Why see a physiatrist?

As a medical doctor specializing in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and pain, a physiatrist will look at the whole person, not just the site of injury.
It is impossible for a person to injure their ankle and not have the forces translate up the knee to the hip, pelvis and spine. Sometimes low back pain may indeed be the result of an “old injury” that was never properly rehabbed or by weak and tight muscles that are causing stress on a distant area. Tight hamstrings or hip flexors , for example, puts rotation on the pelvis that in turn stresses the joints of the sacroiliac joint and the spine. Failure to address these issues can lead to chronic or recurrent injury and pain. These imbalances in conjunction with alterations in diet, sleep and lifestyle, all contribute to recurrent injury and ongoing problems.
Even athletes and people who exercise regularly sustain injury because of muscle or ligament imbalance, muscle tightness and an alteration in body mechanics. Failure to address the whole person may lead to failure in proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
As a physiatrist, I treat all musculoskeletal and joint related problems with a comprehensive, total body, conservative approach. Treatment plans may include an exercise program, dietary changes and supplements, adaptive devices that focus on correcting structural abnormalities, manual therapy, medications, and injection therapy.
By addressing the whole person we can achieve better and more permanent solutions to your musculoskeletal problems