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Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also referred to as rehabilitation medicine, is the medical specialty concerned with diagnosing, evaluating, and treating patients with physical disabilities.
These disabilities may arise from conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system such as neck and back pain, sports injuries, or other painful conditions affecting the limbs, for example carpal tunnel
syndrome. Alternatively, the disabilities may result from neurological trauma or disease such as spinal cord injury, head injury, or stroke.
A physician certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation is often called a physiatrist. The primary goal of the physiatrist is to achieve maximal restoration of physical, psychological, social,
and vocational function through comprehensive rehabilitation. Pain management is often an important part of the role of the physiatrist. For diagnosis and evaluation, a physiatrist may include the
techniques of electromyography to supplement the standard history, physical, X-ray, and laboratory examinations. The physiatrist has expertise in the appropriate use of therapeutic exercise, prosthetics
(artificial limbs), orthotics, and mechanical and electrical devices.
Training required: Four years plus one year clinical practice.
Certification in the following subspecialty requires additional training and examination.
Pain Management: A physician who provides a high level of care, either as a primary physician or consultant, for patients experiencing problems with acute, chronic or cancer pain in
both hospital and ambulatory settings.
Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine: A physiatrist who utilizes an interdisciplinary approach and addresses the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of congenital and
childhood onset physical impairments including related or secondary medical, physical, functional, psychosocial, and vocational limitations or conditions, with an understanding of the life course of
disability.
This physician is trained in the identification of functional capabilities and selection of the best of rehabilitation intervention strategies, with an understanding of the continuum of care.
Spinal Cord Injury Medicine: A physician who addresses the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of traumatic spinal cord injury and non-traumatic etiologies of spinal
cord dysfunction by working in an inter-disciplinary manner. Care is provided to patients of all ages on a lifelong basis and covers related medical, physical, psychological, and vocational disabilities
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