Perhaps you, like many of the patients who come to the offices of Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine for the first time, are unfamiliar with the word “physiatrist,” a term that describes a doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This blog is designed to help you understand the nature of the help we offer and the ways in which we differ from other doctors you may have consulted.
The Discipline of Physiatry
At Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, all of our doctors are physiatrists, meaning that we focus on relieving pain and restoring function. Our perspective on medicine is broader than that of many other physicians since we are holistic, considering our patients as whole humans whose minds and bodies and both intrinsically involved in maintaining health.
For 25 years, our approach to healing has been nonsurgical and minimally invasive. We consider ourselves partners who work collaboratively with our patients, using a balanced, integrative approach to relieve pain and restore mobility. We routinely combine traditional treatments, such as physical therapy and corticosteroid injections, with complementary therapies like acupuncture and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy.
Physiatry is a medical discipline that centers on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders, particularly those that affect the nerves, bones, and muscles. The goal of physiatry is not only pain relief, but the enhancement of physical and cognitive function. In other words, at Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, we are committed to helping patients lead fuller, more active lives.
What Training Do Physiatrists Have?
To become a physiatrist, one must successfully complete four years of medical school after four years of college and then spend four additional years as a postdoctoral resident. In addition, to become board-certified, physiatrists must pass both a written and oral examination administered by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The physiatrists in our practice also chose to pursue additional fellowship training in spine and musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
Unique Features of Our Practice
Our physiatrists are dedicated to maintaining a relationship with each of our patients. For this reason, we will keep you informed about all pertinent details of our diagnostic methods and our treatments. Believing that transparency is key to trust, we encourage a healthy dialogue in which your questions, concerns, and preferences are as important as our recommendations.
Because we understand that no single therapy is the be-all and end-all, we often combine various therapies to achieve maximum results. This integrated approach not only addresses physical pain and disability but also takes into account emotional and psychological factors, providing the holistic solution we seek. We know that any time spent in pain is too long so we now offer same-day spine appointments so we can begin helping you heal as quickly as possible.
Our Experienced Physiatrists Provide a New Approach to Health and Well-Being
We hope that your first visit to a physiatrist at Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine will mean the beginning of a new perspective on health and healing. Whether through traditional methods, complementary therapies, or a combination of both, our goal is to help you feel more comfortable, more able, and more energetic. We want to be the doctors who have not only relieved your pain and restored your mobility but also the physiatrists who improved your quality of life.