Rehabilitationsmedizin

Rehabilitationsmedizin, or physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) in international contexts, is a medical specialty devoted to restoring function, reducing disability, and promoting participation for people affected by illness, injury, or chronic disease. Grounded in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, it emphasizes a person-centered, multidisciplinary approach to maximize independence and quality of life across medical, social, and environmental dimensions.

The field covers a broad spectrum of care, including neurological rehabilitation after stroke, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury; musculoskeletal and orthopedic rehabilitation; cardiopulmonary rehabilitation; pediatric and geriatric rehabilitation; and rehabilitation after cancer or complex multi-system illness. Settings range from inpatient units and specialized rehabilitation hospitals to outpatient clinics and home-based or community programs.

Key interventions combine medical management with rehabilitative therapies such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and pain management. Orthotics and prosthetics, assistive devices, environmental adaptations, and vocational or social reintegration strategies support daily functioning. A multidisciplinary team—comprising rehabilitation physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and orthotists/prosthetists—coordinates care around individualized goals.

Training and certification vary by country, but in many systems the specialty requires medical school followed by a dedicated residency in rehabilitationsmedizin or PM&R and board certification. Evidence-based practice relies on outcome measures such as functional independence measures or Barthel Index, patient-reported outcomes, and standardized assessments. Ongoing research focuses on neuroplasticity, early rehabilitation, integrated care models, and the use of digital and tele-rehabilitation technologies.