Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also referred to as rehabilitation medicine, is the medical specialty concerned with diagnosing, evaluating, and treating patients with physical disabilities. These disabilities may arise from conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system such as neck and back pain, sports injuries, or other painful conditions affecting the limbs, for example carpal tunnel syndrome. Alternatively, the disabilities may result from neurological trauma or disease such as spinal cord injury, head injury, or stroke. A physician certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation is often called a physiatrist. The primary goal of the physiatrist is to achieve maximal restoration of physical, psychological, social, and vocational function through comprehensive rehabilitation. Pain management is often an important part of the role of the physiatrist. For diagnosis and evaluation, a physiatrist may include the techniques of electromyography to supplement the standard history, physical, X-ray, and laboratory examinations. The physiatrist has expertise in the appropriate use of therapeutic exercise, prosthetics (artificial limbs), orthotics, and mechanical and electrical devices.
UWSMPH Match Data
Median GPA (+/- 1 SD, n): 3.50 (3.36 - 3.64, 8)
Median USMLE Step 1 (+/- 1 SD, n): 221 (212.5 - 229.5, 7)
Percent of Class Entering Speciality by Year:
| 2006 | 2.8% |
| 2005 | 3.3% |
| 2004 | 0.8% |
| 2003 | 2.0% |
| 2002 | 3.7% |
| 2001 | 2.8% |
| 2000 | 3.2% |