Physiatry Services

Physiatry, or physical medicine and rehabilitation (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, even 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 ability to work, the physiatrist strives to keep them working in a modified capacity.

The PM&R Department performs or directs the following:

• 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 regain flexibility, strength and endurance
• Electromyography (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

			Thomas Kevin Rice, MD
			Ben Guiot, MD Spine surgeon of South Denver Neurosurgery   Travels to Alamosa monthly to consult with patients who have been assessed by a team of local providers.