Women's Health Rehabilitation Services

The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) Women's Health Rehabilitation Program provides physical medicine and rehabilitation services for the specific health needs of women. The program offers innovative treatments and therapies, helping women regain their well-being through our Inner Strength Initiative^® and once again enjoy active, satisfying lives. The care of RIC focuses on pregnancy/post-partum, pelvic floor dysfunction and breast cancer rehabilitation. We also pay special attention to particular groups of women like adolescents, female athletes and women with complex conditions.

When you start your care at RIC, a physiatrist or therapist with advanced training in women's health rehabilitation conducts the initial evaluation. This comprehensive exam includes an assessment of the individual's posture, range of motion, muscles, nerves, joints, balance, coordination and motor control. Further diagnostic tests are ordered if necessary. The physiatrist or therapist then creates a custom treatment plan designed to strengthen muscles, improve musculoskeletal function and restore the ability to perform activities of daily living and leisure.

The Women's Health Rehabilitation Program is offered at all of our outpatient locations. We provide a full range of special treatments, including:

• Biomechanical recommendations - Suggestions and tips on improving efficiency of movement and body positioning.
• Lymphedema Treatment - Includes lymphatic drainage massage, compression bandaging and therapeutic exercise.
• Manual Therapy
  • Soft-tissue mobilization
  • Joint mobilization
  • Manual stretching
  • Strain-counterstrain
  • Myofascial release
• Occupational Therapy - Provides skills, support and recommendations that help people lead more independant daily lives. Some of these recommendations include the use of adaptive equipment, treatment programs that increase function in everyday activities, as well as education for family members and caregivers.
• LIFE Center   - Patient education resources
• Physical Therapy - Provides therapy diagnoses, assessment and treatment for various conditions and illnesses. Physical Therapy aims to restore optimal function and reduce pain.
• Pain psychology - Addresses a wide range of issues related to an individual's pain and factors that may contribute to it.
• Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation  - Treatment to restore optimal function of the pelvic floor muscles and pelvic joints.
  • Biofeedback - teaches strategies for managing anxiety, stress and frustration which may accompany a chronic mental condition, exacerbation of pain, or interference with everyday life functioning.
  • Electrical stimulation - The use of electrical impulses to promote stimulation of tissues.
  • Myofascial release
  • Muscle training
• Stretching and Relaxation Exercises
• Joint, muscle and nerve injections
• Customized home exercise program
• Functional activity training
• Sports-specific consultation
• Strength, endurance and cardiovascular training - Endurance and cardiovascular training are the conditioning of the heart and blood vessel (circulatory) system. Strength training develops and strengthens the muscles of the body.
• Postural correction
• Alternative therapies
  • Yoga - Yoga is a series of postures and breathing techniques that induce relaxation and flexibility.
  • Acupuncture - Therapy involving the insertion of needles in anatomic points in the body to help alleviate symptoms and to induce well-being.
  • Pilates - A physical fitness system created by Joseph Pilates which uses the core muscles, or the abdominal and back muscles, to provide balance and strength to the body. The system uses special Pilates equipment to provide resistance and build strength.
  • Feldenkrais method - An educational system that builds self-awareness using body movement. It is used by those who want to increase range of movement and reduce pain in the body.
• Prosthetics and Orthotics Clinical Center  

Back to the Women's Health Rehabilitation Information Center