Physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors – or physiatrists – are doctors who help patients achieve the best function possible after injuries, illness or disabling conditions affecting their muscles, bones, tissue and nervous system.
They use medications, physical modalities, physical training with therapeutic exercise, movement and activities modification, adaptive equipment and assistive devices, orthotics (braces), prostheses and experiential training to treat patients.
The term physiatry (fizz-EYE-uh-tree) was coined in 1938. World War II helped to advance the specialty with the need for rehabilitation of wounded returning from the battlefield.
Physiatrists treat people with:
- Amputations/Prosthetics
- Arthritis
- Brain injuries
- Female athlete triad
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Pain (back, neck, nerve, wrist, pelvis, pregnancy-related back pain, fibromyalgia)
- Post-polio syndrome
- Radiculopathy
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Sports-related injuries
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injury
- Women’s conditions
- Work-related injuries
MHSI’s physiatrists and the locations where they see patients are: Karl Freydl, DO, Meadowbrook Medical Center – Novi Office; Sophia Grias-Radwanski, MD, Canton; John Marshall, MD, Meadowbrook Medical Center – Novi Office; and Henry C. Tong, MD, Novi-Keystone Medical Center, and Royal Oak.
To be seen by a physiatrist to learn more about treatment options for relieving pain, call 248-784-3667.
