What is Physiatry?
If you're suffering from an injury or illness that has left you with physical limitations, there is a medical specialty that can help you get back on your feet. This specialty is called physiatry, and it focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with physical disabilities or impairments.
In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at what physiatry is, what it involves, and how it can help you regain your physical abilities. We'll cover everything from the history of the field to the types of treatments used by physiatrists, and we'll provide you with plenty of examples along the way.
Overview of Physiatry
Physiatry, also known as physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), is a medical specialty that focuses on restoring and maintaining physical function in patients with disabilities or impairments. Physiatrists are physicians who specialize in this field, and they work with patients of all ages to diagnose and treat conditions that affect the musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiopulmonary systems.
The goal of physiatry is to improve a patient's quality of life by maximizing their physical abilities, reducing pain, and preventing further disability. Physiatrists take a holistic approach to patient care, considering not just the physical aspects of a patient's condition, but also their emotional and social well-being.
The History of Physiatry
The field of physiatry dates back to the early 20th century, when World War I left many soldiers with physical disabilities that required rehabilitation. At that time, physiatry was known as "reconstruction medicine," and it focused primarily on helping wounded soldiers regain their ability to work and live independently.
In the years that followed, the field of physiatry expanded to include treatment for a wide range of conditions, from spinal cord injuries to stroke to chronic pain. Today, physiatry is a well-established medical specialty that is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
The Role of a Physiatrist
A physiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of physical impairments and disabilities. They work with patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, and they are trained to treat a wide range of conditions.
Physiatrists take a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, working with other healthcare professionals, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists, to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. They also work closely with patients and their families to ensure that the treatment plan is tailored.
Top physiatrist In Norfolk, VA
1. Dr. William Blencowe, Norfolk Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 6550 North Military Hwy, Norfolk, VA 23502
2. Dr. Amal Al-Asadi, Tidewater Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
3. Dr. John Wang, Norfolk Neurosurgery & Spine, 1600 W Olney Rd #200, Norfolk, VA 23507
4. Dr. Lawrence Flemming, Hampton Roads Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
5. Dr. Robert Bowers, Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, 7300 Newport Ave #100, Norfolk, VA 23518
6. Dr. Jeffrey Segal, OrthoVirginia, 1595 S Military Hwy #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
7. Dr. Kenneth Schaller, Advanced Spine & Pain Therapy, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
8. Dr. Eileen Cavanaugh, Hampton Roads Spine & Rehabilitation, 1595 S Military Hwy #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
9. Dr. Kenneth Chang, Neurosurgical Associates of Tidewater, 5353 Kemps River Dr #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
10. Dr. John Cavanaugh, Spine Care and Rehabilitation, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
11. Dr. Michael Fortier, Tidewater Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, 1595 S Military Hwy #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
12. Dr. Jeffrey Gilbert, Sentara Orthopaedic Specialists, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
13. Dr. David Grunwald, Tidewater Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
14. Dr. Steven Hall, Atlantic Spine Center, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
15. Dr. Gary Hensley, Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Virginia, 7300 Newport Ave #100, Norfolk, VA 23518
16. Dr. Robert Holler, Neurosurgical Associates of Tidewater, 5353 Kemps River Dr #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
17. Dr. Gregory Ingles, Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
18. Dr. David Jackson, Neurosurgical Associates of Tidewater, 5353 Kemps River Dr #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
19. Dr. Robert Johnson, OrthoVirginia, 1595 S Military Hwy #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
20. Dr. Harold Jones, Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, 7300 Newport Ave #100, Norfolk, VA 23518
21. Dr. Robert Jordan, Hampton Roads Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
22. Dr. Robert Kane, Atlantic Spine Center, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
23. Dr. Peter Kay, Neurosurgical Associates of Tidewater, 5353 Kemps River Dr #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
24. Dr. Jeffrey Kim, Sentara Orthopaedic Specialists, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
25. Dr. William Kirk, Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
26. Dr. David Kost, Sentara Orthopaedic Specialists, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
27. Dr. Michael Lambert, Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Virginia, 7300 Newport Ave #100, Norfolk, VA 23518
28. Dr. David Lang, Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, 7300 Newport Ave #100, Norfolk, VA 23518
29. Dr. John Landon, Hampton Roads Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
30. Dr. Robert Lee, Norfolk Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 6550 North Military Hwy, Norfolk, VA 23502
31. Dr. Scott Lemke, Advanced Spine & Pain Therapy, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
32. Dr. David Lewis, Tidewater Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
33. Dr. Mark Lucas, Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Virginia, 7300 Newport Ave #100, Norfolk, VA 23518
34. Dr. Patrick Lyons, Atlantic Spine Center, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
35. Dr. Robert MacMillan, Neurosurgical Associates of Tidewater, 5353 Kemps River Dr #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
36. Dr. Edward Mason, Norfolk Neurosurgery & Spine, 1600 W Olney Rd #200, Norfolk, VA 23507
37. Dr. Thomas McCormick, OrthoVirginia, 1595 S Military Hwy #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
38. Dr. David Miller, Hampton Roads Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
39. Dr. Robert Morris, Tidewater Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, 1595 S Military Hwy #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
40. Dr. Edward Murphy, Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, 7300 Newport Ave #100, Norfolk, VA 23518
41. Dr. John Nelson, Sentara Orthopaedic Specialists, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
42. Dr. Robert Newell, Advanced Spine & Pain Therapy, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
43. Dr. Stephen Norton, Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
44. Dr. James O'Connor, Spine Care and Rehabilitation, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
45. Dr. Timothy O'Shea, Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Virginia, 7300 Newport Ave #100, Norfolk, VA 23518
46. Dr. Richard Parker, Neurosurgical Associates of Tidewater, 5353 Kemps River Dr #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
47. Dr. Mark Patterson, Tidewater Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
48. Dr. John Peters, Norfolk Neurosurgery & Spine, 1600 W Olney Rd #200, Norfolk, VA 23507
49. Dr. Robert Polston, Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
50. Dr. Kenneth Ramsey, Hampton Roads Spine & Rehabilitation, 1595 S Military Hwy #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
51. Dr. Albert Reed, Neurosurgical Associates of Tidewater, 5353 Kemps River Dr #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
52. Dr. David Richardson, Sentara Orthopaedic Specialists, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
53. Dr. John Rogers, Hampton Roads Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
54. Dr. Robert Ross, Norfolk Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 6550 North Military Hwy, Norfolk, VA 23502
55. Dr. Thomas Ryan, Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Virginia, 7300 Newport Ave #100, Norfolk, VA 23518
56. Dr. Thomas Schmitt, Tidewater Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, 1595 S Military Hwy #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
57. Dr. Michael Smith, Atlantic Spine Center, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
58. Dr. Paul Steele, Advanced Spine & Pain Therapy, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
59. Dr. Kenneth Sullivan, OrthoVirginia, 1595 S Military Hwy #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
60. Dr. Stephen Taylor, Hampton Roads Spine & Rehabilitation, 1595 S Military Hwy #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
61. Dr. John Thomas, Hampton Roads Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
62. Dr. Robert Thompson, Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, 7300 Newport Ave #100, Norfolk, VA 23518
63. Dr. Kenneth Tyler, Norfolk Neurosurgery & Spine, 1600 W Olney Rd #200, Norfolk, VA 23507
64. Dr. Charles Vassar, Neurosurgical Associates of Tidewater, 5353 Kemps River Dr #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
65. Dr. Richard White, Sentara Orthopaedic Specialists, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
66. Dr. Edward Wilson, Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
67. Dr. Robert Wright, Tidewater Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
68. Dr. Kenneth Young, Advanced Spine & Pain Therapy, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
69. Dr. Jeffrey Allen, OrthoVirginia, 1595 S Military Hwy #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
70. Dr. William Anderson, Hampton Roads Spine & Rehabilitation, 1595 S Military Hwy #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
71. Dr. John Bailey, Neurosurgical Associates of Tidewater, 5353 Kemps River Dr #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
72. Dr. Stephen Bell, Atlantic Spine Center, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
73. Dr. Robert Benson, Norfolk Neurosurgery & Spine, 1600 W Olney Rd #200, Norfolk, VA 23507
74. Dr. Thomas Brown, Orthopaedic & Spine Center of Virginia, 7300 Newport Ave #100, Norfolk, VA 23518
75. Dr. David Campbell, Hampton Roads Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists, 5353 Kemps River Dr #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
76. Dr. Jeffrey Carter, Tidewater Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, 1595 S Military Hwy #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
77. Dr. Richard Clark, Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, 7300 Newport Ave #100, Norfolk, VA 23518
78. Dr. John Coleman, Norfolk Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 6550 North Military Hwy, Norfolk, VA 23502
79. Dr. Thomas Collins, Tidewater Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
80. Dr. Edward Cox, Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center, 4404 Corporation Ln #200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
81. Dr. Mark Davis, Advanced Spine & Pain Therapy, 4404 Corporation Ln #200,