Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | UC Davis Health

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Physical medicine and rehabilitation services aim to optimize your function by improving your ability to get around, communicate, and carry out daily tasks. We also offer compassionate mental health support.

Medically reviewed by Shane Stone, M.D. on July 22, 2025.

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Leaders in Rehabilitation Care

Our Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is a regional leader for those who need help regaining certain abilities after an injury or medical condition. We offer a complete suite of inpatient and outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) services.

Our Difference

Dedicated Rehabilitation Hospital

At Sacramento’s first dedicated rehabilitation hospital, we offer specialized inpatient services to help you or your loved one get stronger and live more independently. We also offer outpatient physical therapy services and programs.

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Specialized Care

Our teams provide specialized care for various injuries and medical conditions. We can help you recover from spine injuries, sports injuries, strokes, and other conditions.

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Innovative Research

Our team is actively involved in research and clinical trials. Our dedication to studying causes and treatments of nerve and muscle conditions means more advanced care and better outcomes for you.

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As Sacramento's No. 1 hospital, you'll benefit from unique advantages in primary care and specialty care. This includes prevention, diagnosis and treatment options from experts in 150 specialties.

Referring Physicians

To refer a patient, submit an electronic referral form or call.

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Patients

Call to make an appointment.

Expert Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Care

PM&R is also called physiatry. Medical specialists in this field provide services that improve your bodily function, independence, and quality of life after developing certain injuries or conditions. At UC Davis Health, we offer a full suite of PM&R services. Our services include:

Minimally Invasive Treatments

Our physiatrists provide specialized therapies for pain, including joint injections, nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation.

Meet our physiatrists
Physical Therapy (PT)

Physical therapy combines exercises and education to help you gain muscle strength and move more easily with less pain. We offer inpatient PT for hospitalized patients, as well as outpatient PT. 

Explore our physical therapy services
Occupational Therapy (OT)

Our occupational therapists help you learn how to perform daily living tasks more easily. These tasks include getting dressed, bathing, eating, and brushing your teeth. Our team identifies assistive devices and equipment, such as shower seats, that can simplify daily tasks.

Read more about occupational therapy
Hand Therapy

Our hand therapists perform occupational therapy (OT). They treat conditions or injuries that affect your hand, arm, or shoulder.

See more about hand therapy
Mental Health Support

Our psychologists, neuropsychologists, and social workers help people adjust to a life-changing injury or diagnosis. We offer individual and group counseling. We also help ease the transition back to work.

Learn about our psychological and social services
Orthotics

The UC Davis Health Orthotics Workshop provides customized support braces for your feet, back, hands, and other parts of your body. These devices can help you get around and perform tasks more easily. They also lower your risk of additional injury.

Find out about orthotics
Speech-Language Therapy

Our speech-language pathologists help improve your language, speech, and cognition. They also ensure you can eat and swallow properly. Speech-language therapy also helps improve memory, reasoning skills, and overall communication.

Discover speech-language pathology
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Areas of Expertise

We offer physical medicine and rehabilitation for a broad range of conditions. Our team is active in research and has expertise in specific areas. We specialize in:

Limb Loss

Rehabilitation specialists at our Adult Amputee Clinic promote independence after the loss of a limb. If you get a prosthetic device, we help you get comfortable using it.

Neuromuscular Diseases

Neuromuscular diseases affect your nerves and muscles. These conditions include muscular dystrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Our Neuromuscular Disease Clinic is Sacramento’s official diagnostic site for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. We also have a Neuromuscular Research Lab and an ALS Multidisciplinary Clinic.

Post-Polio Syndrome

Our Post-Polio Clinic offers advanced rehabilitation services for people experiencing late effects of polio. Post-polio syndrome can occur up to 40 years after you’ve recovered from polio. It causes muscle weakness, joint pain, and spine problems. Our clinic is one of only four of its kind in the state.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Our Spinal Cord Injury Clinic is the only one in Northern California offering a full spectrum of services for people with spinal cord injuries. Our experts have advanced training in spinal cord injuries.

Spine Disorders or Injuries

People with degenerative spine disorders, spinal fractures, and other spine problems receive rehabilitative services through our Spine Program.

Sports Injuries

Experts in our Sports and Musculoskeletal Clinic can help you recover from muscle and bone (musculoskeletal) injuries, as well as exercise-related medical conditions. These experts have advanced sports medicine training.

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How PM&R Can Help You

Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists help you recover after an injury or medical condition. We’re here to help you regain and keep an independent life. Benefits of our care include:

Improved Speech

Many conditions can affect your ability to communicate with others, from stroke to spinal cord injuries. Our compassionate, experienced speech therapists work with you to regain your speaking abilities.

Independent Function

After an injury or illness, daily functions may be difficult to do alone. Our specialists help you regain strength and learn ways to stay independent.

Mental Well-Being

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Our team supports you as you recover from major health events so you can overcome challenges and feel your best.

Reduced Pain

Pain can have a significant impact on your daily life. We work with you to find the root cause of pain and offer proven therapies to minimize it.

FAQs About Physiatry

A physiatrist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats a wide range of injuries and conditions. They treat issues with the brain, nerves, and spinal cord, as well as bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. They can perform medical tests and offer minimally invasive treatments, such as pain relief injections.

A physiatrist is a physician who can diagnose and treat musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. A physical therapist (PT) is a non-physician provider who specializes in exercises and movements to treat these conditions.

Awards and Recognitions
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Ranked among the nation’s best hospitals

A U.S. News & World Report best hospital in cardiology, heart & vascular surgery, diabetes & endocrinology, ENT, geriatrics, neurology & neurosurgery, and pulmonology & lung surgery.

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US News & World Report best Children’s Hospital badge

Ranked among the nation’s best children’s hospitals

U.S. News & World Report ranked UC Davis Children’s Hospital among the best in neonatology, nephrology, orthopedics*, pediatric & adolescent behavioral health, and pulmonology & lung surgery. (*Together with Shriners Children’s Northern California)

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USNWR best regional hospital badge

Ranked Sacramento’s #1 hospital

Ranked Sacramento’s #1 hospital by U.S. News, and high-performing in aortic valve surgery, back surgery (spinal fusion), COPD, colon cancer surgery, diabetes, gynecological cancer surgery, heart arrhythmia, heart failure, kidney failure, leukemia, lymphoma & myeloma, lung cancer surgery, pacemaker implantation, pneumonia, prostate cancer surgery, stroke, TAVR, cancer, orthopedics, gastroenterology & GI surgery, and urology.

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The nation’s highest nursing honor

UC Davis Medical Center has received Magnet® recognition, the nation’s highest honor for nursing excellence.

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World-class cancer care

One of ~59 U.S. cancer centers designated “comprehensive” by the National Cancer Institute.

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A leader in health care equality

For the 13th consecutive year, UC Davis Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization.

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