What is physiatry?
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) is also called physiatry -
a medical specialty that deals with the evaluation and treatment of
patients with a disease, disorder, or injury that impairs normal function.
What is a physiatrist?
The physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation is
called a physiatrist.
Physiatrists complete four years of medical school, plus an additional
four years of residency training. Many physiatrists complete fellowship
training in a specialty area. Afterwards, physicians are eligible to take
the tests (oral and written) of the American Board of Physical Medicine
and Rehabilitation (ABPM&R) to become a board-certified physiatrist.
Physiatrists provide many medical services, but they do not perform
surgery. Physiatrists treat various musculoskeletal (muscles and bones),
cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels), pulmonary (lungs and breathing),
and neurological (nervous system) disorders, including conditions such as
arthritis, back pain, work- and sports-related injuries, and brain or
spinal cord injuries.
Physiatrists may practice in a variety of settings, including the
following:
- hospitals
- inpatient rehabilitation centers
- outpatient rehabilitation centers
- private practice
Physiatry provides for multidisciplinary care aimed at the recovery of
the whole person by addressing his/hers physical, emotional,
vocational, and social needs.