In the recent years, there’s been a dramatic evolution in healthcare, allowing patients to survive medical conditions that would have, at one time, been physically devastating.
With a rapid influx of new information has come an uprising of new medical fields, one of the most prominent of these is the field of Physiatry.
What is Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation?
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation refers to the group of Physiatrists and their extended team that works with patients to bring them back to full mobility.
There are many conditions that can affect a person’s functional health such as:
- chronic pain
- arthritis
- stroke
- muscular dystrophy
- sensory disorders
- speech disorders
- limb amputation, and
- spinal cord or brain injury.
Physical medicine can help patients recover from these and other conditions that interrupt the body’s ability to function. By using physical methods as opposed to surgical methods, Physiatrists are able to treat conditions through non-invasive methods to restore mobility and pain-free living.
WWMG’s department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation also includes sports medicine and injury prevention.
What is a Physiatrist?
Physiatrists are highly trained medical professionals who focus on whole body patient treatment for the musculoskeletal system and its disorders. They are nerve, muscle, and bone experts, and their training covers a broad range, giving them a full understanding of the body and a detailed knowledge about how each system, organ, and tissue interacts.
The goal of a Physiatrist is to bring patients back to full mobility and body function without surgery, and with minimal use of narcotics.
How does a Physiatrist work?
Physiatrists may work alone, but they often act as consultants to physicians and/or as a leader to a team of physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, care managers, and other medical professionals to implement a holistic plan for rehabilitation.
When a Physiatrist works with a patient, they first strive to identify the source of pain or dysfunction. Then, they design a customized treatment plan for the patient’s rehabilitation.
A treatment plan may be as simple as exercises that can be carried out by the patient alone, or as collaborative as a plan that requires the help of an extended rehabilitation team.
What a Physiatrist focuses on
Physiatrists focus on functional wellness, meaning they take a holistic approach to the patient’s natural ability to heal, with the aim of returning a patient to vitality in their daily activities.
In order to do so, Physiatrists first take patients through a detailed list of questions to help them fully understand the individual’s current needs and limitations before designing a personalized plan for rehabilitation.
For example, a professional athlete may want to restore full use of an injured limb or joint to compete at a high level without re-injury. Whereas, an older adult may simply want to be able to climb the stairs without pain.
Depending on the needs of the individual patient, a physiatrist may do any or all of the following during an appointment:
- Explain the importance and role of physical therapy in the treatment plan
- Design a physical therapy regimen and instruct patients on proper implementation
- Counsel patients on health and nutrition
- Prescribe, educate, and advise on medications and therapies
- Give injections to relieve pain and restore function
- Refer or enlist the support of other medical professionals, including psychosocial professionals
For a more detailed description of physiatrists and the overall role they play in the medical field, read our previous post, What Is A Physiatrist And What Conditions Can They Treat?
Physical Medicine & Rehab Services at WWMG
The Physiatry department at WWMG takes care to spend quality time with patients, building relationships and treatment plans to best suit the needs of each individual person.
By taking extra care in the treatment design process, our Physiatrist is able to provide patients with individualized, quality care to keep patients active long-term.
Our Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation team is located in our Orthopedic, Sports, Spine & Hand Center at our Gateway Center in Everett. Our lead physiatrist is Dr. Catherine Yee, who is Board-Certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Yee works with patients with the goal of getting patients back to independence and the lifestyle they enjoy.
Request an appointment today.