Physiatric evaluation is recommended when even the simplest movements become difficult and/or painful, thus compromising quality of life and affecting the person’s autonomy. Consultation with the specialist, treatments and physiotherapeutic exercises, prove invaluable both in the most acute phase of the disorder and in the later phase as maintenance, to ensure the best mental and physical well-being.

The Physiatrist and Physiotherapist deal with:

• Post-orthopedic surgery treatments (e.g., rehabilitation after hip, knee, shoulder prosthetic surgery, post cruciate ligament reconstruction, spinal surgery outcomes, etc.) and/or neurosurgical surgeries
• Joint/muscle trauma such as contractures, muscle distractions, sprains, contusions, tendinopathies, lumbago (back pain), lumbosciatica, cervicalgia, painful shoulder conditions
• Orthopedic dysmorphisms (flat foot, varus or valgus knees, scoliosis) affecting the musculoskeletal system
• Neurological diseases secondary to acute events (e.g., post-stroke hemiparesis), Neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s disease), Multiple Sclerosis, peripheral nervous system diseases (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome), and others, affecting balance and movement ability
• Rheumatic diseases such as osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue disease, polymyalgia, etc.
• Edema, lymphedema, phlebedema, situations of fluid accumulation in the interstitial tissue causing problems with the lymphatic system and circulation.

• Postural examination
• Podiatric evaluation
• Physiatric evaluation
• Baropodometric examination
• Path analysis
• Identification of child, adolescent and adult paramorphisms and dysmorphisms
• Assessment of cognitive, memory and language disorders
• Assessment of urinary and fecal continence
• Visit with functional assessment: when the physiatric examination arises from the need to produce comprehensive documentation for the submission of the disability application, the assessment will mainly concern autonomy in the performance of everyday life (ADL), a direct index of care needs.
• In addition to objective assessment, assessment scales and specific tests (e.g., Barthel, Mini mental state examination) will be used.