American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 3015 Allegro Park Lane SW Rochester, MN 55902-4139 Tel: (507) 282-1776 www.abpmr.org

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, also referred to as Rehabilitation Medicine, is the medical specialty concerned with evaluating, diagnosing, 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 maximum 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.

Subspecialties for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Certification in one of the following subspecialties requires additional training and examination.

• Hospice and Palliative Medicine
  These physicians have special knowledge and skills to prevent and relieve the suffering experienced by patients with life-limiting illnesses. This specialist works with an interdisciplinary hospice or palliative care team to maximize quality of life while addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of both patient and family.
  
  
  
• Neuromuscular Medicine
  A physician who specializes in Neuromuscular Medicine possesses specialized knowledge in the science, clinical evaluation, and management of these disorders. This encompasses the knowledge of the pathology, diagnosis and treatment of these disorders at a level that is significantly beyond the training and knowledge expected of a general Neurologist, Child Neurologist, or Physiatrist. Neuromuscular Medicine includes the evaluation and treatment of a wide range of diseases, including: motor neuron disease, myopathy/neuromuscular transmission disorders, peripheral neuropathy, cranial/spinal single and multiple mononeuropathies, polyneuropathy (infectious/inflammatory), inherited neuropathy, polyneuropathy (ischemia/physical agents/toxins) and polyneuropathy/systemic disease.
  
  
• Pain Medicine
  Pain Medicine is the medical discipline concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of the entire range of painful disorders. A physician who specializes in pain medicine 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. Due to the vast scope of the field, Pain Medicine is a multidisciplinary subspecialty and patient care needs may be coordinated with other specialists.
  
  
• Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
  A Physiatrist who specializes in Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine uses an interdisciplinary approach to prevent, diagnose, treat, and manage congenital and childhood-onset physical impairments. This includes related medical, physical, functional, psychosocial and vocational limitations or conditions. This specialist is trained in the identification of functional capabilities and selection of the best rehabilitation intervention strategies, with an understanding of the continuum of care throughout the course of disability.
  
  
• Spinal Cord Injury Medicine
  A physician who specializes in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine addresses the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of traumatic spinal cord injury and non-traumatic etiologies of spinal cord dysfunction by working in an interdisciplinary manner. Care is provided to patients of all ages on a lifelong basis and covers related medical, physical, psychological and vocational disabilities and complications.
  
  
• Sports Medicine
  A physician who specializes in Sports Medicine is responsible for continuous care related to the enhancement of health and fitness as well as the prevention of injury and illness. The specialist possesses knowledge and experience in the promotion of wellness and the prevention of injury from many areas of medicine such as exercise physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, psychology, physical rehabilitation, epidemiology, physical evaluation and injuries. It is the goal of a Sports Medicine specialist to improve the health care of the individual engaged in physical exercise.
  

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