What is a Physiatrist?

A physiatrist, pronounced fizz ee at' trist, is a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

The field of physical medicine and rehabilitation began in the 1930's to address musculoskeletal and neurological problems, but broadened its scope considerably after World War II. As thousands of veterans came back home with severe disabilities, the task of helping to restore them to productive lives became a new direction for the field. The Advisory Board of Medical Specialties granted PM&R its approval as a specialty of medicine in 1947.

Physiatrists are physicians who treat a wide range of problems from sore muscles to spinal cord injuries. The focus of the specialty is on restoring function.

Physiatrists treat acute and chronic pain and musculoskeletal disorders. The physiatrist's diagnostic tools are the same as those used by other physicians, with the addition of special techniques in electrodiagnostic medicine like electromyography, nerve conduction studies and somatosensory evoked potentials. These techniques help the physiatrist to diagnose conditions that cause pain, weakness and numbness.

Physiatrists offer a broad spectrum of medical services. They do not perform surgery. Physiatrists may prescribe drugs or assistive devices, such as braces or artificial limbs. They also use diverse therapies such as heat and cold, electrotherapies, massage, biofeedback, traction, and therapeutic exercise.

A physiatrist's goal is to restore maximum function to their patients, usually without surgery. The physiatrist also teaches the patient how to maintain the level of returned function and how to prevent future injury.

The physiatrist is interested in all areas of rehabilitation, social, vocational and medical.