Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy at Stanford: Move Confidently Toward Activities That Matter Most

In this blog:

• What Is Rehabilitation and Movement Therapy?
• What Makes Stanford’s Approach Different
• Conditions We Treat
• Your First Appointment
• Evaluations and Tests
• Common Fears and How We Address Them
• Treatment Modalities and Group Classes
• Between Visits: Building a Plan for Daily Life
• How to Prepare for Your Visit
• How to Set Up an Appointment
• Research and Innovation in Pain Rehabilitation
• Everyday Habits That Make a Difference

Chronic pain can make even simple movements, like walking, lifting groceries, or playing with your kids, feel difficult or risky. Physical therapy and rehabilitation at Stanford focus on movement, strength, and function to help you regain control, reduce pain, and improve your quality of life.

What is rehabilitation and movement therapy

Rehabilitation and movement therapy combines physical therapy, exercise, and education to help people living with pain improve their function and quality of life. It focuses on retraining the body and mind to move in ways that are safe, strong, and sustainable.

This approach has deep roots in history. Ancient physicians in Greece, China, and Rome prescribed movement and stretching to relieve pain and promote healing, according to the American Medical Association. Over time, these early practices evolved into a formal field of medicine. In the early 1900s, doctors began using structured movement programs to help patients recover from conditions like polio, tuberculosis, and war-related injuries. These efforts grew into what is now known as physical medicine and rehabilitation, or PM&R, a medical specialty focused on restoring movement and function after illness or injury.

Modern rehabilitation therapy combines insights from medicine, neuroscience, and psychology. It recognizes that chronic pain is not only a physical condition, but also one that involves how the brain interprets signals from the body. Through guided, progressive movement, patients can help the nervous system “retrain” itself, reduce pain sensitivity, and regain more natural motion patterns. In practice, rehabilitation and movement therapy may involve: 

• Learning new ways to move that protect painful or weak areas
• Performing exercises that build strength and endurance
• Training to improve balance and coordination
• Practicing good posture and pacing
• Slowly reintroducing movements that may have become fearful or avoided. 

This type of therapy is sometimes called active medicine, because you are not just receiving care, you are participating in it. 

Stanford’s Approach to Physical Therapy and Rehab

Most clinics focus only on physical recovery. At Stanford, your care team may include a pain medicine doctor, pain psychologist, and physical therapist who work closely together to create a plan that fits your specific needs and goals.

What makes this approach unique is how often the team communicates. Our doctors and therapists do not simply write notes in your chart and move on. They regularly meet in person, often over lunch, to discuss your case, share updates, and adjust your treatment plan as needed. This means your care is active and connected, not passed between offices or hospitals.

Because the team works under one roof, you will not lose momentum with your progress. Each provider knows what the others are doing, which prevents confusion, mixed messages, or duplicate testing. If something changes—like your pain level, medications, or mobility—the team can quickly coordinate next steps together.

Our therapists also stay at the forefront of research. They regularly review new studies and use Stanford’s research platform, CHOIR (Collaborative Health Outcomes Information Registry), to tailor treatment plans based on real patient data. CHOIR helps clinicians track your progress, understand your pain experience, and measure your outcomes over time.

This combination of teamwork, research, and open communication helps ensure that every patient receives consistent, whole-person care that keeps moving forward.

Conditions We Treat

Because our program is part of a major academic medical center, we often see people with complex or long-term pain conditions, such as:

• Chronic back or neck pain
• Fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Neuropathic pain or nerve-related, such as diabetic neuropathy or nerve compression
• Post-surgical pain or injury-related pain
• Musculoskeletal pain, including joint pain or joint hypermobility

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

Your first visit lasts about an hour. You’ll meet one-on-one with a physical therapist who takes time to understand your health history, goals, and daily challenges. You’ll be asked to wear comfortable clothing, since your therapist will assess your movement, balance, and posture.

If you use braces, mobility aids, or other assistive devices, bring them along. This helps your therapist see how you move in daily life and make adjustments if needed.

Above all, you’ll be encouraged to move at your own pace. Many patients worry about worsening their pain, but Stanford’s therapists specialize in safe, guided movement that builds strength and confidence without causing flare-ups.

What Evaluations or Tests Are Done During the First Visit?

During your evaluation, your therapist will perform a series of gentle tests to better understand how your body moves and what might be contributing to your pain. These assessments help create a customized plan that fits your needs.

• Movement and flexibility testing: You may be asked to bend, reach, or walk so your therapist can see how your joints and muscles work together.
• Strength testing: Your therapist may check how strong certain muscles are to identify areas that need support or retraining.
• Balance and coordination checks: You might be asked to stand or move in different positions to assess your stability and fall risk.
• Functional movement screening: This includes observing how you perform everyday tasks, such as standing from a chair or lifting light objects.
• Pain and sensitivity mapping: Using your feedback, your therapist notes which movements or areas cause pain, stiffness, or discomfort.
• Posture and gait analysis: They may watch how you walk and stand to find patterns that could be increasing strain or tension.
• Patient questionnaires: Stanford uses tools like CHOIR to collect information about your pain levels, sleep, mood, and physical function before and after your visit.

These tests are not painful and are done at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Your therapist will explain each step and stop immediately if something causes discomfort. The goal is to identify how you can move more easily and safely, not to push you beyond your limits.

At the end of your evaluation, your therapist will discuss what they found and outline a treatment plan, which may include gentle exercises, stretching routines, group movement classes, or referrals to other specialists on the Stanford Pain team.

Common Fears and How We Address Them

Fear of movement is one of the biggest barriers to recovery. It’s natural to avoid activities that have caused pain in the past, but staying inactive can actually make pain worse over time. Our team helps you rebuild trust in your body by starting small and gradually reintroducing activities in safe ways.

Not all pain means you’re causing harm. Hurt is pain that arises without lasting damage, like a sore muscle after a workout. Harm signals real injury, such as a torn ligament. Understanding the difference helps you move safely and avoid unnecessary fear.

For example, if you’ve previously experienced pain while lifting a box or walking on uneven ground, your therapist will guide you step by step until you feel secure. The goal isn’t to “push through” pain, but to restore independence. 

Treatment Modalities and Group Classes

We offer both individual therapy sessions and group-based movement programs such as Tai Chi and yoga. These classes are adapted for all mobility levels and led by medical professionals who understand chronic pain.

Research shows that mindful movement practices improve strength, balance, and bone health while reducing stress and pain. They are also safe, which is especially important for people living with chronic conditions.

We also use advanced rehabilitation technology to support recovery, from specialized walking equipment to strength-building tools. For patients who need more intensive therapy, Stanford offers Back in Action, a six-week multidisciplinary program combining care from physicians, psychologists, and physical therapists

Between Visits: Building a Plan for Daily Life

Progress doesn’t stop when you leave the clinic. Your therapist will work with you to create a personalized home exercise plan and a flare-up plan, a set of steps to follow when pain increases. These plans help you stay active, manage symptoms, and handle life’s unpredictable moments, like travel or family events.

Stanford’s team also uses digital tools like Wibbi, an online exercise platform where you can view videos of your home program, track your progress, and message your therapist between visits.

How to Prepare for Your Visit

Here are a few tips before your first appointment:

• Wear comfortable clothing you can move in
• Bring any assistive devices (like braces, walkers, or canes) you use
• List your medications and prior treatments
• Think about your goals, such as what activities you want to get back to
• Bring a caregiver or loved one if you would like them to learn how to support you at home

How to Set Up an Appointment

To schedule an appointment with the Stanford Pain Rehabilitation and Movement team, you’ll need a referral from your primary care doctor or a specialist. Referrals can come from many departments, such as endocrinology or neurology.

When calling Stanford Health Care, ask specifically for “Physical Therapy in the Pain Department” or “Stanford Pain Physical Therapy.” Once you are in the system, your care can easily be coordinated with other Stanford providers.

New patient appointments are typically scheduled within one to two months, and follow-ups usually occur every one to four weeks, depending on your needs. Between visits, you can reach your team through MyHealth, Stanford’s secure patient portal.

Research and Innovation in Pain Rehabilitation

Stanford’s rehabilitation specialists are not only clinicians but also researchers shaping the future of pain care. Current studies are exploring how exercise influences inflammation, nerve function, and recovery, as well as how cognitive-based physical therapy can reduce pain by changing how the brain interprets movement.Large studies led by Stanford have confirmed that personalized physical therapy can improve chronic low back pain and help patients regain function even after years of discomfort. 

Everyday Habits That Make a Difference

Simple lifestyle changes can also play a big role in managing pain. Stanford experts highlight three big ones:

• Walking: Even short walks, around 3,000 to 7,000 steps a day, can reduce low back pain and improve mood.
• Sleep: Rest is essential for healing. Overexertion and lack of sleep can worsen pain and fatigue.
• Pacing: Avoid the “boom and bust” cycle of doing too much on good days and crashing afterward. Gentle, consistent activity helps build lasting strength.

Our patients benefit from a pioneering, Silicon Valley–inspired approach that blends the latest research with compassionate, hands-on care. Whether your goal is to return to work, play with your grandkids, or simply feel comfortable moving again, our team is here to help you take that next step with comfort and control.