Disability & Rehabilitation

Working with faculty across Northwestern University and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s flagship hospital, we examine disability and health for people with a wide variety of conditions, including stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, and orthopedic/musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders across the lifespan. Our work also includes research to understand and address disparities in access and quality of care for people with disabilities.

Large Scale Collaborators

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is an internationally recognized specialty hospital and healthcare network dedicated to rehabilitation for individuals with physical disabilities. Recognized by U.S. News and World Report as the No. 1 rehabilitation provider for 30 consecutive years, is has been a leading inpatient rehabilitation facility for over 65 years. Its research program has over 285 team members including research scientists, research administrators and research support staff.

Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital is part of Northwestern Medicine and has more than 40 years of expertise in treating people with a wide variety of conditions, including stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, pediatric, orthopaedic/musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders. Marianjoy’s research mission focuses on innovative solutions through collaborative partnerships with physicians, clinicians, nurses, administrators, university faculty members and industry sponsors with applied research in the area of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Its research programs strive to advance the quality of rehabilitative care, improve overall patient satisfaction and demonstrate optimal treatment outcomes for patients served.

Active Projects

Rowland W Chang, MD, MPH

Knee Arthroplasty AcTivity (KArAT) Trial

The 2018 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines recommend that all adults engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity weekly; however, uptake of PA is poor among patients who undergo total knee replacement, despite substantial pain relief as a result of the surgery. We propose a randomized trial of a multimodal behavioral intervention—telephonic health coaching and financial rewards—to encourage patients with osteoarthritis who have undergone a total knee replacement surgery to become more physically active. If the intervention proves effective and cost-effective, it could lead to a fundamental change in the strategy for increasing physical activity in patients undergoing total knee replacements.

Carol Haywood, PhD

Co-Design and Testing of a Patient-Facing Approach to Reduce Barriers to Primary Care for People with Spinal Cord Injuries

Allen W Heinemann, PhD

Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) Program - Employment

The Advanced Rehabilitation Training Program provides rigorous, in-depth research training to postdoctoral fellows from programs in communication sciences and disorders. It is designed to prepare them for careers as independent scientists who have the skills necessary to conduct high-quality, interdisciplinary research addressing the rehabilitation of acquired communication or swallowing disorders that accompany neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury or Parkinson’s disease.

Emily Dinelli, L/CPO

Social Determinants of Health and Health Outcomes for Black Individuals with Lower Limb Amputation

Anne M Stey, MD

Long Term Outcomes and Cost-Implications of Inequitable Access to Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation

Inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) have more intensive care and result in lower mortality and better functional outcomes compared with skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). This study sought to quantify inpatient rehabilitation access by insurance and estimate the cost implications. Read More