HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Charleston S-3ASR Automatic shelf registration

Exhibit 5.1

ALSTON&BIRDLLP

90 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10016

212-210-9400

Fax:212-210-9444

www.alston.com

Mark F. McElreath Direct Dial: 212-210-9595 Email: mark.mcelreath@alston.com

September 6, 2012

HealthSouth Corporation

3660 Grandview Parkway, Suite 200

Birmingham, Alabama 35243

Re: HealthSouth Corporation; Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to HealthSouth Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and each of the Guarantors (as defined below), in connection with the preparation of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) on September 6, 2012. The Registration Statement relates to the issuance and sale by the Company from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations of the Commission promulgated under the Securities Act, of an unspecified amount of securities of the Company for unspecified aggregate proceeds, consisting of shares of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), shares of preferred stock of the Company, $0.10 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or other securities of the Company as shall be designated by the Company at the time of the offering issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) proposed to be entered into between the Company and warrant agent to be named (each, a “Warrant Agent”) and senior, subordinated or junior subordinated debt securities (which may be secured or unsecured), and which may be issued in one or more series (the “Debt Securities”) pursuant to one or more indentures (the “Indenture” or “Indentures”), proposed to be entered into between the Company and The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company of New York, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and guarantees of the Debt Securities (the “Guarantees”) by each of the Company’s subsidiaries that also guarantees its obligations under its revolving credit agreement (collectively, the “Guarantors”) (The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Debt Securities and Guarantees are herein referred to as the “Securities.”).

This opinion is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of:

Atlanta  •  Brussels  •  Charlotte  •  Dallas  •  Los Angeles  •  New York  •  Research Triangle  •  Silicon Valley  •  Ventura County  •  Washington, D.C.

(i) the Registration Statement in the form it is to be filed with the Commission on September 6, 2012;

(ii) the Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2009, between HealthSouth Corporation and The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company of New York, as trustee, relating to HealthSouth’s 8.125% Senior Notes due 2020, 7.250% Senior Notes due 2018, and 7.750% Senior Notes due 2022, filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement;

(i) a specimen of a note issuable under the Indenture;

(ii) a specimen certificate representing the Common Stock;

(iii) the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of HealthSouth Corporation, as filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 21, 1998 (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;

(iv) a Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation, as filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 25, 2006, certified by the Secretary of State of Delaware;

(v) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective as of October 30, 2009 (the “Bylaws”), as certified by John P. Whittington, the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company;

(vi) the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation (or other constituent documents, as applicable) and by-laws or operating agreements (or certificates of limited partnership and the limited partnership agreements or similar documents) of each of the Guarantors that is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership incorporated or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Opinion Guarantors”); and

(vii) certain resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, relating to the registration of the Securities and certain related matters.

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.

In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. In making our examination of executed documents, we have assumed that

the parties thereto, other than the Company and the Opinion Guarantors, had the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and the execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and the validity and binding effect thereof on such parties.

We have assumed that the terms of the Securities will have been established so as not to, and that the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance of its obligations under, the Securities, will not, violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) any agreement or instrument to which the Company is subject (except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (i) with respect to those agreements and instruments that are listed on the Exhibit Index in Part II of the Registration Statement), (ii) any law, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject (except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (ii) with respect to Opined on Law (as defined below)), (iii) any judicial or regulatory order or decree of any governmental authority or (iv) any consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with any governmental authority.

We have also assumed that any Debt Securities that may be issued will be issued in a form that complies with the Indenture and any supplemental indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of such Debt Securities and will be manually signed or countersigned, as the case may be, by duly authorized officers of the Trustee. We have also assumed that the Guarantors have been duly organized and are and will continue to be validly existing in good standing, and have and will continue to have the requisite legal status and legal capacity, under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization or formation and that the Guarantors (other than the Opinion Guarantors) have complied and will comply with all aspects of the laws of all relevant jurisdictions (including the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization or formation) in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Indenture and the Registration Statement.

As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company, the Guarantors and others and of public officials.

Our opinions set forth herein are limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, and those laws, rules and regulations of the State of New York that, in our experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Registration Statement, but without our having made any special investigation as to the applicability of any specific law, rule or regulation (all of the foregoing being referred to as “Opined on Law”). We do not express any opinion with respect to the law of any jurisdiction other than Opined on Law or as to the effect of any such non-opined on law on the opinions herein stated. The Debt Securities and the Guarantees may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and the opinions set forth below are limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. With respect to any shares of Common Stock to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Common Shares”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Securities Act, (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Common Shares has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, (iii) if the Offered Common Shares are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Common Shares has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, (iv) the Board of Directors, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of the Offered Common Shares, the consideration to be received therefor and related matters, (v) the terms of the issuance and sale of the Offered Common Shares have been duly established in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and (vi) certificates in the form required under DGCL representing the Offered Common Shares are duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered upon payment of the agreed upon consideration therefor, the Offered Common Shares (including any shares of Common Stock duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock or Warrants), when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable underwriting agreement, Preferred Stock designation or Warrant Agreement with respect to the Offered Common Shares or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, provided that the consideration therefor is not less than $0.01 per share of Common Stock.

2. With respect to the shares of any series of Preferred Stock to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Preferred Shares”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Securities Act, (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Preferred Shares has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, (iii) if the Offered Preferred Shares are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Preferred Shares has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, (iv) the Board of Directors, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance, sale and terms of the

Offered Preferred Shares, the consideration to be received therefor and related matters, including the adoption of a Certificate of Designation for the Offered Preferred Shares in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL (the “Certificate of Designation”); (v) the filing of the Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware has duly occurred; (vi) the terms of the Offered Preferred Shares and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation relating to the Offered Preferred Shares, and the By-Laws so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and (vii) certificates in the form required under DGCL representing the Offered Preferred Shares are duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered upon payment of the agreed upon consideration therefor, the Offered Preferred Shares (including any shares of Preferred Stock duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock or Warrants), when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable underwriting agreement, Preferred Stock designation, or Warrant Agreement with respect to the Offered Preferred Shares or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, provided that the consideration therefor is not less than $0.10 per share of Preferred Stock.

3. With respect to the Warrants to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Warrants”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Securities Act, (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Warrants has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder, (iii) if the Offered Warrants are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Warrants has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, (iv) the Board of Directors, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance, sale and terms of the Offered Warrants, the consideration to be received therefor and related matters; (v) the terms of the Offered Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and the applicable Warrant Agent; (vi) the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock relating to such Offered Warrants have been duly authorized for issuance, (vii) the applicable Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto, and (viii) the Offered Warrants have been duly executed, delivered, countersigned, issued and sold in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Warrant Agreement to be filed on a Current Report on Form 8-K in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement relating

thereto, the Offered Warrants, when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement and the applicable purchase agreement or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (c) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies.

4. With respect to any series of Debt Securities offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Debt Securities”), when (i) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and the Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”); (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Debt Securities are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, an underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Indenture and any supplemental indenture relating to the Offered Debt Securities has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (v) the Board of Directors of the Company, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance, sale and terms of the Offered Debt Securities, the consideration received therefor and related matters; (vi) the terms of the Offered Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture and any supplemental indenture relating to such Offered Debt Securities so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation as then in effect or Bylaws as then in effect, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vii) the Offered Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and any supplemental indenture relating to such Offered Debt Securities and delivered to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed upon consideration therefor, the Offered Debt Securities, when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the Indenture and any supplemental indenture relating to such Offered Debt Securities, and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (c) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies,

(d) the waivers of any usury defense contained in the Indenture, any supplemental indenture or the Offered Debt Securities that may be unenforceable, (e) requirements that a claim with respect to any Offered Debt Securities denominated in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than United States dollars (or a judgment denominated other than in United States dollars in respect of such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law, and (f) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States or in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies.

5. With respect to any Guarantee offered by any Guarantor of Offered Debt Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Guarantee”), when (i) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and the Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Guarantee is to be issued pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, an underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Guarantor and the other parties thereto; (iv) all necessary entity action, including any required action by such Guarantor’s board of directors or managers or partners, or any authorized committee thereof, or by such Guarantor’s members, as applicable, or other action has been taken by such Guarantor to approve the issuance and terms of the Offered Guarantee and related matters; (v) the Indenture and any supplemental indenture in respect of such Offered Debt Securities has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto; (vi) the terms of the Offered Guarantee and of its issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture and any supplemental indenture relating to such Offered Guarantee so as not to violate any applicable law or the organizational or governing documents of such Guarantor or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon such Guarantor and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental authority having jurisdiction over such Guarantor; and (vii) the Offered Guarantee has been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and any supplemental indenture relating to such Offered Guarantee and duly issued in accordance with the Indenture, any supplemental indenture relating to such Offered Guarantee and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, the Offered Guarantee will constitute a valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (c) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies, (d) the waivers of any usury defense contained in the Indenture, any supplemental indenture or the Offered Debt Securities that may be unenforceable, (e) requirements that a claim with respect to any Offered Debt Securities denominated in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than United States dollars (or a judgment denominated other than in

United States dollars in respect of such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law, and (f) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States or in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder

Sincerely,

/s/ Mark F. McElreath

Mark F. McElreath