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Patients benefit from working with a progressive Orthopedic practice that understands the importance of having multidisciplinary providers who collaborate on comprehensive patient care. Along with having various sub-specialties amongst Orthopedic surgeons, it’s important to include different medical specialties including Physiatrists.
A Physiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, commonly referred to as PM&R. Their training is focused on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal and neurological conditions that limit function, impede quality of life, or result in acute or chronic pain due to injury, disease and physical disorders. Physiatrists can choose to specialize in a variety of settings, both inpatient and outpatient, and diagnose and treat a whole range of conditions. There are Physiatrists that specialize in neurological disorders such as stroke or spinal cord injuries as well as those who specialize in pediatric conditions and musculoskeletal conditions. In an Orthopedic group, Physiatrists frequently specialize in non-surgical treatment of spine and other painful conditions as well as helping with diagnostic procedures such as nerve and muscle tests (NCS/EMG) and specialized diagnostic injections that are frequently image guided.
Physiatrists utilize several diagnostic tools to determine the source of a medical complaint, and how best to treat it. Depending on results, the patient may need to be referred by the Physiatrist to an Orthopedic doctor or Rheumatologist who specializes in the affected body part. Patients may also be referred to Physical Therapy, or prescribed medication, injections or other non-surgical treatment options.
One of their most powerful diagnostic tools is Nerve Conduction Study/Electromyography or NCS/EMG testing. Typically, a patient will undergo EMG testing if they are experiencing unexplained nerve related symptoms such as numbness, tingling, burning, pain or weakness. The goal in testing is to isolate the source of the symptoms in order to successfully diagnose and treat. Oftentimes this testing monitors nerve function in the arms and legs but is not limited to those areas.
NCS/EMG testing is a two-part process. The first part, Nerve Conduction Study (NCS), uses surface electrodes and electric shocks to measure how the nerves are conducting the signals. The second part, Electromyography (EMG), uses a small pin or needle electrode that samples different muscles to see how they are functioning. These two tests generate data that gives the Physiatrist the ability to make a diagnosis immediately following the exam. The Physiatrist will frequently make recommendations in addition to conveying the test results to the referring provider after the test. A close working relationship between the ordering surgeon and the Physiatrist makes an Orthopedic practice an ideal place to get this test performed.
Patients benefit from seeing a Physiatrist thanks to their extensive training and integrated approach to offering immediate and long-term healthcare solutions. Their training allows them to successfully treat a wide range of medical conditions while collaborating with other physicians and therapists to ensure a comprehensive approach to total patient care.
