Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also known as physiatry, is a medical specialty focused on restoring movement, strength, and independence for people affected by injury, illness, or disability. Unlike a therapist, a physiatrist is a qualified doctor who can diagnose your condition, prescribe treatment, and lead the medical side of your recovery. At Cambridge Hospital, this specialist care is the starting point for patients whose recovery needs medical direction — not therapy alone — and it connects seamlessly to the physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy delivered by the same team.
Your care starts with a comprehensive consultation. Your physiatrist reviews your medical history, examines how your condition affects your movement and daily life, and arranges any diagnostic tests needed to reach a clear, accurate diagnosis.
This first assessment is where the whole recovery plan is shaped — it identifies not just the injury or symptom, but how it affects your independence, your work, and your quality of life. You leave your consultation understanding your diagnosis, your options, and the exact next steps in your care.
Our specialists diagnose and manage a broad range of conditions on an outpatient basis, including chronic back and neck pain, arthritis and joint disorders, sports and work-related injuries, nerve and neuropathic conditions, spasticity, and the functional effects of stroke, brain injury, and spinal cord injury. We also guide patients through a safe, structured recovery after orthopedic and other surgeries — helping restore strength and movement without unnecessary intervention.
No two recoveries are the same, so no two plans are either. Once your assessment is complete, your physiatrist designs a plan around your specific goals — whether that’s returning to sport, back to work, or simply moving without pain. They lead a coordinated team of therapists, review your progress at each stage, and adjust your treatment as you improve. Every element of your care connects, so your recovery stays on one clear, continuous path.
At Cambridge Hospital, recovery is never something you face alone. From your first consultation, our specialists work with you — and with the therapists, nurses, and support teams around you — to restore not just function, but confidence and independence. Wherever you are in your journey, our goal is the same: to help you live a fuller, more capable life.
