What is a Physiatrist?

A physiatrist (fizz ee at' trist) is a physician specializing in physical medicine and
rehabilitation. Physiatrists see patients in all age groups and treat problems that touch
upon all the major systems in the body. They treat a wide range of problems, from
sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries, with the focus on restoring function to people.

Physiatry training includes four years of graduate medical education and four additional years  of postdoctoral residency training. One residency year is spent developing fundamental clinical skills, with three additional years of training in the full scope of the specialty.

There are 80 accredited residency programs in  physical medicine and rehabilitation in the United States. Many physiatrists choose to  pursue additional advanced degrees (MS, PhD) or complete fellowship training in a specific area of the specialty such as musculoskeletal rehabilitation, pediatrics, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord  injury, and sports medicine.

To become board-certified in physical medicine  and rehabilitation, physiatrists are required to pass both a written and oral examination administered by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPM&R).  The ABPM&R also has agreements with each of the boards of pediatrics, internal  medicine, and neurology to allow special training programs leading to certification in  both specialties.

Physiatrists treat acute and chronic pain and  musculoskeletal disorders. They may see a person who lifts a heavy object at work and  experiences back pain, a basketball player who sprains an ankle and needs rehabilitation  to play again, or a knitter who has carpal tunnel syndrome. Physiatrists' patients include  people with arthritis, tendonitis, any kind of back pain, and work- or sports-related  injuries.

 Physiatrists also treat serious disorders of the  musculoskeletal system that result in severe functional limitations, such as a baby with a birth defect, a victim of a serious car accident, or an elderly person with a  broken hip. Physiatrists coordinate the long-term rehabilitation process for patients with  spinal cord injuries, cancer, stroke or other neurological disorders, brain injuries,  amputations, and multiple sclerosis.