by Dr. I-Nan Lien

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation actually consist of “Physical Medicine” and “Rehabilitation Medicine”:
The full name of the Department of Rehabilitation, NTUH should be the “Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, NTUH” because this department engages in both physical and rehabilitation medicine. Meanwhile, it is also the place for “rehabilitation medicine” education and training for several departments of medical school.

Subjects of Rehabilitation Treatment:
All people with pains, joint contracture, deformity, muscle atrophy, weak or cramp, worsen ability of balance and coordination caused by physical diseases, or decreasing or loss of daily living ability resulted from disability, abnormality, cardiopulmonary diseases, mental retardation and language disorder are treatment subjects of this department.

What is "Physical Medicine"?
Physical medicine implies treatment and diagnosing diseases using physical forces such as water, electric, light, heat and mechanic power. Current applications for these physical factors include:
Hydrotherapy (including hot spa therapy） 
Cold Therapy: Cold water therapy, ice massage
Heat Therapy: Hot packs, hot water therapy, paraffin bath, ultrasound diathermy, short wave diathermy, microwave diathermy
Light Therapy: Infrared, ultraviolet, low intensity laser therapy
Electrical Therapy: Direct and alternating current stimulation, interferential current therapy
Massage
Traction 
Exercise Threapy

What is “Rehabilitation Medicine”?
Treat or train physical disabled such as victims of hemiplegia, paraplegia, amputation and so on by various medical specialists, such as rehabilitation doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, orthotics and prosthetics therapists, psycholigists and social workers. It allows disabled to use their remaining ability to live independently and develop their productivity.