While many injuries and diseases to the musculoskeletal system involve a surgical solution, at some point, the vast majority of patients end up consulting a physiatrist, a physician who specializes in orthopedic rehabilitation. From non-operative care to post-operative treatment, physiatry has grown tremendously as a specialty over the past decade. The orthopedic physiatrists at Beth Israel Medical Center are leaders in their field, developing, testing and implementing rehabilitative treatments as well as creating new and better ways for individuals to train their bodies.

The physiatrist's role
Physiatrists evaluate and treat conditions from sore muscles and joints to spinal cord injuries. Whether as the initial physician or as a provider of pre- and/or post-operative care, the physiatrist is typically the coordinator of "conservative care."

Working with an integrated team of physical and occupational therapists along with exercise trainers who guide patients through exercise programs, the physiatrist prescribes the plan of action that takes place in the gymnasium or at home. Follow-up with the patient is continued throughout rehabilitation to fine-tune the care plan and evaluate progress.

Another key expertise a physiatrist brings to the care of the musculoskeletal system is that of a pain management specialist. Using a range of sophisticated medications, injections and nerve blocks (sometimes guided by imaging techniques), the physiatrist can relieve a wide variety of pain throughout the body. These same techniques can also aid in diagnosing conditions, such as using nerve blocks to specifically locate the site and level of pain within a generalized area.

The scope and depth of the care rendered by our Orthopedic Physiatrists result in a cohesive, complete strategy to get patients of all ages and conditions back to an acceptable level of functioning, helping to reduce or avoid hospital stays.

Training for strength and performance
It's not just the patient who is hurting or struggling with a disease's physical limitation that makes an appointment with an orthopedic physiatrist at Beth Israel. Many athletes turn to this specialty to increase their strength and maximize their performance.

Sometimes the heart of athletic training programs revolves around accommodating past injuries and preventing future ones. For instance, a runner who is found to have flat feet might have shoe orthotics developed along with special exercises implemented to strengthen the feet before problems crop up.

Training and fitness programs are a cutting-edge area of expertise in the field. Beth Israel's orthopedic physiatrists are on that edge, working to build individually tailored routines to ensure performance and well-being.

For a referral to a Beth Israel orthopedic physiatrist, call our Physician Referral Service at 1-888-244-3257..