Dr. Anureet Garg

As a girl growing up in Michigan, Anureet Garg saw fi rsthand how debilitating physical conditions can affect a person’s quality of life. Her grandmother was a paraplegic, while one of her closest friends battled spina bifida. That sparked a passion inside her to become a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician and treat people with physical impairment and disability.

Today, she is living her dream.

Dr. Garg completed her residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation in June 2013 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. In May, she joined the team at Central Florida Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The practice has offices in Leesburg and The Villages and is owned by Dr. Robert Maiello.

“Being here is wonderful because we offer a true physical medicine and rehabilitation practice,” says Dr. Garg, who graduated from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2009. “Dr. Maiello offers comprehensive rehabilitation services, and his emphasis on high-quality patient care is precisely how I practice medicine.”

Dr. Garg loves the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation because she helps impaired patients lead healthier and more independent lives. Her rehabilitation and treatment programs are specifically designed for individual patients depending on the injury, disorder or illness. She enjoys treating various conditions, ranging from arthritis, spinal cord injuries and stroke to brain injuries, neuropathy, sports injuries and almost any physical problem.

“The most gratifying aspect of this job is improving a patient’s quality of life,” she says. “Rehabilitation adds life to years; not just years to life. For instance, a patient can survive a stroke but becomes very dependent on others to help him or her perform simple functions of everyday life. That is not the life people want to live. We help patients become independent and also treat subsequent side effects such as pain and spasticity.”

She offers a wide array of treatment options, including muscle injections, joint injections, spasticity injections and osteopathic manipulations. Dr. Garg can also refer patients to physical therapy and diagnose conditions by ordering medical imaging or performing electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction tests.

“Our field overlaps with other specialties, mainly orthopedics, rheumatology and neurology. As a result, we are a one-stop place for physical problems. That is very beneficial and convenient for patients. For example, if a patient suffers from neuropathy and arthritis, they can come here and receive treatment for both conditions rather than visiting separate doctors.”