The Differences Between a Physiatrist and a Physical Therapist
The road to recovery from an illness or injury often involves pain or disability, and help from a team of highly trained professionals is usually necessary. Two key players on this team are the physiatrist and the physical therapist. While their names sound similar, they have two very distinct roles.
A physiatrist is a physician who is trained in the diagnosis, treatment and management of debilitating conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons. Some of the illnesses and conditions that they are experts in are spine problems, chronic pain, sports injuries, brain and spinal cord injuries, arthritis, work injuries and fibromyalgia. Otherwise known as physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, their focus is to improve function and minimize pain.
Along with consulting with other physicians, a physiatrist leads a team of healthcare professionals such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, dieticians, and nurses, to help patients adapt to limitations and regain as much function as possible. In this role, they may prescribe exercise, prosthetics (artificial limbs), orthotics (inserts or braces), and other equipment that help patients complete their daily tasks and live independently. They do not perform surgery, but they do perform procedures that either help in the diagnosis or the treatment of illness or injury.
Some common procedures include EMG (electromyography) to identify the source of muscle weakness, nerve conduction studies to identify nerve damage, peripheral joint injections to diagnose and treat joint disorders, trigger point injections or spinal injections for pain control, and a number of image-guided spinal procedures to reduce back pain. They also specialize in treating spasticity from neurological injuries related to illnesses such as stroke or cerebral palsy.
A physical therapist is a highly-skilled and educated, licensed health care professional that works directly with patients who are experiencing pain or debility from an illness or injury. After a thorough evaluation, they develop individual plans of care that will help patients regain as much function as possible, minimize pain, and prevent future injuries and disability. These plans may include exercise, manual therapy and manipulation, mechanical traction, education, heat or cold therapy, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and teaching patients to work with assistive devices such as walkers or canes and artificial limbs.
They not only physically provide treatments and assist patients in performing exercises, but also teach them how to continue exercising after their treatment is complete, to stay healthy and prevent future injury. They work with patients who have experienced a wide range of illnesses and injuries, but their goal is always to help the patient live as independent and pain-free as possible. Examples of patients who will benefit from physical therapy are those who have experienced fractures or orthopedic surgery, strokes, sports injuries, accidents, neurological injuries or illnesses, pain from arthritis, and back injuries.
Patients who have experienced a long-term illness and may have grown weak also benefit from physical therapy to improve strength, balance, and endurance. Physical therapy is a proven way to decrease disability and pain, and to improve long-term health after an illness or injury.
To learn more about the services offered by both physiatrists and physical therapists, call Tucson Orthopaedic Institute at our East Tucson office at (520) 784-6200, Northwest Tucson office at (520) 382-8200, or Oro Valley office at (520) 544-9700. To request an appointment, you can call or use our secure online appointment request form.