Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, shortly called as PM&R is a branch of medicine that focuses on the restoring and enhancing functioning ability and quality of life for people with physical disabilities or impairments. Candidates, who have completed their training in this branch of medicine are called as physiatrist and they are also called as Rehab Medicine Specialists.

These candidates specialize in restoration of optimal function to people with injuries to nervous system, tissues, bones and muscles. Diploma in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation is a PG diploma course in the field of medicine offered by a few medical colleges in India and the names of government colleges offering this course in India are given below:

• Patna Medical College, Bihar

• Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi

• Government Medical College, Calicut

• Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram

• Madras Medical College, Chennai

Intake Capacity:

Of these colleges, Patna Medical College and Medical College, Thirvananthapuram are approved with an intake capacity of one student per year for the DPMR course, while Safdarjung Hospital and Madras Medical College are approved to admit two students per year for the course. On the other hand, Government Medical College, Calicut is approved with an intake capacity of four students per year for the course, thereby making a total of 10 seats in government colleges offering this course all over India with approval from the Medical Council of India. In addition to these 10 seats, there are two other seats in two private colleges functioning offering this course with affiliation from the MCI.

Syllabus of Diploma in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation:

A broader outline of the subjects covered under Diploma in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation course is given below:

• Basic Anatomy of the Musculoskeletal, Cardio-pulmonary and Nervous Systems, etc…

• Basic physiology of Musculoskeletal, Cardio-pulmonary and Nervous Systems, etc. and Biochemical aspects of Calcium and Vit. D metabolism, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus etc…

• Basic Pathological processes causing diseases and disabilities, healing etc…

• Basic principles of Pharmacology as applied to the conditions encountered in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Biophysics and Biomechanics

• Computers in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Recent Advances related to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Barrier-free Environment and access related issue

• Schemes and Benefits extended to persons with disabilities by the Govt.

• Legislation in relations to disability- National and International

• Evidence-based Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Medical Emergencies in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Geriatric Rehabilitation

• Pediatric Rehabilitation including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, learning disabilities, multiple disabilities etc…

• Principles of Sports Medicine

• Musculoskeletal trauma and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Low back pain and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Mobility aids, wheelchairs and seating systems

• Lower limb prosthetics and amputee rehabilitation

• Upper limb prosthetics and amputee rehabilitation

• Spinal orthoses – principles, types, materials and indications

• Upper limb orthotic devices – principles, types, materials and indications

• Lower limb orthotic devices – principles, types, materials and indications

Scope of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation:

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is a field of medicine that involves management of disorders that make a change in the functioning and performance of patients. In this field, focus is laid on the optimization of functioning of patients through experiential training approaches, prosthesis, orthotics, assistive device and adaptive equipment, activities & movement modification, physical training with therapeutic exercise, physical modalities and through combined usage of medicines. This field offers a wide scope for the professionals particularly in rehabilitation centres and hospitals with special care ward for patients with physical disorders. Since these professionals are capable of treating common ailments like back pain, traumatic brain injury, sport injury, stroke, etc… they are also appointed in hospitals with multi-specialty facilities.