Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services

The physical medicine and rehabilitation team at Valley helps people of all ages reach their full potential. We can help you:

• Regain function or develop new abilities — in daily life, at work, at school, or in sports
• Recover from illness, injury, or a medical procedure
• Reduce or eliminate pain

Physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors (called physiatrists) lead our team, working closely with occupational, physical, and speech therapists. We see patients in the hospital and on an outpatient basis.

WATCH: Valley physiatrist Zhi Cheng “Michael” Chen, MD, explains physical medicine and rehabilitation, common conditions treated, and treatments that physiatrists perform.

The Valley Approach to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Physiatrists at Valley see you as a whole person. During our first conversation, we’ll talk about your symptoms and everything that could be causing them.

For example, maybe your pain has to do with the chair you sit on at work, or the way your shoes fit. Maybe a task has gotten harder because you’re no longer using the right tools. By examining both you and your environment, we can get to the root of the problem.

Once we do, we’ll recommend a treatment plan tailored to your daily life, needs and preferences. For example, if you want to avoid certain pain medications, we can offer alternative pain management options.

Your treatment plan may include one or more of the following:

• Alternative pain management
• Assistive devices
• Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections
• Braces or splints
• Cortisone shots (steroid injections)
• Exercise prescriptions
• Orthotics
• Osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT)
• Pain medications
• Prosthetics
• Referrals for occupational, physical or speech therapy
• Trigger point injections
• Workers’ compensation evaluation

Your Care Team

Valley has a whole team of physiatrists, who see patients in multiple locations. Each is an expert in specific areas of physical medicine and rehabilitation. When you call to make an appointment, we’ll help you figure out who you need to see.

Your treatment plan may include a referral for occupational therapy, physical therapy or speech therapy. If it does, your therapists and your physiatrist will work closely together. This team approach ensures that all of your care will be coordinated and focused on the same goals.

Your loved ones are an important part of the team, too. We’re happy to involve them in your treatment plan and therapy appointments. We’ll also give them guidance on helping you at home.

Conditions Treated