Physical Medicine
Physical medicine is the art of helping you relearn how to use your body, while improving your flexibility, strength and coordination. At the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Department of Al Mashfa, patient care is our top priority since we work as a team of experts closely on restoring your physical heath and abilities in order to live a fit healthy life and perform your activities of daily living easier. Our physiatrists first create personalized goals and plans for each patient, then starts the rehabilitation process followed by close monitoring and examination to ensure pain is less, functioning is restored and the overall physical heath and abilities are in the best shape. Our team includes physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, exercise therapists, Speech & Language Therapist, Prosthetic & Orthotic technician and Rehabilitation Nurse, who collaborate with you to restore your quality of life and have you living independently again.
Our Physical Medicine Services
Physiatrists services
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry) is a specialty of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of aches and pains and other disabling conditions. Their training develops skills in areas of orthopedics, neurology, and rheumatology. This places the physiatrist in an advantageous position to decide upon the cause of a patient’s symptoms: Nerve, muscle, joint, bone, ligament, etc. In addition to the conventional use of medications, we have expertise in the use of exercise programs, manual techniques, equipment (splints, corsets, braces,) and coordination of therapy programs.
Physiatrists combine medical education, clinical experience, and research to create treatment plans tailored to a patient’s specific needs and goals Physiatrists care for patients of all ages and abilities. They diagnose and treat existing health conditions, but they also provide patient education, customize plans of care, and preventative treatments that can help patients avoid many health problems before they occur
Physical therapy services
Physical therapy services are available for patients with a wide range of diagnoses, from musculoskeletal to neurological conditions.Physical therapists are trained professionals who deal with people of all age groups that evaluate and treat abnormal physical function related to injury, disability or disease. They help patients to improve mobility and movement, improve balance to maintain function and quality of life
P.T. may include: moist heat, cold therapies
- Manual techniques including
- Mobilization
- Myofascial release
- Stretching and massage
- Therapeutic activities and exercise
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists (O.T.’s) help people return to their normal life through the therapeutic use of everyday activities and exercises. Our main focus is to help people recover from injuries to the hands and the “upper quarter” of the body. O.T.’s help patients to regain skills and to maximize their performance of everyday activities of daily living (ADL’s). Occupational therapy/hand therapy addresses areas such as improving strength and range of motion, decreasing pain and swelling, managing scar formation, fabricating orthoses and recommending over the counter splints and adaptive equipment to help people gain greater independence.
O.T. services include:
An personalized evaluation during which the patient, family , physiatrist and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals.
Customized plan to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach their goals.
Outcome evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and / or make changes to the intervention plan.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is the use of water in the treatment of different conditions, such as arthritis and related rheumatic complaints, and various neurological and orthopedic disabilities. Hydrotherapy involves exercises in a warm-water pool. (temp 33–36ºC)l.
The physical trainer and or physiotherapist will train the patient how to do the exercises. The focus of the exercises is tailored according to each patients needs
Hydrotherapy tends to be focused on slow, controlled movements and relaxation. The hydrotherapy provides the buoyancy needed for different disabilities, helping the support of the weight , relieve the pain and increase movement. Furthermore the warmth of the water allows muscles to relax and ease the pain during exercises. Hydrotherapy can be used for strengthening as the water provides resistance to the moving limbs.
Pain therapy by Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a complementary medical practice that entails stimulating certain points on the body, most often with a needle penetrating the skin, to alleviate pain or to help treat various health conditions.
Nerve conduction studies(NCS) and electromyography(EMG)
NCS is a medical diagnostic test commonly used to evaluate the function, especially the ability of electrical conduction, of the motor and sensory nerves of the human body.
EMG involves the measuring of electrical activity within muscles by way of a needle electrode.
Obesity therapy
The essential treatment for obesity consists of dieting and physical exercise. Diet programs may produce weight loss over the short term, but maintaining this weight loss is frequently difficult and often requires making exercise and a lower calorie diet a permanent part of an individual’s lifestyle.
Orthosis and prothesis
Orthotist and Prosthetist design and make artificial limbs (prosthetics) and appliances such as splints, braces and shoes (orthotics). These specialists work in the rehabilitation team to help restore function function and improve lifestyle of persons with different disability.
Speech therapy
Speech therapy provides assessment and develops individualized treatment programs to address functional limitations in the areas of communication, cognition and swallowing.
Physical Rehabilitation Programs
Neurological cases.
Sports injuries.
Pre and post orthopedic surgeries as knee or hip replacement
Rheumatic diseases as rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoarthritis affecting different joint and back pain
Pediatric cases with physical disabilities
Geriatric disability
Stroke Awareness
A stroke is caused when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced which deprives brain tissue from oxygen and nutrients. Then brain cells begin to die. A stroke is a medical emergency. Quick treatment is vital. Early action minimizes brain damage and possible complications. However, strokes can be treated and prevented.
Symptoms:
The following are the signs and symptoms of a stroke, we should pay attention to these and take quick action if any of them occur.
Trouble with speaking and understanding
Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg
Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes
Headache
Trouble with walking
The role of post stroke rehabilitation:
