State-of-the-Art Teaching and Research Facilities

At Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions, the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences (PTRS) Department offers students access to advanced teaching and research facilities that support hands-on learning, clinical training and groundbreaking research in human movement science, rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Teaching Facilities: Where Learning Meets Practice

Located in the Health Sciences Building on Drexel’s University City Campus, our teaching spaces are designed to foster immersive, technology-enhanced education.

Key Features

• Modern Lecture Halls and Labs
  All lectures and labs are held in the Health Sciences Building, a 12-story, 460,000-square-foot facility equipped with wireless internet and smart classroom technology.
• Dedicated Clinical Skills Labs
  PTRS operates two state-of-the-art clinical laboratories where students learn and practice essential physical therapy techniques under expert faculty guidance.
• Standardized Patient Simulation Lab
  Students refine their clinical decision-making skills using Drexel’s standardized patient lab. Trained actors simulate real-world clinical scenarios to support student learning and skill development. Faculty-guided reflection and feedback, combined with peer input, enhance the educational value of each simulation experience.
• On-Campus and Community-Based Clinical Sites
  Students gain hands-on experience at Drexel-operated outpatient physical therapy clinics:
  • Drexel Recreation Center (University City Campus)
  • Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services (Pro bono clinic)

These rotations offer individualized mentorship and help students bridge classroom learning with real-world patient care, complementing the 33 weeks of full-time clinical education embedded in the curriculum.

Research Facilities: Advancing Health and Rehabilitation Science

Drexel’s PTRS department boasts over 6,000 square feet of dedicated research space within an integrated multidisciplinary research floor. These facilities support interdisciplinary research in physical activity, injury prevention, biomechanics and rehabilitation technology.

Specialized Research Labs

Our state-of-the-art Human Performance and Motion Analysis labs offer students and faculty a unique environment to explore physical activity, injury prevention and rehabilitation. Designed to support high-impact research, clinical education and real-world application, the facility includes:

• Three dedicated high-tech motion capture spaces for overground and treadmill locomotion for biomechanical analysis of movement
• Integrated systems to study gait, balance and fall prevention in a safe, controlled environment
• Strength testing and training equipment
• Cardiopulmonary and metabolic assessment equipment
• Wearable sensor technology for lab and community-based studies
• Advanced imaging and scanning tools to assess bone, muscle and joint health
• An on-site engineering lab for rapid prototyping and equipment innovation

Students have the opportunity to engage in hands-on research alongside expert faculty using these technologies.

Resources and Equipment include:

• 46 Vicon motion capture cameras, 10 AMTI force plates and an inground AMTI Mobius2 Split belt Instrumented Treadmill
• Two overhead ZeroG Gait and Balance Systems and a Bertec Computerized Dynamic Posturography System
• DEXA Scanner, fNIR Spectroscopy, Diagnostic Ultrasound with Shear Wave Elastography and InBody Bioimpedance Scanners
• Isokinetic Dynamometers, Keiser Strength Testing Equipment and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (Cosmed Quark)
• ActiGraph Wearable Sensors for physical activity monitoring
• Telehealth Integration for remote research and community-based studies
• Data Analysis Lab with LabVIEW, MATLAB, Visual 3D, SPSS, SAS and NVivo
• Engineering lab, featuring electronics prototyping station, 3D-printers and machine shop, for rapid prototyping and small-batch manufacturing
• Phlebotomy lab allowing for research blood-draws for processing and storage

A Hub for Innovation and Collaboration

The 6th floor of the Health Sciences Building houses interdisciplinary research labs shared by departments including:

• Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences
• Creative Arts Therapies
• Nutrition Sciences
• Health Sciences

This collaborative environment supports cross-disciplinary research and provides students with access to cutting-edge tools and mentorship from experts across healthcare fields.

Experience the future of physical therapy and rehabilitation sciences education and research at Drexel University.
Explore how our facilities prepare students to lead in clinical practice, research and healthcare innovation.