The Vital Role of Professionalism in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Professionalism in medicine is universally embraced, and it is the foundation for core competencies in medical education, clinical practice, and research. Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians must master a complex body of knowledge and use this to responsibly care for patients. Rehabilitation professionals work in various settings; however, each one must establish and maintain ethical standards consistent with the specialty and national standards. For example, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education lists professionalism as one of its six core competencies, which trainees must master. There is a growing interest in professionalism and some of the ethical issues that it encompasses. This report provides a general overview of professionalism. Future reports are needed, and there is an opportunity to consider many facets of professionalism in greater detail.

Neuromuscular rehabilitation and electrodiagnosis. 1. Mononeuropathy.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights mononeuropathies. It is part of the chapter on neuromuscular rehabilitation and electrodiagnosis in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article specifically focuses on diagnostic criteria and classifications of mononeuropathies, including carpal tunnel, brachial neuritis, and lumbosacral plexopathy. The timeline status post nerve injury is discussed in relation to findings on electrodiagnostic studies. The differential diagnosis and electrodiagnostic design and interpretation is detailed in the chapter. Treatment options are reviewed. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVE: To summarize the diagnosis, classification, and treatment of mononeuropathies, from an electrodiagnostic perspective.

Neuromuscular rehabilitation and electrodiagnosis. 2. Peripheral neuropathy.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights peripheral neuropathies. It is part of the chapter on neuromuscular rehabilitation and electrodiagnosis in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article specifically focuses on diagnostic criteria and classifications of peripheral neuropathy, including diabetic, alcoholic, carcinomatous, human immunodeficiency virus-associated, and critical illness polyneuropathies. Treatment options are reviewed. The causes for difficult to obtain nerve conduction studies are highlighted. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVE: To summarize the diagnosis, classification, and treatment of peripheral neuropathies.

Neuromuscular rehabilitation and electrodiagnosis. 3. Diseases of muscles and neuromuscular junction.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights formation of a differential diagnosis as well as electrodiagnostic evaluation for those patients who present with the common complaint of weakness. It is part of the chapter on neuromuscular rehabilitation and electrodiagnosis in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article specifically focuses on the common symptoms and typical clinical findings that allow the clinician to narrow the differential diagnosis. This is followed by the diagnostic evaluation, with emphasis on the technical aspects and interpretation of electrodiagnostic studies. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical presentation and electrodiagnostic findings in persons with disorders of muscle or disorders of the neuromuscular junction.

Neuromuscular rehabilitation and electrodiagnosis. 4. Pediatric issues.

UNLABELLED: This self-directed learning module highlights the physician's role in the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders in pediatric populations. It is part of the chapter on neuromuscular rehabilitation and electrodiagnosis in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article discusses both clinical and electrodiagnostic features of common neuromuscular disorders in pediatric populations. The diagnostic value of somatosensory evoked potential is reviewed in a case of traumatic spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality. Therapeutic interventions of progressive muscular dystrophy are discussed, as well as the differential diagnosis of floppy infant syndrome, the most common pediatric electrodiagnostic referral. OVERALL ARTICLE OBJECTIVES: (a) To become familiar with electrodiagnosis and rehabilitation for common neuromuscular disorders in the pediatric population, (b) to undrstand electrodiagnostic findings of Guillain-Barre syndrome corresponding to pathophysiology, (c) to become familiar with somatosensory evoked potentials, and (d) to be able to make differential diagnosis of floppy infant syndrome based on clinical findings as well as electrodiagnosis.