Ever since she started her medical practice in Cagayan de Oro City twenty seven years ago, Dr. Grace R. Cid, M.D. has constantly found it necessary to make the public aware of her specialty and the great difference it is capable of in improving the quality of their lives.
Dr. Cid is a physiatrist. She is a Fellow of the Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine, a Diplomate of the Philippine Board of Rehabilitation Medicine and a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. She has formally trained for and accredited in her subspecialty of Sports Medicine.
“A physiatrist practices in the field of physiatry (also called physical medicine and rehabilitation) –a branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and management of disease primarily using “physical” means, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and medications,” Dr. Cid explains. “We treat injuries or illnesses that affect how you move and function. By taking the whole body into account, we are able to accurately pinpoint problems and enhance performance - without surgery.”
The term ‘physiatry’ was coined by Dr. Frank H. Krusen in 1938. The term was accepted by the American Medical Association in 1946. The specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is approximately over 60 years old. Today, there are still just some 300 physicians practicing physical medicine and rehabilitation in the Philippines and only 10 in Northern Mindanao. ( Frontera, W.R. (ed.). (2010). Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkin.) (“Information for Patients and Family,” American Academy of Pain Medicine and Rehabilitation, accessed August 2011.) (http://www.spine-health.com/
After establishing her hospital based practice in three of the city’s leading medical institutions (Northern Mindanao Medical Center, Maria Reyna-Xavier University Hospital and Cagayan de Oro Polymedic General Hospital) over the last three decades, Dr. Cid recently opened Rehab Access, a private, fully equipped physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic located at the 1st floor of the El Cid Building along Gen. Antonio Luna Extension, Cagayan de Oro City next to the regional offices of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
Rehab Access offers medical rehabilitation services for Neurologic Disorders (Stroke, Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries, Nerve and Muscle Diseases, Parkinsonism); Muscoskeletal Disorders (Back and Neck Pain, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Spine Deformity, Osteoporosis, Amputation, Healed Fracture, Contracture, Post Orthopedic Surgery); Pediatric Disorders (Cerebral Palsy, Delayed Motor Development) Conditioning in Cardiac and Pulmonary Disorders; Geriatric Rehabilitation; Orthotics (Pre- and Post-Prosthetic Training) and Sports Injuries.
The center is fully equipped with instruments and facilities essential to rehabilitation medicine such as heating pads and bath, ice packs, traction devices, paraffin wax bath, ultrasound, laser, infrared light, electrotherapy unit, stimulators and a therapeutic gym.
“You should consider seeing a rehabilitation physician if you had an accident or have an injury or chronic condition that has left you with pain or limited function,” Dr. Cid explains. “We can also assist you if you’re contemplating or recovering from surgery; have an illness or treatment that has diminished your energy or ability to move easily; recovering from the effects of a stroke or other problems related to nerve damage; have chronic pain from arthritis, a repetitive stress injury, or back problems; have had a heart attack or had undergone cardiac surgery; or recently experienced life changes such as childbirth or menopause which have created new challenges to your physical function.”
Among the common conditions that are treated by the rehabilitation therapists are stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, musculoskeletal pain syndromes such as low back pain, fibromyalgia, frozen shoulder, amputation, and sports injuries. They also facilitate cardiopulmonary rehabilitation which involves optimizing function in those afflicted with heart or obstructive lung disease.
“The job of a rehabilitation physician is to treat any disability resulting from disease or injury, from sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries,” Dr. Cid says. “The focus is on the development of a comprehensive program for putting the pieces of a person’s life back together after injury or disease – without or after surgery.”
“We will thoroughly assess your condition, needs, and expectations and rule out any serious medical illnesses in developing a treatment plan to address your specific needs and goals. A clear understanding of your condition and limitations will help us develop a treatment plan suited to your unique needs,” she added.
“If surgery is needed, we will team up with your surgeons before and after surgery. By directing your treatment team and collaborating with other health care professionals, we can design a treatment program specially tailored for you.”
By providing an appropriate treatment plan, rehabilitation physicians help patients stay as active as possible at any age. Their broad medical expertise allows them to treat disabling conditions throughout a person’s lifetime (http://www.aapmr.org/
Rehab Access is open Mondays to Fridays 9-12am and 2-6PM and Saturdays 8-12AM. Consultation hours with Dr. Cid are Mondays to Fridays 2-6PM and Saturdays 9-12AM.
For more details, contact tel.(88) 880-1373 or mobile # 09177073356.
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