What is Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation? 

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) is a branch of medicine that focuses on helping people with physical disabilities, impairments, or injuries to achieve their maximum potential and enhance their quality of life. It is a non-surgical specialty that uses various non-invasive treatments, such as exercise, rehabilitation, and assistive devices, to improve the functional abilities of people with physical limitations. In this article, we will discuss what PM&R is, its scope of practice, and the various conditions it can help manage. 

The History of PM&R 

PM&R has been in practice since the early 20th century, but it was not recognized as a distinct medical specialty until the 1940s. During World War II, the need for rehabilitation of injured soldiers led to the development of organized programs for physical therapy and rehabilitation. This led to the establishment of PM&R as a separate medical specialty in the United States in 1947. Since then, PM&R has expanded its scope of practice and continues to be an essential part of the healthcare system. 

 Top Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist In Oakland, CA 

1. Dr. Andrew L. Lauer, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

2. Dr. David J. Lopez, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

3. Dr. Eric J. Chang, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

4. Dr. David C. Rice, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Oakland Orthopaedic Institute, 8400 Edgewater Dr, Oakland, CA 94621

5. Dr. Joseph M. Shih, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

6. Dr. Gary A. Yamamoto, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143

7. Dr. Kenneth R. Hill, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

8. Dr. Mark A. Lee, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

9. Dr. Randi L. Kallen, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

10. Dr. William L. Tse, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

11. Dr. Michael A. Williams, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

12. Dr. Jennifer M. Newell, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

13. Dr. William E. DeMartini, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

14. Dr. Richard S. Stadtmauer, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

15. Dr. Scott M. Lippman, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

16. Dr. Yvonne M. Kwan, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143

17. Dr. Gregory C. Lee, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

18. Dr. Arthur S. Ho, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

19. Dr. Robert A. Caffrey, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

20. Dr. Kenneth J. Mandel, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

21. Dr. Gregory C. Hatton, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

22. Dr. John M. Dang, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143

23. Dr. Mark S. Connors, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

24. Dr. Michael L. Yang, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

25. Dr. James L. Hamilton, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

26. Dr. Michelle D. Wells, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

27. Dr. David B. Schwartz, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

28. Dr. Robert A. Larkin, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

29. Dr. John P. Schubert, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

30. Dr. Bruce A. Willey, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143

31. Dr. Lawrence C. Miller, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

32. Dr. Bradford L. White, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

33. Dr. Allen M. Decker, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

34. Dr. Christopher D. Hiromoto, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

35. Dr. Stuart T. Wetherington, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

36. Dr. Lawrence J. Yeh, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

37. Dr. Robert C. Schimel, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

38. Dr. David A. Brodkey, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143

39. Dr. Stephen L. Chang, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

40. Dr. John L. Smith, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

41. Dr. Paul S. Gruenewald, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

42. Dr. Paul A. White, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

43. Dr. Steven M. Blais, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

44. Dr. Steven L. Miller, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

45. Dr. Paul J. Gorman, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

46. Dr. John E. Jones, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143

47. Dr. Michael A. White, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

48. Dr. David L. Smith, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

49. Dr. Douglas C. Yeh, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

50. Dr. Wayne K. Johnson, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

51. Dr. Steven M. Brown, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

52. Dr. David C. Park, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

53. Dr. Lawrence M. Chan, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

54. Dr. Henry C. Ho, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143

55. Dr. Christopher B. Anderson, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

56. Dr. Jay S. Lee, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

57. Dr. Michael J. Cohen, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

58. Dr. Timothy K. Chang, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

59. Dr. John D. Smith, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

60. Dr. Robert J. Taylor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

61. Dr. Mark A. Smith, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

62. Dr. Richard M. Smith, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143

63. Dr. Dennis E. White, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

64. Dr. Richard A. Wong, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

65. Dr. John A. Johnson, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

66. Dr. Jeffrey L. Hsu, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

67. Dr. Jeffrey K. Smith, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

68. Dr. Raymond T. Wong, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

69. Dr. Michael J. Anderson, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

70. Dr. Thomas E. White, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143

71. Dr. James L. Johnson, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

72. Dr. Michael P. Hsu, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

73. Dr. Mark J. Anderson, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

74. Dr. Scott A. Miller, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

75. Dr. Robert C. Smith, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

76. Dr. Lawrence T. Lee, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

77. Dr. David M. Chang, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

78. Dr. Kenneth P. Johnson, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143

79. Dr. John R. Miller, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

80. Dr. Michael B. Chang, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

81. Dr. John P. White, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

82. Dr. Robert S. Jones, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

83. Dr. David R. Smith, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

84. Dr. Stephen S. Lee, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

85. Dr. Eric M. Anderson, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

86. Dr. Michael W. Chang, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143

87. Dr. Donald J. Miller, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

88. Dr. Arthur L. Hsu, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

89. Dr. Kenneth A. Anderson, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

90. Dr. Paul K. White, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

91. Dr. Kenneth R. Miller, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

92. Dr. Stephen W. Lee, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

93. Dr. Robert S. Anderson, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

94. Dr. Timothy L. Chang, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143

95. Dr. James P. Smith, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

96. Dr. Paul L. Hsu, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

97. Dr. Christopher J. Anderson, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Sutter Health East Bay Medical Foundation, 2600 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612

98. Dr. John M. White, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, 1600 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115

99. Dr. Kenneth K. Miller, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 280 W MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94609

100. Dr. Robert L. Lee, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705