Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

"Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, also known as Physiatry is a branch of medicine that aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life of persons with various impairments and disabilities. Of late, in our country, the health and rehabilitation needs of differently abled or challenged persons is drawing great attention"

At present it is one of the three premier centres of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in Tamil Nadu along with Government Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, K.K. Nagar, Chennai - 83 and CMC, Vellore.

The primordial origin of PMR in Annamalai University had with two staff members and hardly occupying an area of 500 Sq. ft. in the Botany Department, at that time functioning as an annexe of the old Hospital. The daily OP attendance was around 15 to 20 without any inpatient facilities. From that stage the Division had a phenomenal growth to the present form – with 32 faculty members, separate full-fledged sections of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Artificial Limb Centre, Play therapy & Community Rehabilitation Programme, altogether occupying a floor area of 22,000 Sq. ft. spread over the top floor of the erstwhile Casualty Block. Now the daily OP attendance is 60 to 70. In accordance with the guidelines of the MCI, the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Unit has 30-inpatient beds (20 male & 10 female) adjacent to the OPD

The thrust area of PMR at present is enhancing function and positive change in Quality of Life of patients with Musculo - Skeletal, Neurologic and Cardio respiratory impairment, and in children and adults with psychological and behavioral problems

The Division is well equipped with resources to realize these targets. At the same time, this Division also contributes trained manpower to achieve “Rehabilitation for All”.

COURSES CONDUCTED

(A) Medical - Started in 2004
MD (PMR) - 1 seat (Duration: 3 years)

(B) Allied Health Sciences

1. MPT - 10 seats (Started in 1999) (Duration: 2 years)

a. PT in Orthopedic conditions - 2 seats
b. PT in Paediatric conditions - 2 seats
c. PT in Neurological conditions - 2 seats
d. PT in Cardio-respiratory conditions - 2 seats
e. Sports Physiotherapy - 2 seats

2. BPT - 30 seats (Started in 1991) (Duration: 4 years + 6 months internship)

3. BOT - 20 seats - Started in 1994 (Duration: 4 years + 6 months internship)

(C) PhD in Physiotherapy - Started in 2007 (4 Awarded, 7 Ongoing)

The courses are interdisciplinary in nature, as the respective parts of the syllabus are covered by the Departments concerned. The involved Departments in the curriculum are English, Sociology, Psychology, Education, Management, Statistics, Physical Education & Sports Sciences, Yoga and Nursing besides various Divisions of R.M.M.C.

All these courses are now well established and the alumni are placed in prestigious Institutes all over India and also abroad.

In addition the Division of PMR participates in the teaching / training of MD/MS students (Paediatrics & Orthopaedics), VI semester MBBS & B.Sc., Nursing students.