What is a Physiatrist?

A Physiatrist (pronounced fizz eye at' trist) is a medical doctor with specialized training in physical medicine, rehabilitation, and pain medicine. They practice in numerous settings such as hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation centers, as well as in private practices. Their comprehensive approach includes focusing on the entire patient, not just the symptoms.

The specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was recognized as a medical specialty in 1947. Physiatrists are medical doctors who, in addition to medical school, also complete four additional years of postdoctoral residency training. During this residency training, they spend one year studying fundamental clinical skills and three years specifically on physical medicine and rehabilitation. They also receive a great deal of training in diagnosing and treating pain problems.

Physiatrists treat a wide range of disorders. The primary focuses of a Physiatrist are to reduce or relieve pain and restore the patients function lost due to illness or injury. Physiatrists treat temporary conditions to long-term conditions. This can range from sports or work- related injury to more serious conditions such as cancer, spinal injuries, strokes or orthopedic conditions. The following is a list of some of the conditions treated by Physiatrists for rehabilitation and physical disabilities:

Non Surgical Solutions for Pain

• Back Pain
• Neck Pain
• Degenerative Disc Disease
• Herniated Disc/Sciatica
• Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions
• Pelvic Pain
• Arthritis Pain
• Knee Pain
• Hip Pain
• Sacraliliac Dysfunction
• Myofascial Pain
• Burns Pain
• Shoulder Pain - Rotator cuff
• Foot Pain

Comprehensive & Advanced Rehabilitation Treatments

• Strokes
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Brain Injuries
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Post Polio Syndrome
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Lymphedema
• Conditions Affecting Strength, Walking, Balance
• Osteoporosis
• Wheel Chair Assessment
• Nerve Injury

Other Maladies Treated

• Musculoskeletal Disorders – Tendonitis and muscle pain
• Back and Neck and Shoulder pain
• Joint replacements •
• Cerebral Palsy
• Pain problems following trauma and surgeries
• Burns and wound management
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Spinal Cord Injuries – Paraplegia and Quadriplegia
• Brain injuries
• Strokes
• Amputations
• Multiple sclerosis
• Polio and post-polio syndrome
• ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease)