Physiatry, PM&R, encompasses a wide spectrum of disabling injuries and illnesses, primarily neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders, including low back and neck pain, upper extremity repetitive strain injuries, stroke, brain injury and spinal cord injuries. The major goal of the physiatric treatment is to restore function and thereby improve quality of life, event if there is no definitive cure for the underlying condition, emphasizing functional progress, such as improvement in movement or strength, as well as techniques to reduce the impact of pain and other disabling symptoms,. When injuries affect patient’s abilbity to work, the PM&R strives to keep them working in a modified capacity.

The PM&R Department is able to perform:

• Pain control measures to help patients participate more fully in the rehabilitation program
• Electrical stimulation
• Therapeutic injections to control pain and inflammation
• Therapeutic exercise to re-gain flexibility, strength and endurance
• EMG – a type of neuromuscular testing used to diagnose neuromuscular conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome or a pinched spinal nerve by measuring the electrical function of muscles and nerves, then correlates this information with other data.

Medical Staff :

• William Somerset, M.D.
• Kevin Rice, M.D.

Hours of Operation: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Location: 2115 Stuart St., Alamosa
Telephone: 719-589-8008

Last Modified: May 9, 2007

MEDICAL DEPARTMENTS

Hospitalist