208100000X - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Updated on July 01, 2023. Version 23.1

Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also referred to as rehabilitation medicine, is the medical specialty concerned with diagnosing, evaluating, and treating patients with physical disabilities. These disabilities may arise from conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system such as neck and back pain, sports injuries, or other painful conditions affecting the limbs, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Alternatively, the disabilities may result from neurological trauma or disease such as spinal cord injury, head injury or stroke. A physician certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation is often called a physiatrist. The primary goal of the physiatrist is to achieve maximal restoration of physical, psychological, social and vocational function through comprehensive rehabilitation. Pain management is often an important part of the role of the physiatrist. For diagnosis and evaluation, a physiatrist may include the techniques of electromyography to supplement the standard history, physical, x-ray and laboratory examinations. The physiatrist has expertise in the appropriate use of therapeutic exercise, prosthetics (artificial limbs), orthotics and mechanical and electrical devices.

Source: American Board of Medical Specialties, 2007. www.abms.org [7/1/2007: definition added, source added; 7/1/2011: modified source]

Additional Resources: American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2007. http://www.abpmr.org/. American Osteopathic Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2007. http://www.osteopathic.org/certification

Board certification for Medical Doctors (MDs) is provided by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Board certification for Doctors of Osteopathy (DOs) is provided by the American Osteopathic Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

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