Association
"The purpose of the AAP is to advance academic physiatry by providing leading edge programs, products, and services"
 

About Our Field

 

About Our FieldWHAT IS A PHYSIATRIST?
(pronounced fiz-e-at-rist)

Physicians who specialize in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation are called "physiatrists". Physiatrists are specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of patients of all ages in three major areas of medical care.

  1. Diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and pain syndromes
    These include sports and/or work injuries to degenerative conditions as common as arthritis or low back pain.

  2. Electrodiagnostic medicine
    Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation is the only specialty of medicine in which special training in electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies is required. These procedures are used for evaluation of various neurologic disorders.

  3. Rehabilitation of patients with severe impairments
    The physiatrist directs a comprehensive rehabilitation team of professionals that may include physical therapists, occupational therapists, recreational therapists, rehabilitation nurses, psychologists, social workers, speech-language pathologists and others. Physiatrists treat neurologic rehabilitation conditions including stroke, brain injury, and spinal cord injury. Many other disabling conditions such as amputations, multiple trauma, burns and sports injuries are treated as well.

An online slide presentation of "What is a Physiatrist?" presented in 2005 can be viewed here.

Other links to the field of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

 

  

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