Physiatry

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Central Massachusetts

If you have an injury or illness that causes pain or loss of function, our physiatrists can help. Physiatrists are specially trained physicians who use nonsurgical therapies to treat conditions affecting your bones, joints, muscles and nerves. At UMass Memorial Health, we use a combination of medications, noninvasive procedures and physical therapy to help you move better and feel your best.

Our physiatrists work with a team of specialists, including nurses and rehabilitation therapists. Together, we help you manage pain and restore your ability to perform daily tasks and do the activities you love. 

Nonsurgical Care for Orthopedic Conditions

Our physiatrists create a treatment plan that fits your medical needs, lifestyle and preferences. We may recommend tests to determine the cause of the pain or impairment, which will guide your treatment. Tests include:

• Electromyography (EMG): We place thin needles into specific areas of your body to identify muscle or nerve issues.
• Nerve conduction studies (NCS): We use electrodes (stickers attached to a computer) to measure how well your nerves send signals to the brain.

Once we have a detailed diagnosis, we develop your personalized care plan. Your treatment may include:

Adaptive or Assistive Devices

These devices or machines help you with your daily activities. Examples include custom orthotics, braces, splints and prosthetics. 

Therapeutic Exercise

Exercise can strengthen an area of the body, help you regain function or relieve painful tension. We work with physical, occupational, hand and lymphedema therapists to design an exercise plan that meets your needs. Learn more about Rehabilitation Therapy.

Epidural Steroid Injections (ESI)

We place these injections (shots) into a space in your spine to provide targeted pain relief for part of your lower body. Usually, we use ESI for ongoing lower back and leg pain. 

Joint Injections

We inject medication directly into a joint to reduce inflammation or relieve pain. These injections may contain corticosteroids for inflammation and healing substances like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or hyaluronic acid.

Peripheral Motor Point Blocks

Also known as motor nerve blocks, these injections calm nerves that send unwanted signals. We provide nerve blocks that help with:

• Motor issues (movement and spasticity) 
• Sensory issues (pain and feeling)

Trigger Point Injections (TPI)

TPIs help relieve muscle pain and tenderness from strains, pinched nerves, arthritis and spinal conditions. These injections may contain an anesthetic (pain reliever), anti-inflammatory medications or botulinum toxin (Botox). 

Electrotherapy

Electrodes send mild electrical impulses into your skin. These impulses may help tissues heal or calm nerves that are sending pain signals. Types of electrotherapy include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential current (IFC) therapy.