What Is A Physiatrist?

Rohan Mathew

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What Is A Physiatrist?

What is a physiatrist? The answer to this question will be answered further in the article. In the medical field, there are specialists for every field. Same are physiatrists they are also known as PM&R physicians. They are also an important part of the medical treatment field. Let us understand and know everything about what is a physiatrist.

What Is A Physiatrist?

A physiatrist is the one doctor who is a specialist in treating medical conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves. They also treat issues related to bones, joints, nerves, ligaments, and muscles.  also known as PM&R that means Physical Medical And Rehabilitation Physician.

Physiatrist are doctors that have completed their medical training in the following and obtained certification in

  • Brain Injury Medicine
  • Spinal Cord Injury Medicine
  • Pain Medicine
  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine
  • Paediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
  • Neuromuscular Medicine
  • Sports Medicine.
  • Physiatrist Defi

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What Is A Physiatrist For?

A physiatrist or PM&R physicians are specialist and they treat the following:

  • They treat patients of any age
  • Their main focus is on treatment function
  • They have medical expertise that allows that to treat any condition that disables a person
  • They diagnose and treat the pain that occurs due to an injury or illness. The pain can be also due to some disability condition
  • They have to determine and lead the treatment or prevention
  • They also work with other physicians who are specialists in neurology, orthopedy, and many more
  • They have to lead a team of medical professionals that help treat patients. The medical team may include therapists and physical extenders
  • They not only treat the specific problem area they treat the complete person

Physiatrist Treatment

The treatment by a physiatrist treats a patient depends on various things like the type of injury or disability condition. Here are a few procedures and studies the physiatrist may use for the treatment

  • MG/Nerve Conduction Studies
  • Ultrasound-guided procedures
  • Injections of spine
  • Injections of joints
  • Nerve and Muscle Biopsy
  • Fluoroscopy guided procedures
  • Manual Medicine/Osteopathic Treatment
  • Prosthetics and Orthotics
  • Discography, Disc Decompression, and Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty
  • Nerve Stimulators, Blocks and Ablation procedures—Peripheral and Spinal
  • Disability/impairment assessment
  • Prolotherapy
  • Spasticity Treatment for example Phenol and Botulinum toxin injections
  • Complementary-alternative medicine (i.e. acupuncture, etc.)
  • Medicolegal consulting

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FAQ

Are Physiatrists Real Doctors?

Physiatrists are medical doctors that also educate in medical schools and get trained in special fields of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists not only diagnoses the illness they design treatments and medication for their patients

What Is The Difference Between An Orthopaedist And A Physiatrist?

An Orthopaedist and a physiatrist are a medical professional that nearly treat a similar illness. They both are specialists in musculoskeletal injuries. The orthopaedist are additionally specialists in surgeries also whereas a physiatrist can not perform any kind of surgery

Who Needs A Physiatrist?

A physiatrist is for the patients that are suffering from sports or spinal related injuries. They also treat and restore disability and  function loss that occurs due to injury or illness

What Is A Physiatry Assessment?

Physiatry assessments are medical specialists in physical medicines as well as rehabilitation. They treat patients that have function disabilities due to various reasons.

Should I See A Neurologist Or A Physiatrist?

While the neurologists are more concerned with the primary disease process in the nervous system, physiatrists are more concerned with the effects of the disease process on other body systems such as muscle and bone, and improving overall everyday functioning such as dexterity and mobility.

What Is The Difference Between A Physiotherapist And A Doctor?

The MBBS doctors are the experts in specific organs and the human anatomy, while the physiotherapists are limited to physical movement-related diseases in the patients. Physiotherapy is a separate health profession which is mainly focused on the prevention or improvement of movement anomalies in patients.

What Disorders Do Physiatrists Treat?

Examples: Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Guillain-Barré, Myasthenia Gravis, Parkinson’s Disease.

Why Would You See A Physiatrist?

How do you know when to see a physiatrist? You should seek treatment from a physiatrist if: You have experienced an injury that causes pain and/or impedes physical functioning. You have an illness, disability, or experienced treatment for an illness that has left you with limited physical functioning and pain.

Conclusion

If you have to define Physiatrist then Physiatrists are medical doctors that also educate in medical schools and get trained in special fields of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists not only diagnose the illness they design treatments and medication for their patients. This is the answer to what is a physiatrist? And what they do?