Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at AIMG
What is Physiatry?
Physical medicine or “physiatry” is a branch of medicine that focuses on enhancing and restoring the quality of life of those who suffer from physical impairments or disabilities, primarily through treatment and exercise regimens as well as other therapies.
A physiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in this field of physical medicine and rehabilitation and is able to prescribe medicines in addition to designing and administering exercise and treatment programs. Specifically, they deal with injuries and conditions related to the following:
- Musculoskeletal/Spine Injury
- Sports Injury
- Nerve Damage
- Back & neck pain
- Herniated discs
- Arthritis
- Disabilities of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, or bones
AIMG’s Board-Certified Physiatrists
As part of RWJBarnabas Health, our board-certified physiatrists at Avenel Iselin Medical Group have access to the latest equipment and technologies to serve you. We lend a hand of compassion in providing our patients with comprehensive exercises and treatment plans to help maximize function, range of motion, and independence. Our medical facility offers services that include:
Testing:
- Electrodiagnostic testing
Interestingly, your nerves and muscles work like a supercomputer! The nerves and muscles create electrical signals that deliver messages to and from your brain so that you can complete all of your physical motions and tasks. These signals can be interrupted or slowed down when you are injured or have certain diseases.
Electrodiagnostic testing can be used to diagnose many diseases and injuries including:- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Ulnar nerve entrapment
- Cervical spondylosis
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Polymyositis
- Radial nerve dysfunction
- Sciatica nerve dysfunction
- Electromyography
This test is performed to monitor the functioning of nerves in the arms and legs. During this procedure, small, thin needles are inserted into the muscle. Through a monitor, your doctor will observe and record the electrical signals that come from your muscles to determine whether or not they are functioning properly.
- Nerve conduction studies
This test is also conducted to determine whether a nerve is functioning as it should. Through the use of electrodes (tape wires), your doctor stimulates the nerve with an electrical current to monitor its performance.
Depending on the type and severity of your symptoms, you may move forward with any of the following treatments provided by AIMG:Treatments:
Injections
Injections are often helpful in treating pain caused by soft tissue or bone disorders as well as the central nervous system and back pain.
Carpal tunnel treatment
This condition results in numbness, tingling, and/or pain in the hand, wrist, and forearm. It generally occurs from repetitive motion, injury, or hereditary, and happens when the median nerve is compressed as it travels down the wrist. Treatment can involve exercises, wearing a splint, avoiding repetitive motion, and steroid injections to minimize discomfort or surgery.
Pain management without surgery
For situations when surgery is not a preferred option, alternative pain management methods include relaxation techniques, radiofrequency ablations, exercises, and acupuncture.
If you have any questions about our Physical Medicine services or would like to schedule an appointment, please call our medical group at (732) 404-1580 or submit a request through our Patient Portal.