Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) is about using non-surgical treatments to help those with physical impairments or disabilities move and get around better while helping reduce or eliminate pain. The kind of doctors who specialize in this — physiatrists — are focused on working with patients who have had injuries to their bones, ligaments, muscles or the nervous system. We come up with a realistic plan for you, specific to your unique situation, and the goals you're hoping to achieve.

Our PM&R Team Treats 

• Amputation: prosthetic evaluation/prescription
• Back and spine pain: (herniated disc, degenerative spine)
• Brain injury: from mild to severe
• Musculoskeletal injuries: (sprain, strain, or tears)
• Pain: diagnosis and treatment options
• Shoulder and knee problems
• Spinal cord injury care
• Sports-related injuries
• Stroke, helping to treat the late effects of it

PM&R Patients Receive 

Physiatry (PM&R) treats the whole person, and seeks to improve the function of persons living with diseases or effects of injuries such as to the brain, spine or nervous system. PM&R specialists treat patients of all ages.

Easy Access to Expert Care

We have PM&R physician specialists in two convenient locations - midtown campus and Village Pointe - so no matter where you're located, you can access our clinics easily and quickly. You do not need a physician referral to obtain an appointment.

Specialized Tools to Help Diagnose Dysfunction

Physiatrists utilize the hands-on physical examination of the patient, together with specialized studies such as electrodiagnosis (EDX), including electromyography (EMG) to evaluate your muscle and nerve health, or assess their function together with nerve conduction studies (NCS) to measure whether the peripheral nerves are working well or not. PM&R physicians will use whatever other diagnostic tools (MRI imaging, bone scan, blood tests, etc.) are needed to diagnose your problem and develop a treatment specific to your needs and goals.

Team Approach to Care

Physiatrists are team leaders in rehabilitation, whether we are leading an inpatient unit at a rehabilitation hospital, or managing care for ambulatory patients with complex needs. We have talented teams of physical, occupational and speech therapists, neuropsychologists, social workers, prosthetists and other specialists to help in the care of persons with disabling conditions. As part of the Nebraska Medicine network, we work closely with other specialties to coordinate and deliver other types of specialized care for your condition when needed.

Additional resources

• Association of Academic Physiatrists
• American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation