King Edward Medical University



DR. KHALID JAMIL AKHTAR M.B.B.S., F.C.P.S.(Pak), D. Med Rehab (UK) D.C.N (LONDON) Head of the Department

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is a medical specialty. The official name of the field reflects the two essential concepts of specialty

Physical Medicine

Diagnosis and treatment of Neuromusculosketal disorders with the use of medications, interventions, modalities and exercises.

Rehabilitation

The process of transforming a person with functional limitations to a person with “Maximal ability” through the application of medical treatment, therapy and adaptive equipments.

PM&R strives to promote a person’s quality of life and functional outcomes through a dynamic team oriented approach. Often PM&R Physician plays a leadership role in this process.
By blending the best of traditional medical approach (“Adding years to life”) with the functional model (“Adding life to years”). The PM&R team accomplish its noble mission like a true friend, a PM&R Physician must be an optimistic spirit, a team player, and one who gives life to immortal words of William Arthur words “A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows your strength; feels yours fears but fortify your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit: [Most importantly] recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.

PM&R is a great opportunity for those physicians who are interested to be a PM&R Physician in their medical professional carrier as it offers 4- years’ residency program in PM&R. PM&R is recognized from College of Physician and Surgeon of Pakistan (CPSP) for residency program in PM&R. The candidates must pass MBBS, FCPS-I (medicine or surgery) to enroll in residency program in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

1. Neuromuscular Disorders

2. Soft Tissue Orthopedic (Orthopedic Medicine)

3. Sports injuries

4. Rheumatological Disabilities

5. Neurological Disabilities

6. Pain Management

7. Geriatric Rehab.

8. Pediatric Disabilities

9. Spinal Cord Injuries

10. Electro diagnostic Medicine

ORTHOTIC / PROSTHETIC CENTRE:

The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has the facility of manufacturing of all kinds of Orthosis / Prosthosis. Orthotic Prosthetic Centre established in 1978. Prof. Dr. Naseer Mehmood Akhtar is the founder of this workshop. In 1979 the orthopaedic workshop was upgraded with the Cooperation of United Nations Development Program (UNDP). This Centre is the first Centre at Government level in the Punjab.

There are following sections in the Centre.

i). Orthotic Section

This section prepares orthosis i.e. upper limb and lower limb, spinal orthosis, arms splints, spinal braces, HKFO, AFO, Cervical Collers, pelvic belts

ii). Prosthetic Section

This section produces prosthesis i.e. upper limb and lower limb prosthesis, i.e arm prosthesis, lower limb, above knee and below knee prosthesis.

iii). Leather Section

This section produces surgical shoes medial arch support, meta torsel pad, heal ring pad, shortening etc.

iv). Modeling and molding section

This section make stump model of patients, molding and lamination of prosthesis and orthosis.

v). Component Section

This section make ready made parts of the orthosis and prosthesis i.e. knee joint, ankle joint, hip join, elbow joint, and other accessories of orthosis and prosthosis.

Faculty research interests include mechanisms of control, development of new treatments, evaluation of treatment effectiveness and health services research outcomes. Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Mayo Hospital is committed to rehabilitation research excellence. We believe that our care must be proven to be effective through a scientific approach. We are currently active in research in a variety of areas including: Amputation, Stroke, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Cardiac Rehabilitation and physical cognitive function enhancement in CP child.

DR. KHALID JAMIL AKHTAR
M.B.B.S., F.C.P.S.(Pak),
D. Med Rehab (UK)
D.C.N (LONDON)
Head of the Department

FCPS PART-II TRAINEES:

Dr. Muhammad Sarfraz

Dr. Asad Usmani

Dr. Nisar ud Din

Dr. Sami Ullah

Here are some answers to questions frequently asked about the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation:

What is physical medicine and rehabilitation?

What is a rehabilitation physician?

How do Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician diagnose?

What is the rehabilitation physician’s role in treatment?

What is the scope of the rehabilitation physician’s practice?

What kind of training do Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician have?

How did the specialty develop?

Where do Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician practice?

WHAT IS PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION?

Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), is the branch of medicine emphasizing the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders – particularly related to the nerves, muscles, and bones – that may produce temporary or permanent impairment. PM&R is one of 24 medical specialties certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties. PM&R provides integrated multidisciplinary care in the treatment of disabilities.

Physical Medicine & Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician are experts who treat Neuromusculoskeletal disorders and disabilities. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician have completed training in the medical specialty physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). Their goal is to decrease pain and enhance performance without surgery.

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician take the time needed to accurately pinpoint the source and management of functional abilities. Their specific diagnostic tools are the same as those used by other physicians (medical histories, physical examinations, and imaging studies), with the addition of special techniques in electro diagnostic medicine like electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, and somatosensory evoked potentials. These techniques help the rehabilitation physician to diagnose conditions that cause pain, weakness, and numbness. Musculoskeletal USG is a rapidly developing technique used by many PM&R Physicians in the world.

Once they have a diagnosis, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician design a treatment plan that can be carried out by the patients themselves or with the help of the rehabilitation physician’s medical team. This multidisciplinary medical team may include medical professionals such as neurologists, psychiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, and urologists, and non-physician health professionals such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, vocational counselors, psychologists and social workers. The team is different for each patient and the team's composition changes during treatment to match the patient's shifting needs. By providing an appropriate treatment plan, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician help patients stay as active as possible at any age. Their broad medical expertise allows them to treat disabling conditions throughout a person’s lifetime.

PM&R is often called the quality of life profession because its aim is to enhance patient performance. The job of a rehabilitation physician is to treat any disability resulting from disease or injury involving any organ system. The focus is not on one part of the body, but instead on the development of a comprehensive program for putting the pieces of a person's life back together – medically, socially, emotionally, and vocationally – after injury or disease. The problems that Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician manage span the entire spectrum, from the most complicated multiple trauma to injury prevention for athletes. Some Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician have broad-based practices that encompass many different types of patients. Others pursue special interests and focus on specific groups or problems. For example, sports medicine has grown as a special interest. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician who focus on sports medicine treat sports-related injuries, develop programs to help athletes avoid injury, and may do research in the field.

To become a rehabilitation physician, individuals must graduate from medical school followed by four additional years of postdoctoral training in a physical medicine and rehabilitation residency. This includes one year developing fundamental clinical skills and three additional years of training in the full scope of the specialty. There are currently 80 accredited residency programs in physical medicine and rehabilitation in the United States. Many Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician choose to pursue additional advanced degrees (MS, PhD) or complete fellowship training in a specific area of the specialty. Fellowships are available for specialized study in such areas as musculoskeletal, pediatrics, neurological, cardiac r and sports rehabilitations.

To become board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician are required to take both a written and oral examination administered by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR). The ABPMR also has agreements with each of the boards of pediatrics, internal medicine, and neurology to allow special training programs leading to certification in both specialties

The field of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) began in the 1930s to address musculoskeletal and neurological problems, but broadened its scope considerably after World War II. As thousands of veterans came back to the United States with serious disabilities, the task of helping to restore them to productive lives became a new direction for the field. The Advisory Board of Medical Specialties granted PM&R its approval as a specialty of medicine in 1947.

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician practice in rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and in private offices. They often have broad practices, but some concentrate on one area such as pediatrics, interventional PM&R, Electro diagnostic Medicine, sports medicine, geriatric medicine, brain injury, and many other special interests.