Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry)

Learn how our physiatrists help people with neurological conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, and traumatic injuries reduce pain and restore function.

Request an Appointment

For all requests:

1-319-356-2223

For all other requests:: 1-800-777-8442

Certain conditions —especially musculoskeletal and neurological disorders—make it harder to use parts of your body or brain. These conditions can cause pain, muscle spasms, forgetfulness, or other problems that affect your ability to function.

Fortunately, many of these problems are treatable. And you’ll find the treatments you need from University of Iowa Health Care.

We have a large team of physiatrists, or doctors who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation. They help people whose illness or injury has caused physical or cognitive (thinking) problems.

Our physiatrists frequently team up with other providers, such as physical therapists and occupational therapists. Together, we can help you:

Improve or restore function
Improve quality of life
Increase mobility
Maintain or achieve independence
Manage pain

Expert physiatry care for people of all ages and abilities

Whether you’re recovering from a sudden injury or living with a neuromuscular disease, you can count on our physiatrists.

Our services include:

Working with patients who are paralyzed after a spinal cord injury.
Treating acute or chronic pain.
Caring for patients who need inpatient rehabilitation. Our 40-bed rehab hospital treats people recovering from a stroke, brain injury, traumatic orthopedic injury, and more.
Helping patients overcome sports- and fitness-related pain or injuries, getting them back to their favorite activity.

Helping people recover after a workplace injury.
Providing care to people who have had a limb amputation.
Coordinating referrals for patients who want or need a prosthetic (artificial) limb or orthotic device (such as a brace). We also provide wheelchair seating evaluations for people who use a wheelchair full-time.
Creating treatment plans for people with chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease.

Although many of our patients are adults, we also treat children. Our team includes one of the few physiatrists in Iowa with advanced training in pediatric rehabilitation medicine.

Tailored, team-based care

When you choose us for physical medicine and rehabilitation, you’ll be cared for by a team of experts.

Your physiatrist will help create and oversee your treatment plan. And other specialists may perform some of your recommended treatments.

These other specialists can treat your underlying condition or help address the physical or cognitive challenges it’s caused. For example, you may work with:

Neurologists who treat (or help slow the progression of) conditions that affect the brain or spine.
Neuropsychologists who perform tests to see if your condition has affected any of your cognitive abilities.
Occupational therapists who can teach you more effective or efficient ways to perform everyday tasks. These include bathing, dressing, grooming, and cooking.
Orthopedic specialists who treat bone, muscle, and joint problems.
Physical therapists who can help you increase strength and flexibility, reduce pain, and improve balance or mobility.
Speech therapists who can help you improve speech or swallowing problems caused by your illness or injury.

With physiatry, our goal is to help you feel and function better without surgery. But if you need advanced treatments that only a surgeon can provide, we’ll refer you to the right surgical specialist, right away.

Our approach to physiatry care

Whether you’re new to physiatry or to UI Health Care, here’s what you can expect from our team:

Initial Consultation

During your first visit, we’ll thoroughly review your medical history and perform a physical examination.

We’ll discuss how your injury or condition affects your life, including your ability to function at home, work, or school. We’ll also discuss:

The results of any tests you had before your visit, and whether you’ll need additional tests
Your treatment goals
Your treatment options
How often (and how long) you may need certain services
Whether you need referrals to other UI Health Care providers

Diagnostic tests

Sometimes our patients come in with recent test results that help us make treatment decisions. In other cases, we may order (or perform) tests to gather additional information.

For example, these tests can help us confirm what’s causing your symptoms or evaluate disease progression. They may include:

CT scan
Electromyogram (measures how well your muscles respond to nerve stimulation)
Evoked potential study (measures how long it takes your brain to receive, and respond to, signals from your nerves)
MRI scan
Musculoskeletal ultrasound
X-ray

Treatments

Your physiatrist will perform, prescribe, or coordinate any treatments you need.

In addition to receiving rehabilitation care—including physical, occupational, or speech therapy—you may have one or more of the following:

Injections that help relieve pain, relax muscles, or reduce swelling
Non-opioid pain medication
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or another type of regenerative medicine

Physiatry tests and treatments

Amputee care
Botox injections for spasticity
Bursa injections
CT scan
Electromyography (EMG)
Joint injection
MRI scan
Nerve block

Neuropsychological testing
Occupational therapy
Orthotics
Tendon sheath injection
Trigger point injection
Physical therapy (PT)
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
Prosthetics

Regenerative medicine
Speech therapy
Spine injection
Spine rehabilitation
Stroke rehabilitation
Testosterone therapy
Ultrasound
Wheelchair seating evaluation
X-ray

Physiatry conditions treated

Amputation
Arthritis
Back pain and injury
Burns
Foot and ankle pain and injury
Hip pain and injury
Knee pain and injury
Low testosterone
Movement disorders
Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Musculoskeletal pain
Myelopathy
Neck pain
Neuromuscular disease
Orthopedic trauma and fractures
Paraplegia
Parkinson’s disease
Peripheral neuropathy
Radiculopathy

Shoulder pain and injury
Quadriplegia
Spasticity
Spina bifida
Spinal cord injury
Sports injuries
Stroke
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Workplace injuries

Physiatrist

Eric

Aschenbrenner

MD

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

4.79 out of 5 (150 ratings)

Rahul M.

Bijlani

MD

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

4.93 out of 5 (193 ratings)

Heather

Bingham

MD

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

4.87 out of 5 (141 ratings)

Philip

Chen

MD

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

4.83 out of 5 (273 ratings)

Brandon

Johnson

MD

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

Ryan

McLoughlin

MD

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

Than

Pham

DO, PharmD

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

4.77 out of 5 (671 ratings)

Brett

Rosauer

MD

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

Kathleen

Vonderhaar

MD

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

4.58 out of 5 (87 ratings)

Steven

Zehring

DO

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

Sports Medicine Physician

Mederic M.

Hall

MD

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

4.64 out of 5 (652 ratings)

Ryan

Kruse

MD

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

4.85 out of 5 (658 ratings)

Clinical Psychologist

Valerie

Keffala

PhD, ABPP, FACHP

Orthopedics and Rehabilitation

4.86 out of 5 (82 ratings)

Do you think you'd benefit from physiatry care?

If an illness or injury has affected your physical or cognitive abilities, a physiatrist may be able to help. Talk to your provider about getting a referral to our physical medicine and rehabilitation program.

Call 1-319-356-2223