Parkinson's Disease And Other Movement Disorders Rehabilitation Program

Ohio State helps those with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders improve their health and quality of life.

The Parkinson’s Disease and Other Movement Disorders Rehabilitation Program at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center provides specialized rehabilitation services for people with movement disorders. We offer advanced medical interventions and innovative therapies designed to help you improve your ability to complete daily living tasks and enhance your health and quality of life.

Our Patients

Our rehabilitation program can help lessen the effects of the movement disorder and its symptoms while maximizing your movement and functional abilities.

This Ohio State program is especially effective for those diagnosed with these conditions:

  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Dystonia
  • Essential tremor
  • Huntington’s disease
  • Multiple system atrophy (a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement, blood pressure and other bodily functions)
  • Myoclonus
  • Spasticity (increased muscle contractions, causing muscles to become stiff and affecting movement, speech and walking)
  • Tourette syndrome

Why choose The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center? 

Neurologists and other specialty physicians work together with our rehabilitation teams to help you improve your overall health and achieve your highest possible level of independence. Here’s why people choose Ohio State:

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.

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 to help in each phase of your rehabilitation — from services offered in the hospital (inpatient services) to those offered after returning home (outpatient services). These services help you achieve your highest level of recovery. They may include:

  • Medical evaluation, including neurological assessment
  • Diagnostic testing, including MRI and CT scan
  • Comprehensive rehabilitation assessment
  • Individualized therapy treatment plans
  • Rehabilitation treatment if you have had deep brain stimulation, an implanted device that delivers electrical stimulation to targeted areas of the brain
  • Patient support groups

Treatment Plan

Your Treatment Plan

Your customized treatment and therapy plan may include:

  • Physical therapy to help improve strength, mobility and fitness
  • Occupational therapy to participate in activities of daily living
  • Speech therapy,  providing treatment of speech and communication disorders
  • Swallowing assessment and therapy
  • Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT®) training to improve voice and respiratory functions
  • Fall prevention training to improve balance, coordination, flexibility and walking
  • Medications
  • Training that teaches exaggerated body movements to improve speed and balance in the upper and lower limbs (LSVT® BIG)
  • Deep brain stimulation, an implanted device that delivers electrical stimulation to targeted areas of the brain or other surgical procedures
  • Counseling for adjustment to disability, spouse support and coping strategies
  • Patient, family and caregiver education
  • Custom exercise programs

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
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians or physiatrists who specialize in helping people regain body functions lost due to medical conditions or injuries
  • 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
  • Assistive technology professionals who specialize in seating and positioning
  • Vision rehabilitation therapists who specialize in helping patients with vision impairments
  • Social workers who specialize in the social, emotional and financial needs of families and patients
  • Case managers who specialize in the coordination of inpatient and post-hospital care and services for patients and families
  • Counselors who provide a variety of counseling, rehabilitation and support services

Additional Specialized Services

Subscribe. Get just the right amount of health and wellness in your inbox.