Recent advances in rehabilitation medicine

Rehabilitation is aimed at minimising the disadvantage experienced by an individual as a result of functional impairment or disability following disease. It also addresses the impact of the social and environmental consequences of disease. Rehabilitation medicine is a new specialty although the concept of rehabilitation is not. Previously this work was undertaken within the fields of rheumatology, physical medicine, neurology, and orthopaedic, general medical and limb fitting services. In some patients, primarily those with neurological and musculoskeletal disease, the interaction of impairments with social and environmental dimensions can be complex. Effective management requires coordination between the patient, carers, and the medical, therapy, nursing, psychology and social services. The management of patients with complex disabilities is undergoing change with the introduction of new treatments, awareness of needs of patients and carers, and new models of care. This conference, entitled 'Medical priorities in the rehabilitation of adults with complex disabilities' given at the Royal College of Physicians on 2 February 1995, reviewed these changes. It dealt with medical priorities in rehabilitation for patients with specific diseases, and recent advances in areas pertinent to rehabilitation medicine.