacity Evaluations: A process of evaluating the physical demands of work to understand the physical requirements of a job. Functional Job Analysis (FJA) involves assessing the worker, the work and the worksite. A functional job description (FJD) is developed based on the objective information that is gathered.
Neuro-Integrative Functional Rehabilitation and Habilitation (Neuro-IFRAH): A functional therapy intended for patients who are affected by lesions at the level of the brain stem and above. It takes into account any variables that affect the patient and then all aspects of rehabilitation and habilitation are personalized to meet the patient's needs.
SaeboFlex: An orthotic device for patients with very little arm and hand function due to neurological injury, such as stroke. They can immediately begin performing task-oriented, grasp-and-release activities that allow the brain to re-program itself.
UE Bioness: A medical device that uses low-level electrical stimulation to activate muscle groups in the hand and forearm. It provides individuals who have hand paralysis due to brain injury, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury or stroke the ability to grasp and release objects while performing ordinary activities.
Walk-Aide: An FDA-approved medical device that uses functional electrical stimulation (FES) to improve walking ability for people living with foot drop (unable to lift the front part of the foot), due to brain tumor, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis (MS) [link to multiple sclerosis conditions page in Brain & Spine/Multiple Sclerosis experience] spinal cord injury, stroke or traumatic brain Injury [link to traumatic brain injury conditions page in Brain Injuries experience].
American Physical Therapist Association (APTA) Neurology Section Member: Members of this organization promote advancement in quality neurologic physical therapy through professional collaboration and mentorship opportunities.
Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT®) LOUD: A speech treatment program proven to help restore speech in individuals with Parkinson's disease. It focuses on increased vocal loudness.
LSVT® BIG: A treatment program that has been documented to improve major motor skills in individuals with Parkinson's disease. The BIG program is used for rehabilitating major motor skills, such as walking, limb movement and balance.
Cervico-genic Vestibular Training: Intensive training concerning the brain and the treatments used to help those with dizziness and balance issues.
Certificate of Vestibular Competency: Awarded to physical therapists, occupational therapists or physicians who attend an intense course consisting of lecture, laboratory sessions and written, video and practical examinations. All certified participants have proven their assessment skills and ability to develop an effective treatment plan for patients with vestibular disorders.
Certifications
Credentialed Clinical Instructor for Physical Therapy: Physical therapists and assistant therapists learn how to plan and prepare physical therapy students during their clinical education, develop skills for performance evaluations and other student management skills.
The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) certifies individuals who have demonstrated advanced clinical knowledge and skills in physical therapy specialty areas. Currently, the ABPTS offers board-certification in nine specialty areas of physical therapy. Physical therapists who hold a current certification from ABPTS as a specialist are referred to as a board-certified physical therapy clinical specialist or board-certified clinical specialist. The appropriate designation uses the initials “CS” (Certified Specialist) followed by the initials of the specialty area:
• Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Certified Specialist (CCS)
• Clinical Electrophysiologic Certified Specialist (ECS)
• Geriatric Certified Specialist(GCS)
• Neurologic Certified Specialist(NCS)
• Orthopedic Certified Specialist(OCS)
• Pediatric Certified Specialist(PCS)
• Sports Certified Specialist(SCS)
• Women’s Health Certified Specialist (WCS)
Board Recognized Specialist in Swallowing & Swallowing Disorders (BRS-S): Certification speech language pathologists (SPLs) earn through clinical practice specializing in dysphagia, education and personal distinction.
Myofascial Release for Swallowing Disorders: Technique involving applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. Currently, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Wexner Center has trained speech-language pathologists using this technique.
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Board Certification in Physical Rehabilitation: Recognizes training and performance skills geared to occupational therapy.
Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT/Bobath): Approach developed for the treatment of individuals with pathophysiology of the central nervous system (CNS), primarily adults who have experienced stroke. Two occupational therapists at Dodd Hall have this accreditation.
Certification of Brain Injury Specialists (CBIS): Recognizes experienced professionals working in brain injury services. Annual renewal of the certification is based on meeting continuing education requirements.
Rehabilitation Engineer Technologist (RET): Recognizes assistive technology professionals who apply engineering principles to the design, modification, customization and/or fabrication of assistive technology for persons with disabilities. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Program has one of the 37 certificants in the country.
VitalStim® Therapy: This is the only FDA-cleared approach that successfully combines neuromuscular electrical stimulation and traditional dysphagia techniques. Several speech-language pathologists within The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Rehabilitation Programs have received this certification.
Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Physical Therapy (CAPP):
Level 1: Practical knowledge and skill in the treatment of female urinary incontinence, introduction to the treatment of pelvic pain
Level 2: Complex pelvic floor conditions
Assistive Technology Professionals (ATP): Recognizes professionals who have reached an internationally accepted standard of knowledge in assistive technology.