Stroke Outpatient Therapy and Day Rehabilitation Programs at Northwestern Medicine
Because stroke recovery often requires care and treatment over an extended period of time, we offer services to encourage your ongoing recovery.
At Northwestern Medicine, a licensed therapist will provide you with one-on-one therapy. First, they will evaluate you to better understand your condition, needs and goals. Then, your therapist will work with you to create a treatment plan to help you return to your maximum function for a better quality of life.
They will help you:
- Improve strength and function
- Reduce pain
- Perform everyday activities
- Assess and identify the need for any special equipment, including bracing, splinting or orthotics
- Learn how to lower your risk of a future stroke
To schedule an outpatient or day rehabilitation therapy appointment, please call 630.933.1500 (TTY: 711).
What You Can Expect
It starts with a thorough evaluation. Your therapist will work with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs and goals to help you return to your maximum function for a better quality of life. We may recommend one of two different outpatient programs to support your ongoing recovery.
- Outpatient rehabilitation for a stroke is available at many of our 45 locations throughout the Chicago area. They provide the same high standards of care that guide our Adult Stroke Inpatient Rehabilitation. Adult and pediatric services are available.
- Day rehabilitation therapy offers two or more outpatient therapy services (physical, occupational or speech) with care coordination from a case manager.
- Other services, such as psychology and referrals for physiatrists (Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group), are available based on your needs.
- Admission to the program may require a medical record review.
- Day rehabilitation for adults and pediatric patients is offered at our locations in Wheaton and Crystal Lake.
More Programs and Services to Help Your Stroke Recovery
- Aphasia Center
- Driver Rehabilitation Program
- Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinic
- Spasticity Management
- Support Groups
The Northwestern Medicine Aphasia Center at Marianjoy is a unique center for anyone who is experiencing aphasia — difficulty with language, communication or comprehension after a stroke or brain injury — and would like to improve their communication skills. Led by a speech-language pathologist with expertise in language disorders, small group sessions provide a comfortable and supportive environment for participants to practice their skills through real-life activities. Aphasia therapy is also offered at various Northwestern Medicine outpatient rehabilitation locations.
The Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinic offers custom prosthetic and orthotic devices for adults and children to maximize their functional abilities. Working with a prosthetic and orthotic provider, physiatrists and physical therapists collaborate to achieve the best possible result for each patient.
Many of our Northwestern Medicine outpatient rehabilitation locations can also provide therapy to help you regain mobility and functional capabilities while using a prosthetic or orthotic device.
Spasticity — a condition in which certain muscles are always contracted — can result in reduced motion and limit the ability to perform everyday tasks. Spasticity management, which may include oral medications, injection therapy using BOTOX®, and intrathecal baclofen therapy, is offered through the Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group offices at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.
Experienced therapists at many of our Northwestern Medicine outpatient rehabilitation can also provide therapy to help with stretching, positioning and movement exercises.
Resources for adults, teens and young adults who have experienced a stroke are available at Northwestern Medicine. Groups can help you learn about living with a stroke and coping with stress and offer an outlet for socializing