Meaning of the Terms "Physical Medicine and Rehab"

For those who suffer from physical impairments or disabilities, physical medicine and rehabilitation (or physiatry) is the medical specialty that tries to improve and restore their ability to function and their quality of life. Spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, strokes, and discomfort or impairment caused by damage to muscles, ligaments, or nerves are all examples of this. Physiatrists are physicians who have completed specialised training in this area.

History

Both physical medicine and rehabilitation medicine emerged independently throughout the first part of the 20th century, but in practise both addressed the same patient population: those with crippling injuries. It was Frank H. Krusen, a pioneer of physical medicine at Temple University and Mayo Clinic who developed the term "physiatry" in 1938, who emphasised the use of physical agents such as hydrotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen. It was during the two World Wars that rehabilitation medicine came to prominence. An internal medicine physician from Missouri named Howard A. Rusk served in the military during World War II and became an early pioneer in rehabilitation medicine. When Bernard Baruch commissioned the Baruch Committee in 1944, it defined the speciality as a blend of these two professions and created the groundwork for its adoption as an official medical specialty. Funds for training and research initiatives were also distributed by the committee. In 1947, the American Board of Medical Specialties formed an independent Board of Physical Medicine, which became known as physical medicine and rehabilitation in the United States. The speciality was renamed Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 1949 at the suggestion of Dr. Rusk and others following the addition of rehabilitation medicine.

Treatment

Disablement or disease processes that have no known cure create severe constraints on a person's ability to operate normally. Physical medicine and rehabilitation treatments aim to assist them do this as best they can within those limitations. There is a greater emphasis on optimising the quality of life for those who are unable to return to their pre-morbid level of function. Patients with long-term diseases are cared for by a multidisciplinary team. Specialists in rehabilitation serve as facilitators, team leaders, and medical experts for rehabilitation, which is delivered by rehabilitation specialists.

Clinical care teams employ goal setting as a means of providing direction to the rehabilitation team and the person being treated for an acquired disability. It's not apparent if goal setting in this context reduces or increases re-hospitalization or death, but it appears to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.

Medical education and practical experience are both necessary for a physiatrist to be successful in treating his or her patients. There are many problems to consider, such as what sort of wheelchair would best suit the patient, what type of prosthetic would best meet the patient's needs, and whether or not their current house layout can handle their disability.

Training

Physical medicine and rehabilitation residency programme in the United States is four years long, including an intern year of general medical study. A total of 83 medical schools in 28 states are certified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

All residents are required to learn the same core skills, regardless of the training programme they are enrolled in. Patients with a wide range of rehabilitation needs can be cared for in the inpatient setting, including those with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, strokes and orthopaedic injuries, as well as those with cerebral palsy, burns, and other severe injuries. Outpatient training for the residents also helps them understand the long-term effects of their inpatient stay. Resident doctors learn how to administer a variety of diagnostic tests, including electromyography, nerve conduction investigations, and injections into joints and trigger points.

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