Overview of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMandR)

Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) is also called physiatry. It's a medical area that helps a person function when they are disabled due to a health problem or injury.

Rehab helps the whole person. It looks at physical, emotional, health, work, and social needs. A rehab doctor is called a physiatrist.

Rehabilitation (rehab) helps a person reach the best level of function, independence, and quality of life possible. Rehab does not reverse the damage caused by disease or injury. But it helps a person be at their best in function and well-being.

Rehab medicine is designed to meet each person's needs. So each program is different. In general, rehab programs:

• Treat the disease and prevent complications.
• Treat the disability and improve function.
• Provide adaptive tools and change the environment.
• Help the person and their family adapt to lifestyle changes.

The success of rehab depends on many things, including:

• The type of health problem or injury and how severe it is.
• The type and degree of disability.
• The person's overall health.
• Family support.

Areas covered in rehab programs may include:

Rehab is needed when a disease and injury cause an impairment:

• An impairment is a loss of normal function of part of the body, such as paralysis of a leg.
• Disability occurs when a person can't do an activity in a normal way due to an impairment, such as not being able to walk.
• A handicap occurs when there are limits that prevent a person with a disability from doing their normal roles, such as not being able to work. A handicap refers to a barrier that may be imposed by society, the environment, or the person's own attitude.

Most people with disabilities are not considered handicapped. They go to school, work, perform family duties, and interact with society fully and capably.