What is Physiatry?
Physiatry, also known as Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, is a medical specialty that maximizes human performance through the prevention, diagnosis, and rehabilitation of functional impairment due to injury, disorder, or disease. The focus in physiatry is the patient’s independence, function, and quality of life.
What is a Physiatrist?
Physiatrists are physicians who have completed 4 years of medical school plus an additional 4 years of residency training in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. O'Dell also completed an addition year of fellowship training in Brain Injury and Trauma Rehabilitation. Other certified subspecialties include Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Pain Medicine, Neuromuscular Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury Medicine, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, and/or Sports Medicine, and practice in a variety of clinical settings, including inpatient and outpatient facilities.
What Conditions do Physiatrists Treat?
Physiatrists are specifically qualified to:
- Diagnose and treat pain or disability arising out of an illness, injury, or disease
- Optimize patient care by leading a team of medical professionals such as occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, neuropsycholgists, etc.
- Work with other physicians such as neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, primary care physicians, and many others
- Treat the whole person, not just the problem area
When Should You Visit a Physiatrist?
You can consider visiting a physiatrist for management of:
- Illness, injury or disease that is impairing mobility and function
- Pre or post-surgical rehabilitation
- Chronic pain from arthritis, back pain, or a repetitive stress injury
- Problems related to nerve damage or recovery from stroke, traumatic brain injury or other neurological conditions
- Obesity with difficulty exercising along with other weight-related health problems
- Diminished energy, lack of mobility, and issues related to menopause, childbirth, etc.
