Rehabilitation Services: Helping you get back your life

When you have a serious illness or injury, getting better takes time. Rehabilitation Services at UW Health can help. We provide physical, occupational, speech therapies and orthotics and prosthetics for people of all ages. Our goal is to help you get back to doing the things that are important to you and to help you prevent and overcome chronic pain, re-injury or disability.

Our programs

Specialized services for your unique needs

Your doctor may recommend rehabilitation if you’re recovering from illness or injury. Often, rehab can help if you’ve had major surgery or are living with a chronic condition.

We provide the rehabilitation services you need based on your condition. Our team will carefully evaluate you and determine how we can best help you. You could receive our services in the hospital, in a clinic or at home, if you’re recovering.

Please note that not all services are available at all locations.

Our clinics, programs and services

Some people find movement and physical therapy more comfortable in our warm water pool. If you have weakness or arthritis in your spine or legs, you might find the pool especially helpful. Aquatic physical therapy also works well for people who have a hard time lifting their arms due to shoulder or neck problems.

Dizziness and balance issues have many causes and many treatments. We have physical therapists who specialize in these issues.

Our certified hand therapists work with you if you’ve had surgery or an illness or injury that has affected your hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder. They’re familiar with the intricate anatomy of these body parts and have specialized training to treat conditions in these areas.

Lymphedema refers to swelling in your arm or leg that occurs when lymph (a fluid that’s part of your immune system) doesn’t drain well. It sometimes happens after cancer treatment and can also be present at birth or have other causes.

Venous edema affects your veins. It causes symptoms similar to lymphedema, and our highly trained therapists treat it similarly.

Our 50-bed rehabilitation hospital offers care and services to those who need more extensive rehabilitation. It has programs for those recovering from:

  • Amputation 

  • Brain injury 

  • Burns 

  • Complex orthopedic injury or surgery

  • Spinal cord injury 

  • Stroke

Our team works with you to help you reach your highest level of recovery.

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We offer rehabilitation services to people with conditions that affect their brain, spinal cord and nervous system. We use advanced equipment and technology to provide your treatment and aid your recovery.

From diagnosis into survivorship, oncology rehabilitation is designed to help patients manage some of the common side effects during and after cancer treatments.

Our orthopedic clinics offer services for: 

  • Acute and chronic pain 

  • Arm, leg and spine injuries following fractures or surgery 

  • Sprains and strains 

  • Weakness and deconditioning

We design and fit people with a variety of custom orthoses (devices that provide support or correct alignment issues of the spine or limbs). We also design and fit prostheses (artificial limbs), which we often make in our on-site lab. Follow-up care and education are among our services.

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Children have unique needs. Our pediatric rehabilitation specialists provide care at American Family Children’s Hospital and at outpatient clinics to provide all types of therapy. They work to help kids return home and to school. Conditions they treat include: 

  • Cerebral palsy 

  • Developmental disabilities 

  • Neuromuscular disease 

  • Nonverbal learning disorders 

  • Spinal cord injuries 

  • Traumatic brain injury

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Pelvic floor disorders affect the muscles and tissues in your lower pelvis. They can lead to pain, incontinence and other bowel and bladder issues. 

We have therapists who are experts in these conditions. They use many techniques and exercises to help you achieve improved bowel and bladder control.

Therapy can be an essential part of recovery if you’ve had an amputation. Our team works to help you be as mobile and independent as possible with an artificial limb.

Physical therapists offer help to people with back and neck discomfort. We design personalized treatment programs that help you thrive at work, home and play.

Competitive athletes and weekend warriors can both experience sports injuries. Physical therapy offered through Sports Rehabilitation Services helps you get back in the game safely. Our team can also help improve sports performance for athletes of all levels.

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Related services

Conditions and treatments

We can help you feel and function better

No matter your reason for needing rehab, we can help you take charge of your condition and live your best life.

Your needs guide your care

We tailor treatment to your condition and your needs. Please note that treatment availability may vary by clinic.

Conditions we treat

Rehabilitation can help you manage or recover from:

  • Amputation 

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

  • Arthritis 

  • Back and neck pain 

  • Balance disorders 

  • Bone, muscle, tendon and ligament injuries or surgery 

  • Concussions

  • Cerebral palsy

  • Dizziness and balance

  • Hand and upper extremity injuries

  • Joint replacement 

  • Lymphedema 

  • Movement disorders 

  • Multiple sclerosis 

  • Muscle disorders 

  • Neuromuscular disorders 

  • Parkinson’s disease 

  • Pelvic floor disorders

  • Sports injuries 

  • Stroke 

  • Swallowing problems 

  • Transplants

  • Traumatic brain injury

Treatments

We work directly with our doctors to give you the care you need. Our goals are to improve your strength, flexibility and stamina, and to increase your abilities. 

Some people need only one type of rehab. Others benefit most if they receive several. You may receive physical therapy services at our Madison locations without a doctor’s referral through Direct Access. Occupational therapy, speech therapy, orthotics and prosthetics require a doctor’s referral.

Occupational therapy helps you do the tasks of daily living and be as independent as possible. Treatment can involve teaching you new ways to do certain things or helping you learn to use adaptive equipment and technology. Occupational therapists also specialize in custom splinting and evaluation and treatment of the hand and upper extremity and lymphedema.

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Physical therapists use education, exercise and hands-on therapies to help you move more easily, lessen your pain and function better.

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Speech therapists evaluate and treat speech, communication and swallowing challenges.

Orthotic and prosthetic specialists create custom braces and splints to correct or improve how you use parts of your body. They also fit prosthetics (artificial arms and legs) after amputation.

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Locations

Serving you at many nearby locations

We have clinics located throughout Madison and Northern Illinois.

Meet our team

Experts who build you up and bring you back

Your rehab team could include many experts. They work together to rebuild your strength and abilities and bring you back to a more active life.

A physiatrist, or physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor, might direct your overall care. Others involved include physical and occupational therapists and speech and language pathologists. Based on your needs, specialists in orthotics and prosthetics or licensed athletic trainers could work with you as well.

Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Pediatric physical therapy
Pediatric occupational therapy
Speech language pathology
Pediatric speech language pathology
Orthotics and prosthetics
Licensed athletic training

Getting you back to the activities you enjoy

Joint pain, a broken bone or other conditions that affect how your body moves can sideline you from the activities you enjoy. Our orthopedic specialists can treat your orthopedic needs.

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