Neurological Rehabilitation

Stroke and other neurological diseases can have a profound impact on your ability to speak, move, or swallow. NewYork-Presbyterian’s Rehabilitation Medicine team includes physicians with advanced training in neurological rehabilitation who coordinate care provided by physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, certified therapeutic recreation specialists, and rehabilitation nurses who are unequaled in expertise and experience. We thoroughly assess you and customize a program of therapy tailored to your individual needs, starting as early as possible to speed your recovery.

Rehabilitation for All Neurological Disorders

We care for people recovering from or living with:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Balance problems (vestibular dysfunction)
• Brain and spinal cord tumors
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscular dystrophy
• Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders
• Peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling)
• Spasticity
• Spinal cord injuries
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury
• Cerebral palsy in adults

Together, the members of our team help you regain lost function, build strength and endurance, and improve the ability to speak and gesture. Our goal is to return you to a maximum level of function at home, at work, and in your community.

Immediate Attention

Our team understands that the sooner you begin rehabilitation, the better your chance for a good outcome. If you are staying in the hospital, we’ll begin your rehabilitation program at your bedside. You can also receive subacute inpatient rehabilitation services at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale by RiverSpring Health, with whom we have established a program for NewYork-Presbyterian patients that is overseen by our physiatrists. In addition, outpatient therapy is available at a variety of locations.

A Full Suite of Services

We use a variety of treatments and approaches to improve your ability to complete activities of daily living, relieve symptoms, and maximize your communication, mobility, balance, and coordination.

Physical therapy. Physical therapists help you get moving, reduce your pain, restore your function, and prevent disability. Many of our physical therapists are certified by the American Physical Therapy Association as neurological clinical specialists.

Occupational therapy (OT). Occupational therapists help you relearn the skills of daily living, such as taking care of yourself, getting dressed, writing, regaining balance and coordination, and using supportive equipment. Their goal is to enable you to lead an independent, productive, and satisfying life. OT also addresses deficits in cognition (thinking abilities) and vision.

Vestibular therapy. Our physical and occupational therapists include those trained in vestibular rehabilitation, which focuses on improving balance and coordination. Speech therapy. Speech-language pathologists help you if you have had an illness or injury, such as a stroke or Parkinson’s disease, that has hindered your speech or swallowing abilities. Their goal is to help you regain those functions as much as possible. They also address other skills such as reading, writing, attention, memory, problem-solving, thinking, and learning.

Recreation therapy. Recreation therapists provide treatment and education and offer recreational opportunities to improve and maintain your physical, cognitive, emotional, and social function. They work with you to enhance your independent living skills and overall quality of life.

Aquatic therapy. Patients at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center may have access to therapy in a warm swimming pool that provides a comfortable place to perform exercises and activities that may be too difficult to do outside of the water. Aquatic therapy includes relaxation exercises, mobility exercises, strengthening, stretching, and walking exercises.

Injections. Some people with certain neurological disorders benefit from injections of botulinum toxin or joint injections. Your physician will let you know if this is an option for you.

Intrathecal baclofen therapy may be helpful for some patients.

Leaders in Research

Our rehabilitation team develops and assessed innovative therapies to enhance the lives of people affected by stroke and other neurological disorders.

Robotic therapy. Robotic devices are an innovative way to provide exercise therapy for people with partial paralysis due to stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions. Through Columbia University’s Center for Robotic Rehabilitation, we are developing and evaluating robotic devices that improve strength and function in the hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders. Our team of engineers, physicians, and physical and occupational therapists works with our patients to find the most effective robotic treatments to enhance their recovery.

Clinical trials. Our scientists are studying how brain tissue recovers after a stroke and conducting clinical trials of non-invasive brain stimulation therapy, oral medications, and other technologies.

Stem cell research. We are also committed to the advancement of stem cell research, with the ultimate goal of creating new therapies for disabling conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, ALS, and others.