Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Our Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Program is a dedicated, physician-supervised program that helps patients recover from musculoskeletal conditions using a combination of advanced imaging, physical and occupational therapies, pain management procedures, as well as the latest treatments made available through our clinical research programs.

Amputee Rehabilitation

Our Amputee Rehabilitation Program serves patients who have undergone amputation of upper or lower limbs resulting from trauma or vascular disease, such as peripheral artery disease. Our program features a modern inpatient rehabilitation facility and several locations for outpatient services as patients progress with their recovery.

In addition to PM&R specialists, our interdisciplinary team includes prosthetists, physical therapists specially trained for lower limb amputation, occupational and hand therapists specially trained for upper limb amputation, as well as rehabilitation psychologists to provide counseling. We coordinate with trauma, orthopaedic and vascular surgeons to anticipate and address postoperative complications and rehabilitation. 

Cancer Rehabilitation

Our PM&R cancer rehabilitation physicians and therapists assess the diverse needs of our cancer patients and cancer survivors to develop personalized rehabilitation programs from the time of diagnosis through survivorship and beyond. We have a cancer rehabilitation physician embedded in the cancer center to maximize patient convenience and our close collaboration with oncology staff. MetroHealth's cancer rehabilitation physicians diagnose and manage neurologic, musculoskeletal and soft tissue conditions and help with functional problems that patients with cancer may experience. Newly diagnosed patients with cancer are systematically screened for functional needs.

Some of the many services we provide include physical therapy and interventional injections to manage pain and neurological changes caused by spinal tumors, speech and swallowing expertise for head and neck cancer patients, and a protocol in which all surgical breast cancer patients see a cancer rehabilitation physician and a physical or occupational therapist. MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute is the home of the only PM&R-based Cancer Rehabilitation and Lymphedema Clinic in the region, and we currently have four physical therapists with lymphedema certification.

Electrodiagnostic Medicine

Electrodiagnostic medicine enables our clinicians to hone in on the physiologic severity of neurologic and neuromuscular conditions. Some of the more common conditions we assess include carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetic polyneuropathy, entrapment neuropathy and radiculopathies. Rarer  disorders include myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, polymyositis and muscular dystrophies.

Our staff includes board certified electromyographers and a staff of electromyography (EMG) technicians. Our state of the art technology can instantly and automatically upload test results to the electronic medical record. EMG services are available at the MetroHealth’s main campus, as well as at five satellite locations in the community. Evening hours are now offered.

Industrial Medicine

Our Industrial Medicine Program helps injured employees return to work quickly and safely with specialty outpatient care for work-related injuries.

The Injured Workers Walk-In Clinic is staffed by our industrial medicine-certified physicians, who assess, diagnose and provide initial treatment for the injury. Our team then develops a treatment plan aimed at eventual return to work. Our physicians continue to provide ongoing medical care. They also help patients access other specialists such as physical and occupational therapists, orthopedists or neurosurgeons in a timely manner as indicated.

Our goal is simple: Get people injured at work back to work as quickly and safely as possible. 

For more information, see Vocational Therapy.

Musculoskeletal Medicine

Our physicians at our multiple outpatient sites are board certified specialists trained to address and facilitate recovery from acute to subacute sprains, strains of various joints and body parts to surgeries such as joint replacement and rotator cuff tear repair; provide management of arthritis; as well as treat acute and subacute neck and back pain.

Our physical therapists are board-certified in orthopedic physical therapy or have specialized training in the treatment of specific musculoskeletal conditions. Occupational therapists are available to help patients return to their activities of daily living. We have a large number of occupational therapists who have subspecialty training and certification in hand therapy and work very closely with our hand surgeons.  

The specialists work closely with or are members in the Department of Orthopedics.

Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

Our providers, many who are fellowship trained, offer patients and referring physicians a minimally invasive, radiations free method to assess injuries quickly and accurately to muscles, joints and tendons. Additionally, ultrasound is also used by our specialists to guide interventions such as joint injections and nerve blocks. 
Our physical therapists use therapeutic ultrasound to delivers high frequency soundwaves is being used to break down and remove scar tissue caused by chronically diseased tendons. 

Pain Program

Our providers in our pain program are members of the Pain and Healing Center, working to find ways to manage pain, maintain and improve function and quality of life.

In additional to clinical care, the pain program includes graduate education of training resident and fellow physicians in Addiction Medicine, Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine and PM&R, as well as clinical and basic science research. 

For more information, see Pain and Healing Center.

Spine Program

Healthcare providers in our spine program are members of the Spine Center and diagnose and treat conditions including spinal stenosis, instability, nerve root entrapment, fractures, osteoarthritis, tumors, radiculopathy, disc herniation, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, myelopathy, facet arthropathy and sacroiliac joint disorders.

An Interdisciplinary Team

After conducting a thorough examination that may include high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and diagnostic injections to localize the pain source, our physicians, nurses, physical therapists, spine specialists, psychologists and vocational counselors create a comprehensive treatment plan to alleviate discomfort and improve function. Other members of the team include physician specializing in Pain Medicine, PM&R as well as Orthopedic and Neurological surgeons.

Approaches to Care

In addition to physical and occupational therapy and the judicious use of medications, treatment may include interventional injections under imaging guidance, such as fluoroscopy. These can include sacroiliac joints, facet joints and epidural injections of anti-inflammatory steroids or analgesics.

Radiofrequency ablation may be suitable for some patients with chronic pain. Similarly, spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulators offers relief for many patients. Other treatment options include intrathecal pain pump, spinal spacers and other minimally invasive interventions.

While reducing pain is an important goal, the primary objectives are to restore function and facilitate community and vocational reintegration and improve quality of life. Therefore, in addition to the above interventions, rehabilitation psychologists and vocational counselors have major roles in the interdisciplinary team.

For more information, see Spine Center.

Sports Medicine

The Sports Medicine Program addresses any acute or overuse sports-related injury, including fractures, sprains, strains, tendonitis, bursitis, rotator cuff tears and neck and spine injuries. Some of our treatment approaches include physical and occupational therapy, bracing and taping, injections for muscle, ligament and joint injuries, including platelet-rich plasma injections and viscosupplements and injections for spine-related pain. We also offer referrals to our concussion clinic or to orthopaedic surgery, when appropriate. Our surgeons can provide minimally invasive approaches to care such as arthroscopic surgery, fracture repair and ligament reconstruction.

Training room services are available to local high school athletes and to participants in community sporting events. Our certified athletic trainers evaluate acute injuries that occur during practices or games and refer patients to appropriate providers. Patients are typically seen within 48 hours of their initial assessment.

Future Sports Medicine Program goals are to expand services to more inner city high schools, collegiate athletes and recreational sports leagues.

For more information, see Sports Medicine.