A physiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D.) that is specially trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation.  They treat a wide variety of problems from sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries.  They are experts at diagnosing and treating pain in a non-surgical setting.

The goal of a physiatrist is to help patients restore optimal function lost due to injury, illness or disabling conditions and to overcome physical limitations.  These can be temporary, short-term conditions like a sports or work-related injury as well as long-term serious or chronic disorders. 

Physiatrists focus on patients dealing with:  loss of function, disability, and physical impairments which affect daily living.  They treat many musculskeletal conditions, and acute and chronic pain, such as arthritis, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, back pain, and fibromyalgia.