Science has come a long way in helping individuals understand the experience of pain. Previously, pain was believed to be a result of a purely physical or anatomical issue, stemming from injury, illness or tissue damage.

Fortunately, a newer understanding of how pain works — pain science — takes a far more complex and nuanced view. Pain science moves away from the idea that tissue damage alone equates to pain. Rather, pain science suggests that the whole sum of a person — including biological, social and psychological factors — must be taken into account in order to fully understand their pain experience.

Physical therapists (PTs) play a critical role on the care teams at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab —helping patients regain function and improve balance, mobility, strength, endurance and range of motion.

Follow along for a day in the life of Mary Yonkaitis, a PT in the Margaret & Mark Stephan Legs + Walking Lab at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s flagship hospital in Chicago, where she primarily cares for patients recovering from stroke.

Learn about the benefits of working at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, including vacation hour, healthcare plans, 401k and more.

Whether you're seeking conversation support or an intensive therapy program, our team can offer the support you need to improve your communication skills.

The Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment offers a variety of groups and classes for people with aphasia who are living in the community. All classes help the participant practice communicating in a supportive group environment.

We hope you enjoyed the conference! We appreciate you taking the time to learn more about Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

Peer support group for people with Parkinson’s disease who are working or job seeking

Learn how parents and athletes can be “concussion aware” for safe participation in sports.