The job of a Physiatrist is to treat any disability resulting from disease or injury involving any organ system. The focus is not on one part of the body, but instead on the development of a comprehensive program for putting the pieces of a person''s life back together – medically, socially, emotionally, and vocationally – after injury or disease. Physiatrist are trained to manage problems that span the entire spectrum, from the most complicated multiple trauma to injury prevention for athletes.
EMG and Nerve conduction studies - testing for symptoms of numbness, tingling, weakness, muscle wasting, and sciatica. Common conditions would be carpal tunnel, ulnar neuropathy, wrist drop, tarsal tunnel, piriformis syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathies, ALS, multiple sclerosis, myopathies, and other neuromuscular conditions.
Sport and Occupational Medicine Consultations- Sports, work and motor vehicle accident injuries. Physiatrists are experts in preventing, diagnosing, and treating injuries. The ultimate goal is maximizing a patient’s functional ability after an injury. Guiding return to sport, work, or activity as usual is what Physiatrists do.
Injections – Trigger point injections and nerve blocks. Botox or Botulinum toxin injections for headaches, migraines, thoracic outlet syndrome and piriformis syndrome and other pain conditions. Prolotherapy for chronic tendinopathies. Plasma rich protein injections or PRP.
Exercise Prescription – for with people with and without disabilities. As a Physiatrist and Sports medicine specialist – Physiatrist’s have specific training and expertise in the prescription of a tailored exercise program. This may be as simple as an independent home based exercise, or as complex as a supervised and work to sport or work program working with physiotherapists and strength and conditioning coaches. Common conditions are – obesity, diabetes, post heart attack, post stroke, hip and knee arthritis.
Pain Management – Customized pain management for conditions such as: neuropathic pain, neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, foot and ankle pain, thoracic outlet, headaches, migraines, complex regional pain or RSD, and muscle pains such as myofascial pain syndrome. Your treatment plan may involve exercise, physical modalities, medications, injections or appropriate referral for surgery.
Independent Medicolegal Examinations (IME’s)– Physiatrist are specifically trained to diagnosis and then rehabilitate patients with various impairments and disabilities. The process of rehabilitation is keyed on maximizing an individuals functional capabilities and reducing a persons vocational, domestic and recreational restrictions. Giving a patient an accurate prognosis and helping educate patients and families about what to expect with a given diagnosis is a key part of a Physiatrist skill set. Determining return to work, employability and cost of future care are common questions Physiatrists have to deal with for patients and families.
