Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
“ Physiatrist”

What is a Physiatrist?
Medical Doctors (M.D.)
4 years Residency Program - training in the medical specialty physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R)
Certification: American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , sponsored by the American Board of Medical Specialties

Experts at diagnosing and treating pain
Restore maximum function lost through injury, illness or disabling conditions
Treat the whole person, not just the problem area
Lead a team of medical professionals

Provide non-surgical treatments
Explain your medical problems and treatment plan
Work not only on treatment but also prevention

Conditions Treated
Amputations/Prosthetics (“artificial limbs”)
Arthritis
Back and Neck Pain
“Pinched Nerves” – radiculopathy
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Peripheral neuropathy (hereditary, acquired)

Conditions Treated
Pain from different sources:
Joints
Bones
Muscles
Ligaments/Tendons
Bursa
Nerves

Conditions Treated
Brain Injuries, Stroke
Spinal Cord Injuries
Post-Polio Syndrome
Work-Related Injuries
Auto-Related Injuries
Sports Injuries
Lymphedema

How the Physiatrist can help?
Rehabilitation physicians accurately pinpoint the source of an ailment.
Design a treatment plan that can be carried out by the patients themselves or with the help of the rehabilitation physician’s medical team.
This medical team might include other physicians and health professionals, such as neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and physical/occupational therapists.

How the Physiatrist can help?
By providing an appropriate treatment plan , rehabilitation physicians help patients stay as active as possible at any age.
The broad medical expertise allows the Physiatrist to treat disabling conditions throughout a person’s lifetime.

Treatments
Injections:
trigger points
joints (Synvisc/Hyalgan)
bursa (i.e. hip bursitis, shoulder bursitis)
tendon sheath (i.e. rotator cuff tendinopathy)

Treatments
Prescribe Medications:
Analgesics
Muscle relaxants
Anti-inflammatory agents (NSAID)
Medications for conditions such as neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia syndrome…

Treatments
May prescribe a Rehabilitation Program
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Mental Health/Psychology
Vocational Rehabilitation

Diagnostic Studies
May request radiological studies such as X-rays, MRI, CAT scan, Bone Scan…

Electrodiagnostic Studies
Electrodiagnostic Studies aid in the diagnosis of conditions related to nerves and muscles

Electromyography (EMG)
The needle EMG involves the insertion of very thin pin electrodes into the skin to the muscle. Several muscles are tested in each extremity.
The EMG helps to distinguish between muscle conditions in which the problem begins in the muscle and muscle weakness due to nerve disorders.
EMGs can also be used to isolate the level of nerve irritation or injury.

Electromyography (EMG)
EMG is performed using an instrument called an electromyograph , to produce a record called an electromyogram .
An electromyograph detects the electrical potential generated by muscle cells when these cells are mechanically active, and also when the cells are at rest.

Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS)
A nerve conduction study (NCS) is a test commonly used to evaluate the function, especially the ability of electrical conduction , of the motor and sensory nerves of the human body .
Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) is a common measurement made during this test.

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Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

by Margarita Correa MD - Physical Medicine Institute on Jul 28, 2010

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Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation — Presentation Transcript