A physiatrist is an individual who practices in a field of medicine which focuses on physical medicine and physical rehab services. It is a specialty within the medical field that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and management of disabilities using physical means as the primary tool. The term physical means in this context is physical therapy and medication.
The physiatrist has as his specialty, a variety of treatment methods for the muscles, bones, nerves, ligaments and tendons; the musculoskeletal system. He treats any disorders that cause pain and discomfort but they do not perform surgery.
The objective is simple, the physiatrist tries to make his patient as free from pain as possible so that he or she can return to and participate in a normal life as much as possible. This individual who offers physical rehab services can be a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathy.
The training required to specialize:
The training to become a physiatrist includes four years of post grad med school and four years of training as a resident. During the first year as a resident, the focus is on internal medicine, basically general practice, and the last three years focus on the specialty training.
Once residency has been completed, additional training is available through fellowships that are offered, they allow for two additional years of training in a particular area.
The fellowships that are available allow the physiatrist to focus on:
1. Treatment of the spine and all associated back problems
2. Pain management, the treatment of chronic pain caused by arthritis or rheumatism
3. Sports medicine
4. Stroke and other brain injuries
5. Injury to the spinal cord
Rehabilitation specialty:
Physical rehab services are a specialty which has been practiced for about 60 years. Today, there are about 8,000 doctors practicing rehab and physical medicine. Many of these doctors work in a hospital that offers specialty treatment for spine injuries. The hospital usually offers other specialties such as PTs, spine and orthopedic surgery, rehab specialists and more.
Many practicing physiatrists act as the central server for their patients care. They often work as part of a team with unique disciplines such as chiropractors, psychologists, etc.
The objective is full body treatment, not just maintaining a focus on the specific injury or medical condition. The objective is to reduce pain and improve the recovery and prevent a recurrence of the source of dysfunction.
The focus is on rehab:
A physiatrist is a master at rehab, the offering of physical rehab services is an integral part of the practice. Most are very skilled at providing a rehab service using physical therapy and exercises which are all designed to get the patient to the point where he can return to a normal life.
Physical rehab services are but one of the services and programs offered by Functional Pathways. Contact them today to find out how you can partner with a company.
