Burnout in interventional physiatry: A narrative review

Physician burnout is a significant occupational health concern, with physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) ranking among the specialties with the highest prevalence. However, most research treats physiatry as monolithic without distinguishing among its diverse practice patterns. Interventional physiatry, characterized by high procedural volumes, image-guided techniques, and chronic pain management, introduces occupational stressors whose specific contribution to burnout risk has not been characterized. A narrative review following SANRA guidelines was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar from inception through January 2026. Of 23 studies identified, none specifically examined burnout among interventional physiatrists. Burnout prevalence in analogous procedural specialties, including interventional radiology (71.9%), interventional cardiology (69%), and interventional pain medicine (73.5%), has been reported at levels at or above the rates reported for PM&R overall (48%-62%); however, these specialties differ in patient acuity, training, and care models, limiting direct comparison. Six stressor domains are proposed: procedural throughput pressure, chronic pain management, patient satisfaction score pressure, documentation burden, physical and ergonomic strain, and identity tension. Whether interventional physiatrists experience higher burnout than their non-procedural colleagues remains an open question. Future research priorities include subspecialty-stratified surveys, longitudinal studies, and adapted intervention trials.