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Here are some answers to questions frequently asked
about the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation:
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 – particularly 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. PM&R
provides integrated care in the treatment of all conditions related to the
brain, muscles, and bones, from traumatic brain injury to lower back pain.
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What is a rehabilitation physician?
Rehabilitation physicians are nerve, muscle, and bone experts who treat injuries
or illnesses that affect how you move. Rehabilitation physicians have completed
training in the medical specialty physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R).
They are sometimes referred to as PM&R physicians or physiatrists.
Rehabilitation physicians treat a wide range of problems from sore shoulders to
spinal cord injuries. Their goal is to decrease pain and enhance performance
without surgery. To learn about some of the conditions rehabilitation physicians
treat, click here.
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How do rehabilitation physicians diagnose?
Rehabilitation physicians 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 special techniques in electrodiagnostic medicine
like electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, and somatosensory evoked
potentials. These techniques help the rehabilitation physician to diagnose
conditions that cause pain, weakness, and numbness. |back to top|
What is the rehabilitation physician’s role in treatment?
Once they have a diagnosis, rehabilitation physicians 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 interdisciplinary medical team may
include medical professionals such as neurologists, psychiatrists, orthopedic
surgeons, and urologists, and non-physician health professionals such as
physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, vocational
counselors, psychologists and social workers. The team is different for each
patient, and the team's composition changes during treatment to match the
patient's shifting needs. By providing an appropriate treatment plan,
rehabilitation physicians help patients stay as active as possible at any age.
Their broad medical expertise allows them to treat disabling conditions
throughout a person’s lifetime. To learn more about a rehabilitation physician’s role in treatment and why you
might choose such treatment, click here. |back to top|
What is the scope of the rehabilitation physician’s practice?
PM&R is often called the quality of life profession because its aim is to
enhance patient performance. The job of a rehabilitation physician is to treat
any disability resulting from disease or injury involving any organ system. The
focus is not on one part of the body, but instead on the development of a
comprehensive program for putting the pieces of a person's life back together –
medically, socially, emotionally, and vocationally – after injury or disease.
The problems that rehabilitation physicians manage span the entire spectrum,
from the most complicated multiple trauma to injury prevention for athletes.
Some rehabilitation physicians have broad-based practices that encompass many
different types of patients. Others pursue special interests and focus on
specific groups or problems. For example, sports medicine has grown as a special
interest. Rehabilitation physicians who focus on sports medicine treat
sports-related injuries, develop programs to help athletes avoid injury, and may
do research in the field. |back to top|
What kind of training do rehabilitation physicians have?
To become a rehabilitation physician, individuals must graduate from medical
school followed by four additional years of postdoctoral training in a physical
medicine and rehabilitation residency. This includes one year developing
fundamental clinical 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. Many rehabilitation
physicians choose to pursue additional advanced degrees (MS, PhD) or complete
fellowship training in a specific area of the specialty. Fellowships are
available for specialized study in such areas as musculoskeletal rehabilitation,
pediatrics, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and sports medicine. To become board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation,
rehabilitation physicians are required to take both a written and oral
examination administered by the American Board of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation (ABPMR). The ABPMR also has agreements with each of the boards of
pediatrics, internal medicine, and neurology to allow special training programs
leading to certification in both specialties. To find out why it is important to
see a physician who is board certified,
click here. |back to top|
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
considerably after World War 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 field. The Advisory Board of
Medical Specialties granted PM&R its approval as a specialty of medicine in
1947.
To learn more about the history of PM&R,
click here. |back to top|
Where do rehabilitation physicians practice?
Rehabilitation physicians practice in rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and in
private offices. They often have broad practices, but some concentrate on one
area such as pediatrics, sports medicine, geriatric medicine, brain injury, and
many other special interests. |back to top|
How can I locate a rehabilitation physician?
There are more than 7,500 rehabilitation physicians practicing in the United
States today. As a public service, the American Academy of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) provides listings of its member rehabilitation
physicians by state.
Click here
for our online "Find a PM&R Physician" searchable database. |back to top|
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