Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Amala Nagar, Thrissur, Kerala, India

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Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is “a set of measures that assist individuals, who experience or are likely to experience disability, to achieve and maintain optimal functioning in interaction with their environments". It involves identification of a person’s problems and needs, relating the problems to relevant factors of the person and the environment, defining rehabilitation goals, planning and implementing the measures, and assessing the effects.

PMR, also known as Physiatry is about patient-centered care and maximizing independence and mobility with the goal of returning patients to their role in society. It is unique among medical fields in that the area of expertise addresses function of the whole patient, as compared with a focus on an organ system or systems.

At AIMS, a Rehabilitation Team is being set up to offer complete solutions to persons with disabilities. The overall functioning of the department will cover the areas depicted in the table with close collaboration among various medical and allied health specialties.

OP Timing

Mon – Sat 8.00 am – 2 pm (Tuesdays till 12 noon and Fridays till 11 am)

Rehabilitation Interventions

Medical & Interventional Management: Diagnose, Prognosticate, Relevant investigations, Medical management, Preventing anticipated complications, Follow up – closely monitoring therapy progress and communication with team.	Training how to perform function, especially activities of daily living (ADL) including Bladder and bowel training– Occupational (OT), Developmental (DT), and Speech Therapies (ASLP)
Exercises, physical modalities – Physiotherapy (PT)	Assistive Technology, Prosthesis-Orthosis (P&O)
Psychosocial interventions (Psychology, MSW)	Barrier Free Environment, Community reintegration and Vocational Training /Return to Work

Dedicated Rehabilitation services are currently available at the Dept. of PMR, AIMS

Paediatric – Cerebral Palsy (CP), Developmental delays, Meningomyelocoele (MMC), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) – motor coordination disorders, etc.
Spinal cord injury (SCI), Stroke, Acquired Brain injury (ABI).
Other Neurorehab – Movement Disorders (Parkinson’s Disease, Ataxias), Muscular Dystrophies, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Neuropathies, etc.
Musculoskeletal (MSK), Rheumatologicaland Orthopedic conditions – Managementof CRPS, Foot ulcer management (Diabetic/neuropathic) including total contact casts, serial casting, serial orthotic correction for deformities, etc.
Amputee Rehabilitation.
Assistive Technology (AT) and Prosthetic-Orthotic (P&O) Clinics.
Cancer Rehabilitation – lymphedema management, spinal supports.
Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
Research.
ICU Care, positioning, early mobilization, augmented communication in the ICU, facilitation of recovery, rehab nursing, etc.

Faculty Details

Name	Designation	Qualification
Dr. Dominic K Puthoor	Professor & Head	D Ortho. 1986, MS Orthopaedics 1988	30-05-1956	Profile
Dr. Sindhu Vijayakumar	Associate Professor	MD 2001, DNB 2001	22-04-1974	Profile
Dr. Asha Elizabeth Mathew	Associate Professor	MBBS 1991, DPMR 1999, DNB 2001		Profile
Dr. Sinjitha VK	Senior Resident			Profile
Dr. Shaji Pankiraj	Senior Resident			Profile

Dr. Sindhu Vijayakumar

Qualification

MBBS from JIPMER, Pondicherry in 1997
MD PMR from AIIMS, New Delhi in 2001
DNB PMR from NBE, Delhi in 2001

Experience

Aug 2018 – Mar 2022: Physiatrist and Head, Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Unit
Oct 2017 – Aug 2018: Private Practice
Jul 2011 – Nov 2016: Post Graduate Medical Trainee (Resident)
Mar 2008 – Jun 2010: Assistant Professor, PMR
Oct 2006 – Mar 2008: Specialist Grade II, PMR
Dec 2004 – Oct 2006: Senior Research Associate, Dept of PMR
Aug 2001 – Aug 2004: Senior Resident, PMR
Jul 1998 – Aug 2001: Junior Resident, PMR
Aug 1997 – Jun 1998: Resident Medical Officer (RMO)

Publications

Chapter in Text Book of Gynaecology by Dr.SudhaSalhan. “Role of Rehabilitation Medicine in Gynaecology Practice”.

V Sindhu, U Singh, S Wadhwa, SL Yadav. Advantages of Ischial Weight Bearing Immediate Post Operative Prosthesis. IJPMR, April 2002; 13: 5-11.

S Vijayakumar, U Singh. PWD Act: Awareness among beneficiaries and members of rehabilitation team. Indian Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, April 2004; 15: 12-16.

S Vijayakumar, U Singh.“Prevalence of medical complications vis-à-vis psychosocial complications in spinal cord injury patients”. IJPMR, April 2004; 15: 38-44.

Sindhu V, Diganta Borah and U. Singh. “Significance of grip strength in Geriatric Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study”. IJPMR, April 2006; 17 (1):5–7.

Sindhu V, Anil K Gupta, M MAraf, Diganta Borah, S L Yadav, U Singh, Sanjay Wadhwa. vi. “Multiple Disabilities – Challenges in Rehabilitation: A Case Report”. IJPMR, October 2006; 17 (2): 41 – 44.

S Vijayakumar, U Singh, SL Yadav. Spinal Tuberculosis: Presenting as Retroperitoneal Lymphadenopathy, Obstructive Uropathy, Chronic Renal Failure and Back pain – A Case Report. IJPMR, April 2003; 14: 19-23.

“Age related changes in postural stability”. Diganta Borah, Sanjay Wadhwa, Upinderpal Singh, Shiv LalYadav, ManasiBhattacharjee and Sindhu V. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, October 2007; 51 (4): 395 – 404.

“Persons with Disabilities and their Employment: Can I do anything to bring about a positive change as a Physiatrist?”. Kerala Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (KJPMR), April 2021; 18 (3): 8 - 10.

Dr Asha Elizabeth

Qualification

MBBS from Medical College Kottayam in 1991
DPMR from Medical College Calicut in 1999
DNB from NBE, Delhi in 2001

Experience

Assistant Professor PM&R . Amala Institute of Medical Sciences 2010 - 2021
Consultant Rehabilitation Medicine. Amala Institute of Medical Sciences 2002 - 2009

Publications

Mathew, Asha Elizabeth, and Thomas John. “A Clinical and Neurophysiological Analysis of Idiopathic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Respect to Gender and Occupation.” Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology vol. 24,6 (2021): 865-872. doi:10.4103/aian.AIAN_148_21.

John, Thomas, and Asha Elizabeth Mathew. “Efficiency of 90-Min Extended EMLA-Induced Stimulated Skin-Wrinkling Test in the Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.” Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology vol. 25,1 (2022): 92-99. doi:10.4103/aian.aian_305_21.

Publications

Asha Elizabeth Mathew, Thomas John. A clinical and neurophysiological analysis of idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome with respect to gender and occupation.Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2021; 24(6): 865–872..
Thomas John, Asha Elizabeth Mathew. Efficiency of 90‑Min Extended EMLA‑Induced Stimulated Skin‑Wrinkling Test in the Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Ann Indian Acad Neurol.2022;25(1): 92-99.