Every year, millions of Americans confront the disabling effects of neurologic conditions like stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, and many others. Unfortunately, these are not just temporary medical challenges. They entail life-altering changes in how people live, move, and interact with the world. The resulting social and economic costs are significant for both the individuals affected and the country as a whole. Rehabilitation therapy is a powerful tool for regaining function following neurologic damage, yet it remains an underappreciated component of care.
Although neurorehabilitation is often prescribed following acute care, it should not be viewed as a simple postscript. The goal of rehabilitation is not just survival, but helping people truly thrive— participating in their community, returning to work or school, dressing independently, enjoying hobbies, and staying socially connected. It’s about having meaningful conversations, caring for loved ones, or simply preparing a meal. Even what may seem like small improvements — more fluent speech, steadier steps, greater control of one hand — can make a profound difference in what someone is able to do and how they feel about their future. Thanks to advances in science, we now know that many more people can live independently and productively after neurological injury than once believed, and rehab therapies are what make that possible. Far from being secondary, these are the outcomes people value most.
Many of the interventions and technologies used in neurorehabilitation today are the result of rigorous science. The field, as we now know it, emerged following World War II-era investments in medical research aimed at treating the scores of Veterans returning with neurologic damage. These investments were transformative. Research revealed the brain’s incredible capacity for reorganization and compensation following injury. Soon, old assumptions that brain damage and disability were permanent gave way to a new understanding that, with the right interventions, people could regain their mobility, communication, cognitive function, and independence.
Fast-forwarding to today, neurorehabilitation practice would be unrecognizable to those working in the early days of the field. Robotics, virtual reality, brain-computer interfaces, and targeted neuromodulation are now active frontiers of research that have the potential to revolutionize how we provide care for neurologic conditions. Yet, further breakthroughs will require continued national investment – something that is currently under threat. Indeed, investing in neurorehabilitation research is worthwhile. Every dollar spent on helping people regain independence can offset far greater costs in long-term care, disability benefits, and lost productivity.
At Jefferson Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, we firmly believe in the power of science to help people reclaim their lives following neurologic damage. Leveraging the internationally recognized expertise of our scientists in stroke, traumatic brain injury, cerebellar ataxia, and Parkinson’s disease, we will be highlighting the critical role of research in advancing neurorehabilitation care for these conditions over the next few months. We hope to educate and inspire you, our community, to join us in championing this cause. The need is greater than ever.