Balaji S. Charlu, MD

Dr. Bobby S. Charlu is an interventional physiatrist who specializes in the non-surgical care of musculoskeletal and spine related disorders. Growing up in Michigan, Dr. Charlu was an avid tennis and soccer player. This love of sports drew him to pursue sports and musculoskeletal medicine when choosing his medical specialty.

Physiatrists are experts in the rehabilitation of nerve, muscle and bone injury. Dr. Chalru’s goal is to offer all minimally invasive treatments outside of surgery to his patients. Treating injury, improving pain and enhancing performance are the cornerstones of his treatment.

In addition to performing basic spinal therapy and diagnostic procedures, Dr. Charlu brings a variety of advanced pain management therapies to Hoag Orthopedic Institute including radiofrequency ablation, discography, percutaneous discectomy, spinal cord neuromodulation and regenerative PRP. He is currently active in interventional spine research and is a teaching faculty member of the North American Spine Society.

Dr. Charlu is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) with sub-specialty board certification in pain management and sports medicine.

Dr. Charlu attended Michigan State medical school and completed his residency in PM&R at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Texas, where he was chief resident. He completed his fellowship training in interventional pain management at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 2006.

In his spare time, Dr. Charlu enjoys spending time with his wife and three children in Irvine in addition to his active participation in sports including tennis, running, biking and triathlons.