What Is Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation?

Physicians who specialize in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (physiatrists) are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of patients in three major categories of medical care.

• Diagnosis and treatment of acute musculoskeletal pain syndromes - These range from industrial or sports injuries to degenerative conditions as common as arthritis or low back pain.
• Rehabilitation of patients with severe impairments - The physiatrist leads a team of rehabilitation professionals which includes physical therapists, occupational therapists, recreational therapists, rehabilitation nurses, psychologists, social workers, speech-language pathologists, and others. The physiatrist and rehab team work with amputations, multiple trauma, sports injuries, spinal cord injuries, other back problems, cancer, burns, as well as other problems.
• Electrodiagnostic medicine - The physiatrist is specially trained in electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, and somatosensory evoked potentials.

The Tulane University School of Medicine Department of Orthopaedics now has a division of Physical Medicine & Rehabiliation (PM&R). The chief is Dr. Greg Stewart. The Department is excited about the increased continuum of patient care that PM&R offers, since many orthopaedic patients are in need of the expertise of a rehab team! For further information, please contact Dr. Stewart.