Awareness about department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PMR)

Sanam Rana 
CIHSR 

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) also known as Physiatrist is a branch of medical specialty that aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life of a person who has been disabled due to disease, disorder, or injury. e.g. Stroke, Head Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, & Cerebral Palsy etc. It treats patients of all ages and focus treatment particularly to improve function. PMR is an integrated multidisciplinary approach that treats person as a whole by addressing individuals physical, medical, emotional, psychological, vocational, and social needs.

Understanding Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation means to “MAKE ABLE”. Rehabilitation does not reverse the damage already caused by disease or injury.  However, it helps the person to achieve highest possible level of functioning and independence and restore the person to optimal health and well-being.

Rehabilitation Remove Social Barriers include Social Participation
Who are the team members
: PMR involves team work with multi-professional team and disciplinary approach. Team members are PMR Consultant, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Prosthetist & Orthotist, Speech & Language Pathologists, Rehabilitation Nurse, Rehabilitation Engineer, Vocational counselor& social service, Clinical Psychologists, and Family members of patient. 

Role played by a team of PMR in their respective areas of specialization:

  • PMR Consultant- Make assessment, diagnosis, and set rehabilitation plan and goals with respective team members. It provides medical care to the patient and pain management through medicine.
  • Physiotherapy- Trained mobility skills such as balance, endurance & strengthening program, transfer training, walking training and wheelchair skill training. Provide pain management through alternative mode called Electrotherapy modalities.
  • Occupational Therapy- Basic and instrumental ADL training, Hand function training, cognitive& social skill training & adaptive devices to facilitate and improve functional activity.
  • Prosthesis & Orthosis (P&O)- Construct, assemble and fabricate artificial limb to replace the lost limb and helps to regain and restore mobility. P&O also produces supportive devices for limbs & spine.
  • Speech & Language Pathologist- Helps in communication & socialization skills such as speech therapy & through different ways of communication method. Helps in swallowing training for the person who have difficulty to swallow.
  • Rehabilitation Nurse- Physical care, respiratory care, and patient & family education.
  • Rehabilitation Engineer- Provides technological method to achieve and improve functions.
  • Vocational Counselor& Social Worker- Gives counselling & provide alternative means of working skills to sustain livelihood.
  • Clinical Psychologist- Helps to identify & solve problems related to behavior, anxiety, and emotions.
  • Family Members- Ultimately family support & encouragement plays a major role in rehabilitation and therefore helps to develop positive effect and build self-esteem leading to early recovery.

‘Rehabilitation through team work can improve & bring significant changes in patient’s outcomes’

Sanam Rana is Senior Physiotherapist, Physiotherapy Unit, Department of PMR, Christian Institute of Health Sciences & Research (CIHSR)