The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (physiatry) is a specialist branch of medicine that aims to restore physical and cognitive functions and to enhance the quality of life of individuals who suffer physical impairments of disabilities.
Physiatry is responsible for the prevention, diagnosis, medical treatment and rehabilitation of diseases which lead to pain and physical impairments in all age groups. This is why it operates in the three fundamental fields of preventive, curative and rehabilitation medicine.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is primarily concerned with the following: acute, chronic pain, musculoskeletal system problems (e.g. back, neck, knee, or shoulder pain) rheumatic diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis), vascular, cardiopulmonary problems, neurological disorders(e.g. stroke, cerebral palsy) Work-sports injuries, Brain-spinal cord injuries, functional disorders which emerge following surgical interventions, and amputation.
The specialist physicians of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation offer an integrated approach to the problems of a system, organ or tissue, ranging from the acute hospital care to social rehabilitation. They lead the rehabilitation team which comprises a variety of healthcare professionals and enable coordination between team members. The specialist rehabilitation physician is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of all integrated rehabilitation teams.
The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the School of Medicine was established in 2009, and provides theory and practical education to 2nd and 5th term medical students as well as students in all classes of the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation of the Faculty of Health Sciences.