Historical Perspective
The roots of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation or PM&R date back to the use of agents such as the sun’s heat and hot springs for medicinal purposes in early recorded history. The field began in the 1930s to address musculoskeletal and neurological problems, but broadened its scope considerably after World War II. The Advisory Board of Medical Specialties granted
PM& R its approval as a specialty of medicine in 1947.
What is a Physiatrist?
Physiatrists, or rehabilitation physicians, are medical doctors who are:
· Experts at diagnosing and treating pain
· Restore maximum function lost through injury, illness, or disabling conditions
· Treat the whole person
· Lead a team of medical specialists
· Provide non-surgical treatments
· Explain your medical problems and treatment plan
· Work not only on treatment but also prevention
Physiatrists are nerve, muscle and bone experts who treat injuries or illnesses that effect how you move. They also treat a wide variety of problems from sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries.
Their goal is to decrease pain and enhance performance without surgery. Physiatrists take the time needed to accurately diagnose the injury or illness and then design a treatment plan that can be carried out by the patients themselves or with the help of the physician’s medical team.
This medical team might consist of other physicians and healthcare professionals including neurologists, orthopaedic surgeons, physical therapists, and athletic trainers. Physiatrists see patients of all ages and their services will include non-surgical orthopaedic care, interventional spinal injections, electrodiagnostic medicine, sports medicine, and pain management.
Spine Intervention
In recent years, the field of physiatry has grown to incorporate the use of interventional spinal therapeutics to treat the growing number of patients with chronic debilitating back pain.
Specialized training in image-guided spinal diagnostics and injections includes the use of epidural, transforaminal and selective nerve root blocks. These techniques are being used as a nonsurgical pain-relieving intervention for our patient population and are highly successful.
Frequently Asked Questions About PM& R
What is physical medicine and rehabilitation?
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM& R), also called physiatry, is the branch of medicine emphasizing the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders particulately related to the nerves, muscles, and bones that may produce temporary or permanent impairment...
PM& R is one of 24 medical specialties certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
It also provides integrated care in the treatment of all conditions related to the brain, muscles, and bones, from traumatic brain injury to lower back pain.
What is a rehabilitation physician?
Rehabilitation physicians are nerve, muscle, and bone experts who treat injury or illnesses that effect how you move. Their goal is to decrease pain and enhance performance without surgery.
How do physiatrist’s diagnose?
They take the time needed to accurately pinpoint the source of an ailment. Their specific diagnostic tools are the same as those used by other physicians (medical histories, physical examinations, and imaging studies), with the addition of electrodiagnostic medicine
such as electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, and somatosensory evoked potientials. These techniques help the rehabilitation physician to diagnose conditions that cause pain, weakness, and numbness.
What kind of training do rehabilitation physicians have?
To become a rehabilitation physician, individuals must graduate from medical school followed by four years of postdoctoral training in physical medicine and rehabilitation residency. This includes one year developing fundamental skills and three additional years of training in the
full scope of the specialty. There are currently 80 accredited residency programs in physical medicine and rehabilitation in the United States.
How did the specialty develop?
The field of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM& R) began in the 1930s to address musculoskeletal and neurological problems, but broadened its scope after WW II.
As thousands of veterans came back to the United States with serious disabilities, the task of helping to restore them to productive lives became a new direction for the filed. The Advisory Board of Medical Specialties granted PM& R its approval as a medical specialty of medicine in 1947.
Where do rehabilitation physicians practice?
Rehabilitations physicians practice in rehabilitations centers, hospitals, and private practice offices. They often have broad practices, but some concentrate on one area such as orthopaedics and sports medicine, pediatrics, geriatric medicine, brain injury, and others.
How do I locate a rehabilitation physician/ physiatrist?
There are more than 7500 physiatrists practicing in the United States today. As a public service, the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) provides listings of its members.
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