INTRODUCTION TO REHABILITATION AND THE REHABILITATION MODEL

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, also known as physiatry, focuses on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disabling conditions. Disability is usually the result of a disease process or injury and is associated with a change in life roles or activities. Comprehensive rehabilitation promotes improved functional outcomes and quality of life through the use of physical, occupational, speech, and recreational therapists, psychologists, social workers, vocational counsellors, and specialists in other medical/surgical fields. All members of the rehabilitation team focus on restoring or enhancing functional capacity so that individuals can engage optimally in meaningful and satisfying life activities.

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has become the world standard for identifying the domains that influence health and disability. It provides a conceptual model to view human functioning and disability from the perspective of the body, the individual, and society. Rehabilitation professionals frequently use this in evaluating and developing treatment plans for patients. Its first part classifies functioning and disability and its second part identifies environmental and personal contextual factors. For more specific information, please see www.WHO.org.

Human functioning is the end result of contributors from body structures and their functions, and at the level of the whole person, activities, and participation. Body structures are defined as anatomic parts of the body, such as organs, limbs, and their components; body functions are defined as the physiologic and psychological functions of body systems.