RehabifyLead physiatrist
Dr. Dharshan N A
Consultant in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Qualifications
- MBBS, MD (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation), Fellowship in Interventional Pain Management
- Languages
- Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, English, Manipuri, Hindi
- Procedures
- Ultrasound and fluoroscopy-guided injections and nerve blocks, when suitable
- Sees
- Adults, children and older adults, in clinic or by video
- Formats
- Clinic visit or video consult
About Dr. Dharshan
Dr. Dharshan N A is a physiatrist, a doctor who specialises in physical medicine and rehabilitation. He looks after adults, children and older adults with conditions that affect movement and daily life: stroke, spinal cord and head injury, Parkinson's disease, back and neck pain, joint pain and sports injuries. His training covers rehabilitation and interventional pain management. That means he can treat pain with exercise, medicines and, when suitable, image-guided injections and nerve blocks, and then build the rehab plan that helps you stay well. He has worked in a 30-bed rehabilitation department at a teaching hospital, in a multispecialty hospital and in senior care in Bengaluru, where he set up fall-prevention and pressure-injury plans and led team-based rehab.
How they work
Principles, in order.
How your plan is built and adjusted.
- 01
Non-surgical first
He looks at what can be done with what is available. For someone who comes four years after a stroke with a lot of tightness, he asks what function they could still gain. If pain is the limit, he treats the pain. If tightness is the limit, he decides which muscle to target.
- 02
Change the plan if nothing changes
If a treatment does not help, he changes the activities or finds a device that restores function.
- 03
Never limited to one organ or one diagnosis
The question is always what function he can help you regain.
- 04
Independence matters
"What is the point of saving a life if you are not able to do your work independently?"
Education and training
Qualifications and training.
Medical degrees and specialist training, in order.
MBBS, Annapoorana Medical College and Hospitals, Salem, Tamil Nadu
MD, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur
Interventional Pain Management, Delhi Pain Management Centre
MD thesis: Correlation of balance impairment with pain and functional disability in people with primary osteoarthritis of the knee.
Memberships and research
Memberships
- Life Member, Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IAPMR)
- Life Member, Global Regenerative Orthopedic Sciences Foundation
Research publications (International Journal of Scientific Research)
- Ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma versus high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, cartilage thickness and physical function in primary knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial (October 2024)
- Profile of pressure ulcer and other complications in traumatic spinal cord injury patients (April 2022)
- Effectiveness of ultrasound-guided local ozone injection in carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomised controlled trial (February 2022)
- Ultrasound-guided autologous blood injection versus extracorporeal shockwave therapy in chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a randomised controlled trial (March 2021)
Experience
Clinical experience.
Roles in rehabilitation and pain care.
Specialist, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, multispecialty hospital, Bengaluru
Consultant, senior care, Bengaluru: rehabilitation for stroke, brain injury, Parkinson's disease, fractures and complex musculoskeletal conditions; ICF-based plans; spasticity and pain care; fall prevention and pressure injury protocols with a multidisciplinary team.
Consultant, physical medicine and rehabilitation, multispecialty hospital, Bengaluru: image-guided joint, peri-articular and trigger point injections and peripheral nerve blocks; spine pain (cervical, thoracic and lumbar radiculopathy, facet and myofascial pain); neuro-rehabilitation for adults and older adults; paediatric rehabilitation for cerebral palsy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and autism.
Junior Consultant, multispecialty hospital, Bengaluru: neuro-rehabilitation for brain injury, stroke, spinal cord and nerve injuries, with early mobilisation, tone assessment and cognitive screening, working with neurosurgery, neurology, physiotherapy and ICU teams.
Senior Resident, Department of PMR, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal: managed stroke, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and rheumatological disorders in a 30-bed PMR department; planned care for rheumatology and chronic pain with physicians, physiotherapists and occupational therapists; used medicines, nerve blocks and physical therapy modalities for pain.
Conditions
Care Dr. Dharshan looks after.
Chips link to the matching care page.
Pain and spine
- Low back pain
- Neck pain
- Sciatica
- Facet joint pain
- Myofascial pain
- Image-guided injections
Brain and nerves
Children
Older adults
- Falls and balance
- Osteoporosis
- Pressure injury prevention
Questions
Before you book.
What people ask about seeing Dr. Dharshan N A.
What does a physiatrist do that a physiotherapist does not?
A physiatrist is a medical doctor. Dr. Dharshan diagnoses the cause of pain or weakness, orders and reads scans, prescribes medicines, does image-guided procedures when needed and leads the rehab plan. Physiotherapists are therapists who deliver much of the exercise and hands-on treatment. The two work together.
Does Dr. Dharshan see children?
Yes. He looks after children with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and developmental delay, together with their parents and therapists. A parent or guardian attends every consultation, in clinic or by video.
Can I see Dr. Dharshan by video?
Yes. Video consults suit first advice, follow-ups and home programmes. If you need an examination or a procedure, he will ask you to come in.
Which languages does he speak?
Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, English, Manipuri and Hindi.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Dharshan N A, consultant in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Book a consultation
Tell us where it hurts. We plan the way back.
Start with one consultation. Choose a clinic visit or a video consult, and the team confirms your time by phone or WhatsApp.
Prefer to call? +91 79048 42576
- 1
You send a request
Online, on WhatsApp or by phone.
- 2
We confirm a time
By phone or WhatsApp, for the clinic or a video consult.
- 3
You meet your doctor
Bring your reports and wear loose clothes.