Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Kristi L. Kirschner, MD;
- Henry B. Betts, MD
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
Excerpt
Physiatry has continued to evolve with changing patterns of illness and disability. The Institute of Medicine estimates that 35 million Americans (approximately one in seven) have disabling conditions.1 More than 9 million are unable to work, study, or live independently. The average American will live almost 13 years with some sort of limitation. A 1988 National Health Interview Study showed that the incidence of disability increases dramatically with age.2 About 5% of those under the age of 18 years have some degree of activity limitation, increasing to almost 40% in those 65 and over.
Chronic illnesses, arthritis, strokes, trauma, and pain syndromes account for a significant proportion of functional limitations. As specialists in the pathogenesis, prevention, and remediation of disability, physiatrists are in a position to assist a variety of practitioners in maximizing function and quality of life. In particular, there have been exciting advances in the treatment
