Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

A Holistic Approach to Rehabilitation

Injury, disability or pain can make it hard to move. Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also called physiatry, can help you recover and move better. 

At Sanford Health, our physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists focus on finding the cause of your injury or pain. They look at all aspects of your life, from the physical and psychological to your social and work life. They listen to you to find a rehabilitation and recovery plan that helps you move and function your best. 

Why Should I See a Physiatrist?

Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists are called physiatrists. Physiatrists are doctors who specialize in illnesses or injuries that cause pain or limit movement. 

Our physiatrists:

• Talk to you and assess your condition

• Do nerve conduction studies that check how your nerves are working

• Develop customized, comprehensive treatment plans

• Help manage your care 

• Ensure you are medically able to participate in physical therapy and other treatments

• Help you feel better and adapt to your body’s changes

Conditions We Treat Using Physiatry

We take a whole-person approach to your care. We not only treat your injuries and illnesses, but we also address your emotional, social and job-related needs, too.

We look beyond your symptoms to find the cause of your pain or injury so we can find a lasting solution for you. 

Our physiatrists treat:

Injuries

• Acquired brain injury

• Spinal cord injury 

• Repetitive motion injury

Neurological conditions

• Huntington disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscular dystrophy
• Seizures and epilepsy
• Stroke
• Parkinson’s disease
• Visual-nervous system problems

Pain

• Arthritis
• Back and neck pain
• Burns
• Chronic pain
• Osteoporosis

Your Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Team

Your treatment team at Sanford Health includes:

• Physiatrists

• Physical therapists

• Occupational therapists 

• Physician assistants

• Nurse practitioners

Together, they work with you to ensure you are getting the best treatments to improve your functioning. You may also work with our pain management specialists and chiropractors. 

Our Physiatry Treatments 

We try to find treatment options that don’t involve surgery. If you do need surgery, we’ll refer you to our neurosurgeons for an evaluation. 

We may recommend treatment options, such as:

• Massage and other integrative health options
• Exercise and physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Chiropractic care
• Medications, such as muscle relaxers
• Injections