Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM & R), Physiatry or Rehabilitation Medicine, is a medical specialty dedicated to restoring optimal function to people with injuries, physical impairments, or disabilities. A physician having completed training in this field is referred to as a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM & R) specialist or a Physiatrist (fizz ee a’ trists or fizz eye’uh trist). AOC’s specialists are nerve, muscle, bone, and brain experts who diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses that affect how you move.

AOC takes the time needed to accurately pinpoint the source of an ailment and looks at the whole patient and not just one symptom or condition. AOC can also treat a wide range of problems from sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries and he will design a treatment plan that can be carried out by the patients themselves or with the help of the AOC Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation team. This medical team might include other physicians and health professionals, such as neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and physical therapists. By providing an appropriate treatment plan, rehabilitation physicians help patients stay as active as possible at any age. Their broad medical expertise allows them to treat disabling conditions throughout a person’s lifetime.

For more information, visit The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation website.