FAQ continued

Why have I never heard of a Physiatrist before?

Well, It is a relatively new specialty for Physicians. It only started in the 1950s while most other specialties began at the run of the last century. There are only 3000 Physiatrists is the country and only eight here in Rhody.

What is the difference between you and a regular Physical Therapist?

A Physical Therapist goes to College and then two years of specialty training. Now there are Master programs for Physical Therapy but that only means one more year of training. As an MD, I go to college, four years of medical school and then your years of specialty residency training. That is 12 years of training. As a Physician, I not only use physical therapy techniques but medical techniques including medications, injections, alternative treatments like occupational therapy, message, manipulations, acupuncture, etc. My discipline is therefore the medical doctor in charge of physical therapists at the hospital level.

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