Recent advances in rehabilitation

摘要

In Western countries 13-14% of the population have some degree of disability. The demand for rehabilitation services will increase as evidence accrues for their effectiveness and as more people survive longer with substantial disability. Current evidence strongly supports the provision of well organised, coordinated, multidisciplinary rehabilitation services based on a problem oriented approach. In future, specific interventions will be more evidence based, leading to more appropriate use of interventions and more appropriate referrals to specialist services. Rehabilitation has recently seen many practical innovations and new evidence for specific interventions, but the major advances in rehabilitation are conceptual rather man practical. Firstly, the approach to patients has moved from a predominantly medical one to one in which psychological and sociocultural aspects are equally important Secondly, the need for organised specialist rehabilitation services—for example, for neurological disabilities—is being recognised.