About Physical Medicine

Physical Medicine is a relatively new medical specialty. Started at Mayo Clinic in the late 1930’s the role of a Doctor of Physical Medicine was to assure seriously injured returning World War II veterans received appropriate medical and psychological care. To properly coordinate care of the severely injured they were required to be astute diagnosticians with a thorough understanding of nervous, muscular, psychological and skeletal systems. Doctors (either M.D.s or D.O.s) specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) are often referred to as physiatrists.

Today, PM&R Doctors care for and direct the care of patients suffering from muscle, bone or joint injuries. Visiting a Doctor of Physical Medicine should be your first choice when suffering a musculoskeletal type injury because unlike most orthopedists, who are surgeons, doctors specializing in PM&R attempt to keep patients out of surgery. And unlike doctors of internal medicine or family practice they specialize in disorders of your body’s framework and movement functions.

Handling everything from acute athletic or non-athletic injuries to chronic long-term disabilities, their goal is to administer care personally or supervise their patients care after directing them to the appropriate providers. Doctors specializing in PM&R use all the tools of Western Medicine such as diagnostic testing, prescription medications and procedures such as corticosteroid injections.  Additionally they employ resources outside of conventional medicine commonly working closely with physical therapists and often occupational therapists, acupuncturists, nutritionists, chiropractors and behavioral counselors.

COMMON CONDITIONS SEEN IN PHYSICAL MEDICINE