People with newly acquired disabilities often face big challenges after returning home following a hospital stay and inpatient rehabilitation services. They and their care partners can benefit greatly from post-rehabilitation transition programs, but there’s an urgent need for these services in Alabama.

The UAB Orthopaedic Optimization Clinic was created to improve surgical outcomes for patients with complex medical needs by proactively addressing modifiable risk factors before surgery.

At the major league level, a pitcher’s arm can be worth tens of millions of dollars. Players, teams and Major League Baseball itself all have a vested interest in reducing season- and potentially career-ending arm injuries. Yet, according to a 2024 report by the league, tears to the ulnar collateral ligament, or UCL, have never been higher. In that report, the unprecedented speeds of today’s pitches, and their jaw-dropping spin and movement, are directly correlated with injury risk — specifically, risk for needing UCL reconstruction, the surgery made famous in 1974 by the Dodgers star Tommy John.

When it comes to finding the right wheelchair, no two patients are the same. Their needs can vary greatly depending on their condition, abilities, and lifestyle. And given the level of customization and technology available today, the options are virtually endless.

Being able to drive means freedom for many people, but that ability may be limited after certain injuries or medical conditions. The Driving and Community Mobility Program at UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center was created to address this. For patients affected by physical, sensory, or mental processing impairments, the program can improve their quality of life by helping them safely regain as much independence as possible.

UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center (SRC) is a leading provider of physical medicine and rehabilitation services. Teams of specialists use innovative therapies to deliver the highest levels of inpatient and outpatient care to those with an injury or disability, with the goal of improving long-term function and quality of life.

The Post-Rehab Transitions Program (PRTP) began in January 2025 at UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center. Funded through UAB’s Forging Ahead strategic investment initiative, the program extends outpatient rehab care to those who’ve been discharged from Spain Rehabilitation Center (SRC) following a traumatic spinal cord injury.

In early 2024, Wayne Jones was driving his truck home from a friend’s retirement party. What seemed like a moment later, he woke up in a hospital bed, woozy and questioning reality. He couldn’t move his legs and didn’t know where he was.

At 9 years old, Ruben Vuittonet Jr. learned origami from a young boy whose father was a marine in Okinawa, Japan. Little did he know, 50 years later, he would be using this hobby to give hope to people all around the world, including at UAB Medicine.

UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine has donated 800 Guardian Caps to the Birmingham Youth Sports League to decrease the risk of traumatic brain injuries and concussions.

According to the CDC, each year, 1 in 4 older adults experiences a fall, often leading to serious injuries like hip fractures, which can require surgery and months of recovery. While falls are common, the good news is that many are preventable, especially with a few simple safety steps at home and outdoors.

With sweeping views, cutting-edge therapy gyms and 134 patient beds, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s new $156.7 million inpatient rehabilitation pavilion promises to transform recovery for Alabamians and patients across the region.