[Physiotherapy in rheumatology]

Inflammatory and non-inflammatory rheumatic as well as degenerative disorders have a tendency to progress resulting in morphological and functional deficits and thus cause impairment of physical health. To inhibit this debilitating development, physiotherapeutic and exercise strategies are indispensable and in exceptional cases can be necessary for the whole lifetime. This article presents a current overview of the aims of treatment, methods and techniques, modes of action, indications and contraindications and application modalities, as well as the current underlying scientific evidence.