Our Stroke Rehabilitation Approach

How Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Can Help in Stroke Recovery

Our multi-specialty stroke rehabilitation program aims to address a variety of impairments caused by stroke, working in a close partnership with you and your family. Below is an overview of rehabilitation professionals that may be involved in your care.

Innovative Rehabilitation Technology and Techniques

Depending on the parts of the brain affected, you may have trouble with some activities you were able to do before. Our stroke rehabilitation program offers the latest rehabilitation technology and therapy techniques to address a variety of impairments caused by stroke and help assist in your recovery. Some of the technology and techniques we may use include:

Inpatient Rehabilitation

At Johns Hopkins, we involve rehabilitation professionals such as physiatrists and physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and psychologists into patient care teams for stroke patients within the first 24 to 36 hours of hospital admission. This early intervention helps prevent complications of bed rest and immobility while also enabling holistic treatment planning for functional improvements.

Our Approach to Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation begins while you are still under the care of a neurologist in the Brain Rescue Unit as part of our Acute Stroke Services.

Early in your hospitalization, on a daily basis you will receive up to two 30-minute sessions of:

  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Speech therapy

Treatment plans are crafted around areas where you need support. For example, if you do well getting in and out of bed but are unsteady while walking, the team will focus on exercises to improve balance.

These early and often interventions during hospitalization can help patients graduate more quickly to outpatient care rather than transferring to an acute rehabilitation unit.

Our Inpatient Locations

We offer inpatient stroke rehabilitation services comprised of a team of experts in two inpatient rehabilitation treatment facilities in the Baltimore region.

How We Help Plan Your Stroke Recovery Beyond Inpatient Rehabilitation

Our stroke rehabilitation experts have developed effective protocols for follow-up care when you leave the hospital after a stroke. Each treatment plan is individualized depending on your needs. For each discipline (speech, occupational and physical therapies), you will enter at the appropriate path below based on your impairment.

Treatment Plan 
Step 1 Evaluation
At this initial evaluation, our stroke rehabilitation specialists will determine which path is right for you. You may start at Path A and go through each path in order, or you may start at Path B or C depending on your needs.
Step 2 Path A5
Session Frequency: 5 times per week for 2 weeks, then 4 times per week for 2 weeks
Path A3
Session Frequency: 3 times per week for 6 weeks.
Path B
Session Frequency: 2 times per week for 4-8 weeks
Path C
Session Frequency: Once a week for up to 12 weeks
Step 3 Re-evaluation
At any point, you can transition between paths or move to monitoring once you are re-evaluated and it is deemed appropriate.
Step 4 Monitoring
After the completion of your rehabilitation program, you will have periodic follow-ups to keep track of your progress and identify any additional needs for treatment.

Schedule An Appointment

Schedule by phone

Physician appointments443-997-5476

Therapy appointments:
Maryland clinics except Bayview: 443-997-5476
Johns Hopkins Bayview: 410-550-0414
Sibley Memorial Hospital: 202-364-7665

Schedule online through MyChart