What is Physiatry?

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians treat a wide variety of medical conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.

PM&R physicians are medical doctors who have completed training in the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), and may be subspecialty certified in Brain Injury Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Neuromuscular Medicine, Pain Medicine, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury Medicine, and/or Sports Medicine.

Specifically, PM&R physicians:

• Treat patients of all ages and focus treatment on function
• Have a broad medical expertise that allows them to treat disabling conditions throughout a person’s lifetime
• Diagnose and treat pain as a result of an injury, illness, or disabling condition
• Determine and lead a treatment/prevention plan
• Lead a team of medical professionals, which may include physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician extenders to optimize patient care
• Work with other physicians, which may include primary care physicians, neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and many others
• Treat the whole person, not just the problem area