What is the Role of a Physiatrist?
A physiatrist is a medical doctor specializing in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of injuries and disorders of nerves, muscles and bones. More specifically, a physiatrist treats those kinds of injuries that may result from, or have resulted in, temporary or permanent physical impairment. The field of medicine in which the physiatrist practices is called “physiatry.” It is also sometimes called, “physical medicine.” The physiatrist may alternately be called a “physical medicine and rehabilitation physician” or a “PM&R physician.” It is a specialty that is approximately 60 years old[1].
Nearly all physicians treat physical impairments of some kind. However, physiatrists provide services that play a somewhat different vital role in achieving successful and sustained outcomes. When presented with difficult and challenging diagnoses, physiatrists diagnose, design and treat physical impairments that require rehabilitative care. The conditions they treat include trauma, brain injury, spinal cord injury, catastrophic injury and neurological disorders such as strokes, all of which can directly impact an individual’s ability to achieve and to maintain physical independence.
Physiatrists are trained as medical doctors. Generally, the first year of the four- year residency focuses on internal medicine, with the last three emphasizing a specialized field. Fellowships for those wishing to practice psychiatry are generally available and the one chosen may reflect the specialty within psychiatry.
Among the areas of focus of a physiatrist, both in education and practice, include:
- Neurorehabilitation: involves traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease;
- Pain medicine: involves chronic pain management, complex pain syndrome (previously known as “reflex sympathetic dystrophy”), back pain, arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome;
- Musculoskeletal care: involves osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain and sacroiliac joint dysfunction;
- Sports injuries: involves Achilles tendonitis, iliotibial band syndrome that is a cause of lateral knee pain and dysfunction, mostly in runners. The iliotibial band is a thick band of fascia on the lateral aspect of the knee, extending from the outside of the pelvis over the hip and knee, and inserting just below the knee. The band is important to stabilizing the knee;
- Post-operative care: following joint replacement, organ transplants and left-ventricular assistive devices. A ventricular device is a ventricular assist device that is essentially a mechanical pump implanted to help the heart’s weakened ventricle (major pumping chamber of the heart) to pump blood throughout the body[2].
- Specialized rehabilitative care: involves pelvic pain, palliative care, and alternative and complementary medicine.
So what is the difference between a physiatrist and a physical therapist? The fact is they both see individuals with the same types of conditions. However, physiatrists are medical doctors (MDs) and physical therapists are not. Further, physiatrists do not perform the therapies. Instead, they make and manage medical diagnoses and prescribe the therapies that physical therapists will subsequently perform. Yet, both categories of professionals collaborate and communicate on the client goal plan to ensure that clients get proper treatment and clinically relevant services to advance toward independence.
NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is an innovative, fully accessible residential post-acute rehabilitation facility situated on 43 acres near downtown Mount Dora where individuals with catastrophic injuries can enjoy recreational outings and become productive members of the community. NeuLife’s multidisciplinary team tailors plans to meet the specific needs and goals of each client served, including: neurorehabilitative and neurobehavioral rehabilitation; physical, occupational, speech language and cognitive therapy, neuropsychological evaluation and services, psychological evaluation and other related services. NeuLife serves individuals with catastrophic and challenging diagnoses, including brain and spinal cord injury, amputations and multiple trauma. NeuLife serves adults ages 18 and over. Individuals referred to NeuLife may stay for any established period of time, whether for short-term, long-term or respite care.is a fully accessible residential post-acute program providing superior care and specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic amputations and other catastrophic injuries.
2725 Robie Avenue
Mount Dora, Florida 32757
Call: 800.626.3836
Email: Info@NeuLifeRehab.com
Visit: NeuLifeRehab.com
[1] www.spine-health.com/treatment/spine-spealists/what-a-physiatrist
[2] http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/heartfailure/lvad_devices.aspx
