Book the best Physiatrists for your needs

What is a physiatrist?

Physiatrists are MDs who diagnose and treat temporary or permanent physical impairment. They manage conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. They work in hospitals, rehab centers, and private practices.

Is a physiatrist the same as a doctor that specializes in muscles and nerves?

Physiatrists are often described as doctors specializing in muscles and nerves, since they treat the whole musculoskeletal and nervous system. They are also called physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) doctors.

When to see a physiatrist?

Consider seeing a physiatrist:

• If you have persistent musculoskeletal pain.
• After a sports injury.
• During recovery from a major health event or surgery.
• When experiencing unexplained nerve-related symptoms.
• To manage arthritis or other degenerative conditions with non-surgical solutions.
• If you have general mobility issues limiting your everyday movement and function.

If these symptoms sound familiar, book a physiatrist appointment near you on Zocdoc to get personalized, non-surgical care that helps restore movement and quality of life.

What are the most common conditions treated by physiatrists?

Physiatrists address everything from common aches and pains to complex neurological disorders and musculoskeletal conditions:

Chronic pain

• Low back and neck pain: Originating from the spine's discs, joints, muscles, or nerves.
• Arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis): Joint inflammation and degeneration.
• Fibromyalgia: A lifelong condition that causes widespread pain and fatigue.
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS): A debilitating chronic pain condition often affecting a limb after an injury.

Musculoskeletal injuries

• Tendonitis: Inflammation of a tendon.
• Rotator cuff injuries: Damage to the shoulder's tendons.
• Plantar fasciitis (heel pain): Caused by the foot's connective tissue inflammation.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: Wrist nerve compression, causing hand numbness and weakness.
• Overuse injuries: Injuries from repetitive stress on muscles, tendons, or bones.

Neurological conditions

• Stroke: A sudden attack of brain dysfunction caused by blood flow interruption to a part of the brain.
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): Physical impairments followed by a head injury.
• Spinal cord injuries: Spinal cord damage.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS): Causes symptoms like weakness, spasticity, and fatigue.
• Peripheral neuropathy: Nerve damage entailing numbness and pain in the hands and feet.

Sports medicine

• Stress fractures: Bone cracks from overuse.
• ACL or MCL injuries: Ligament tears in the knee.

Post-surgical rehabilitation

• Joint replacements: Rehabilitating strength and mobility after hip, knee, or shoulder replacement surgery. 
• Spine surgeries: Recovery and return to activity after spine operations.
• ACL repairs: Restoring stability and function to the knee.

Work-related injuries

• Repetitive strain injuries: Conditions caused by repeated physical tasks.
• Lifting-related back injuries: Muscle strains or disc injuries from improper lifting techniques.

Cancer rehabilitation: Hospital rehab, outpatient, long-term, and acute care.

What does a physiatrist do?

Physiatrists are trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation and see children and adults of all ages. They resolve the root cause of pain and physical impairment, and create a comprehensive treatment plan.

Their role specifically involves:

• Providing physical medicine for a wide range of musculoskeletal and nervous system conditions.
• Creating therapy and rehabilitation programs.
• Providing lifetime care and management for specific chronic conditions.
• Coordinating with therapists, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician extenders, to optimize patient care.
• Working with other physicians, including primary care physicians, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, etc.
• Utilizing non-surgical treatments.
• Focusing on overall health, not just the concern.
• Patient education and counseling.
• Providing referrals when required.

What types of treatments and procedures do physiatrists provide?

Physiatrists offer personalized treatment plans based on patients' unique needs and goals. They may use different approaches, including:

Therapies

• Physical therapy.
• Occupational therapy.
• Speech therapy.
• Hydrotherapy.
• Osteopathic manipulation treatment (OMT).

Injections

• Trigger point injections.
• Injections to ease joint pain.
• Epidural steroid injections (ESIs).
• Botulinum toxin injections.

Procedures

• Functional electrical stimulation (FES).
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
• Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty.
• Integrative medicine techniques.

Things you use in your daily life

• Prosthetics and orthotics.
• Assistive devices (like wheelchairs and walkers).
• Lifestyle changes.
• Medications.

How do I choose the best physiatrist?

To choose the best physiatrist, confirm if they specialize and have experience in your condition, accept your insurance, have convenient office locations and hours, and have positive patient reviews. For a quick way to find and book a top-rated physiatrist nearby, you can use Zocdoc to filter by these criteria.

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.