See a Physiatrist Brochure
Cover
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Back Cover
When you need a medical doctor who:
- is an expert at diagnosing and treating pain
- restores maximum function lost through injury, illness or
disabling conditions
- treats the whole person and not just the symptoms
- leads a team of medical professionals
- provides non-surgical treatments
See a Physiatrist.
A Physiatrist treats:
- Back pain
- Sports injury
- Workplace injury
- Stroke rehabilitation
- Spinal cord injury
- Chronic pain
- Brain injury
- Neck pain
- Arthritis
- Cerebral palsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Disabling conditions
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
And more.
A physiatrist is a doctor who treats medical conditions
that can cause pain or limit function. Also called physical medicine and
rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians, physiatrists provide a full spectrum of care
– from diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation – to restore maximum health
and quality of life.
Making a diagnosis. Physiatrists see patients of all ages experiencing a wide
range of problems – from sore shoulders to muscle weakness – that may make it
difficult to function at home, in the workplace or during recreational
activities. Successful treatment of these symptoms requires accurate
diagnosis. As specialists, physiatrists use techniques ranging from detailed
medical histories to nerve conduction studies to diagnose a multitude of
medical conditions.
Treating the whole person. Physiatrists treat people, not just symptoms. By
evaluating the impact of a condition on the whole person – medically,
socially, emotionally and vocationally – physiatrists help their patients
understand and take control of their health.
Coordinating care. Physiatrists listen to their patients
and work with them to develop a customized course of treatment. This may
include one or several non-surgical treatments, such as:
- medications
- therapeutic exercise
- injections
- assistive devices, such as a brace or artificial limb
- heat and cold therapy
- massage
- biofeedback and electrotherapies
If surgery is necessary, physiatrists work with patients and their surgeons
beforehand, and coordinate their care afterward. Physiatrists help patients
achieve a successful recovery by working with other physicians, such as
neurologists and orthopaedic surgeons, and health professionals, like physical
and occupational therapists, speech pathologists and psychologists.
Restoring Maximum Function. Physiatrists treat conditions of the bones,
muscles, joints, brain and nervous system, which can affect other systems of
the body and limit a person's ability to function. Here are some examples of
how physiatrists restore maximum function.
A 38-year-old man who has played racket sports all his adult life suddenly
develops back pain that keeps him awake at night. After X-rays rule out a
spine problem, his physiatrist prescribes medications to reduce inflammation
of the affected back tissues. Together, the doctor and patient develop a
treatment plan, including strengthening exercises, massage therapy and, if
needed, therapeutic injections.
A 56-year-old man has a stroke, leaving him temporarily unable to work and
depressed. His physiatrist designs a comprehensive rehabilitation program,
working with a neurologist to evaluate the brain’s adjustment to the stroke,
an occupational therapist to work on regaining motor skills, and a
psychologist to help the man cope with his depression.
A 67-year-old woman has a knee replacement due to arthritis. Gait analysis
shows she’s putting extra weight on her right leg to compensate for the loss
of strength in her left knee. Her physiatrist recommends aqua-aerobics to
increase strength without impact on her knees, helps her set realistic
recovery goals and, if at all possible, avoid additional surgery.
To locate a physiatrist
in your area or to learn more about physical medicine and rehabilitation,
visit www.aapmr.org. Your primary care physician can also refer you to a
specialist.
American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
AAPM&R
9700 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 200
Rosemont, Illinois 60018-5701
(847) 737-6000
Physiatry is a specialty of medicine recognized since 1947 by the American
Board of Medical Specialties.
|back to top|
To place an order, or to view all available
marketing tools, download the
AAPM&R
publication order form
Please note:
This order
form is a PDF file. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view this
form.
| 
