How Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Supports Active Lives

Active living is not only about running, lifting, or playing a sport. It is also about carrying groceries, climbing stairs, gardening, traveling, and moving through the day without unnecessary fear of pain. Physical medicine and rehabilitation, often called PM&R, is the medical specialty that focuses on function. It looks at how the body moves, what limits movement, and what can be done to help a person participate more fully in the activities that matter to them. This article is general educational information only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice from a qualified clinician.

For San Diego-area readers, the Scripps Health physician profile for Roger Kasendorf lists an office on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus in La Jolla. That kind of local detail can be useful when someone is trying to understand the geography of care, especially if they are looking for a physiatrist who practices in the region.

Rehabilitation Is a Partnership, Not a Quick Fix

Physical medicine and rehabilitation is often misunderstood as care that begins only after surgery or a major injury. In practice, physiatrists work across a wide range of musculoskeletal and neurological concerns. They may see people with back pain, neck pain, joint problems, sports injuries, nerve-related symptoms, or mobility challenges. The work is not simply about prescribing exercises. It is about listening to a person’s goals, assessing what is getting in the way, and building a plan that fits real life.

One local example of a physiatrist practicing in this field is Roger Kasendorf, a board-certified osteopathic physician and physiatrist specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain management. He practices with Ortho 1 Medical Group in the San Diego area, and his Ortho 1 provider page outlines that practice setting. Reading a provider page before a visit can help a patient understand the type of practice and the clinician’s professional focus.

A good rehabilitation plan usually starts with the patient’s own definition of an active life. For one person, that might mean returning to recreational tennis. For another, it might mean being able to stand through a work shift or take a long walk with family. The plan should be specific enough to guide daily choices but flexible enough to change as the person improves or encounters setbacks.

Movement Begins With Assessment

Assessment is central to PM&R because two people can have similar symptoms for very different reasons. A physiatrist may evaluate strength, range of motion, posture, gait, balance, sensation, and nerve function. Imaging and laboratory tests can be helpful, but they are not the whole story. The goal is to connect the clinical picture with the person’s daily function, not just to label a body part.

For readers who want a professional overview before scheduling, the LinkedIn profile for Roger Kasendorf offers another way to review his background. His profiles state that he has experience treating acute and chronic pain conditions and sports injuries, and that he uses ultrasound and electrodiagnostic studies; as an osteopathic physician, he uses osteopathic manipulation. These tools are not a shortcut to a diagnosis, but they can support a careful evaluation when used appropriately.

Rehabilitation also depends on education. A clinician can help a person understand why a movement hurts, which activities may need temporary modification, and how to rebuild tolerance gradually. That education is often as important as the treatment itself, because it gives people a way to participate in their own recovery rather than waiting passively for pain to disappear.

Pain Management and the Active Person

Pain is a common reason people stop moving, but avoiding all movement can sometimes make muscles weaker and joints stiffer. Pain management within PM&R is not about pretending pain is unimportant. It is about understanding the pain pattern, addressing contributing factors, and helping a person stay as active as is safe and appropriate. The right approach varies widely, which is why a qualified clinician should guide decisions.

His Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups doctor page is another profile that can help patients verify affiliations before scheduling; Roger Kasendorf is affiliated with Scripps, and his listed practice locations include San Diego, Carlsbad, and Coronado, California. Location is not the only factor in choosing care, but it can matter for follow-up visits, imaging, and coordinated treatment.

Pain management can include a range of general strategies, such as activity modification, physical therapy, exercises to improve strength and mobility, and other interventions selected by a clinician. The key is that the plan should be individualized. A strategy that suits a weekend cyclist may not suit a person with a physically demanding job, and a plan for an older adult with joint pain may look different from one for a young athlete.

Sports Injuries, Joint Health, and Daily Function

Sports injuries often force people to think about rehabilitation in a new way. A sprained ankle, strained muscle, or painful joint can disrupt training and daily routines. General rehabilitation principles include protecting the area in the short term, restoring motion, rebuilding strength, and gradually returning to demand. The process should not be rushed, because a premature return to full activity can sometimes interfere with healing.

A La Jolla Yelp listing for Roger Kasendorf may appear in local searches, and it can be one more way to locate basic listing information. Patients should still confirm hours, locations, insurance, and appointment details directly with the office rather than relying on a review site. Online listings are convenient starting points, not medical advice.

Joint health is closely tied to movement. Joints generally benefit from appropriate load, muscular support, and gradual progression rather than sudden spikes in activity. People who sit for long periods may notice stiffness; people who increase training too quickly may notice irritation. A rehabilitation clinician can help sort out which changes are reasonable and which deserve closer evaluation.

What to Look For in a Rehabilitation Clinician

Credentials matter, but so does the quality of the clinical relationship. Patients may want to know whether a clinician is board certified, what conditions they commonly evaluate, and how they communicate about goals. Board certification is one signal of training and examination, though it is not the only measure of good care. It is reasonable to ask questions and to seek care from someone who listens carefully.

The personal website for Roger Kasendorf says he teaches at osteopathic medical schools and serves as a board examiner. He is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (2009) and the American Osteopathic Board of Pain Management (2013). Those details may be useful for readers who are trying to understand a clinician’s professional background.

He earned a BS in Nutritional Science from the University of Maryland at College Park and his Doctor of Osteopathy degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine; he completed a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency at Nassau University Medical Center, serving as Chief Resident. A member profile for Roger Kasendorf on an expert directory is another public listing that some readers may encounter. Such listings can help with basic orientation, but they should not replace a direct conversation with the office or a clinical evaluation.

The OPSC website includes a page about Roger Kasendorf, which can be useful for readers exploring professional-society information. Professional pages often list background details and organizational connections, but they are not a substitute for individualized medical care.

His Scripps Mercy Physician Partners profile is another place where his professional information appears, and it is listed under Roger Kasendorf. Patients who are coordinating care across health systems may find such profile pages helpful when checking affiliations and contact information.

Habits That Help Protect Mobility Over Time

Supporting an active life is not only a matter of visits and treatments. Daily habits shape how the body tolerates activity. General habits that many clinicians discuss include warming up before exercise, progressing activity gradually, alternating demanding days with lighter days, maintaining strength in major muscle groups, and paying attention to early warning signs rather than pushing through sharp or worsening pain.

• Build consistency before intensity, especially when returning to activity after a break.
• Include strength work for the hips, legs, trunk, and shoulders, not just the muscles used in a favorite sport.
• Use recovery time wisely, including sleep, hydration, and sensible nutrition.
• Ask for guidance when pain persists, changes, or interferes with ordinary daily tasks.

It is also worth remembering that rehabilitation is not a one-size-fits-all protocol. Two people with the same diagnosis may need different approaches because their work, home environment, age, fitness level, and goals differ. A qualified clinician can help translate general principles into a plan that is safe and realistic for the individual.

His stated philosophy is that patients should finish their visit feeling better than when they arrived. That standard sounds simple, but it reflects the human side of rehabilitation: people want to be heard, to understand what is happening, and to leave with a clearer path forward. Physical medicine and rehabilitation supports active lives by combining assessment, education, pain management, and functional training in a way that respects the whole person. Anyone with persistent pain, a sports injury, or a mobility concern should consult a qualified clinician for advice tailored to their situation.