The Rehabilitation Physician (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist or Physiatrist) is the professional in charge of prescribing and coordinating the rehabilitation program.
Coordinates a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team with different health professionals (Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, Psychologist, Podiatrist, among others).
Their professional skills concern the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of a large number of conditions that can cause disability in order to achieve maximum recovery, develop the residual capacities of people with limitations and increase their functionality and independence.
This specialist will perform an evaluation that consists of anamnesis, physical examination and, in justified cases, will prescribe different tests or examinations.
Once the condition has been diagnosed, a rehabilitation program is prescribed, which may consist, depending on the condition, of analgesic medical treatments, muscle relaxants, anti-spasticity drugs, joint injections to reduce inflammation and pain, as well as muscle injections to reduce spasticity that patients with neurological conditions may present. These treatments can be combined with physical agents such as muscle relaxants, analgesics, anti-inflammatories, combined with massages, exercises to improve joint range, muscle strength, balance, gait, and kinesic techniques for neuromuscular re-education.