Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also called PM&R, is dedicated to restoring or maximizing function and independence in people who have temporary or permanent physical disability resulting from injury or illness.

It is one of the fastest growing of the 24 medical specialties certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Board-certified PM&R physicians have graduated from medical school, completed four additional years of residency training and passed the examinations of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

It was approved as a specialty of medicine in 1947. The early growth of the specialty was spurred by efforts to treat and care for World War II veterans with disabilities to help them live as normal a life as possible. Physicians who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation are known as PM&R physicians or physiatrists (fizz ee at' trists). Their goal is to help patients regain function and independence so they can resume the life activities they performed prior to their illness or injury.

PM&R is sometimes called the Quality of Life specialty. Some of the conditions treated by PM&R physicians are:

• Low back pain
• Sports-related injury
• Birth defect
• Spinal cord injury
• Stroke
• Brain injury
• Multiple sclerosis
• Amputation
• Tendonitis
• Work-related injury

As physicians of function, PM&R physicians are trained to understand how each of the body's major organ systems affects function.