Rehabilitation Medicine

Welcome to the Rehabilitation Medicine Department

Rehabilitation Medicine professionals at the NIH Clinical Center collaborate in and support biomedical research. They initiate research in rehabilitation sciences by providing innovative rehabilitation services and developing, investigating and applying measurements and treatments of impairments, disabilities and handicaps pertaining to human function.

About Rehabilitation Medicine

A person in a harness walking on a treadmill in a rehabilitation center, with monitoring equipment and cameras set up around.

Rehabilitation Medicine Highlights

Physical therapist adjusting the ankle of a patient lying on a treatment table in a colorful therapy room.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Humanistic and quality patient care

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physiatrists evaluate and treat patients with impairments of the neuromuscular system, functional limitations, pain, and disabilities.

Physical Therapy

Providing state-of-the-art evidence-based treatments

The Physical Therapy clinical, research and education programs at the National Institutes of Health are as richly varied as the patient populations. The combined goal of these programs is for the patient to ultimately achieve the highest level of function possible.

Two occupational therapists reviewing a document together and smiling.

Occupational Therapy

Maintaining / restoring daily life tasks

The occupational therapy profession fosters goal-directed activity and purposeful use of time in daily life.

An artist uses a paintbrush to add vibrant colors to a canvas during a painting session, with a palette of mixed paints in the other hand.

Recreational Therapy

Improving the physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and leisure needs of patients

The Recreational Therapy team's goals include the restoration or maintenance of sensory and motor abilities to prevent, reverse, or minimize the functional limitations/disabilities of patients.

A young person with Down syndrome wearing headphones, participating in a listening activity with a teacher or therapist in a classroom setting.

Speech and Language Pathology

Enhancing quality of life

The Speech-Language Pathology team provides services to NIH patients with oral motor, speech, language, voice, cognitive, and swallowing language and other cognitive impairments. 