At Shoreline Orthopaedics, our orthopaedic surgeons use a truly collaborative approach so our patients have the benefit of multiple expert opinions, without having to go elsewhere to obtain them.
Shoreline Orthopaedics provides more comprehensive services, state-of-the-art options, technologies and techniques than anyone else in the area.
The following information is provided to help you understand what you can expect from us regarding policies and procedures, and also what is expected of you before and after treatment or procedures.
The following information is provided to help you gain a better understanding of anatomy, terminology, certain orthopaedic procedures, and more. If you have any questions, feel free to ask your physician.
Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), or physiatry, is one of 24 medical specialties certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties. This branch of medicine emphasizes the prevention, diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of disorders related to nerves, muscles and bones that affect movement.
PM&R physicians (also referred to as rehabilitation physicians or physiatrists) specialize in injuries, illnesses and disabling conditions that may produce temporary or permanent impairment. Through the development of a comprehensive program of nonsurgical treatment, PM&R physicians focus on reducing pain, enhancing performance, and enabling patients to stay as active as possible, at any age. By considering the whole person instead of a single symptom or problem, the physiatric approach to treatment and care helps patients put the pieces of their lives back together—not just medically, but also socially, emotionally and vocationally—after injury or disease.
Patients with a wide variety of conditions or disorders benefit from PM&R, including:
Your PM&R physician will begin by thoroughly assessing your condition, needs, limitations and expectations. The presence or absence of any serious medical illnesses will be determined before an appropriate treatment plan is developed for you. PM&R physicians use a variety of diagnostic tools utilized by other physicians, including medical histories, physical examinations and imaging studies. Special techniques in electrodiagnostic medicine, such as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies, are also used to diagnose conditions that cause pain, weakness, and numbness.
At Shoreline Orthopaedics, we provide integrated physiatric treatment for conditions such as: alignment issues, amputee rehabilitation, back and neck pain, brain and spinal cord injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia, radiculopathies and other nerve issues.
Whether you need to strengthen an injured muscle, get relief from chronic pain, or walk up the stairs without being winded, your PM&R physician will work with you to establish realistic short- and long-term goals. Once your assessment and diagnosis are complete, a treatment plan will be tailored specifically for you. Low-impact activities, physical therapy, use of a brace, medication, stretching, massage, and strengthening exercises are just some of the many elements that may be incorporated into a plan designed to help you achieve the highest possible quality of life.