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Rethinking physical and rehabilitation medicine pp 19–52Cite as

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), a unifying model for physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM)

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Abstract

A unifying scientific model is of utmost importance for any professional, academic, and scientific discipline. It provides a conceptual link between disparate parts that might appear superficially to lack an intellectual relationship. Thus, it ensures communication and exchange among practitioners and scientists. To be able to rely on a common model seems to be of even more importance for a professional discipline, such as physical medicine and rehabilitation (internationally now called physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM)), that is not defined by a disease or an organ system. Instead, PRM is concerned with limitations of functioning and disability associated with health conditions and with the complex interaction with personal factors and the environment (45). Indeed, PRM can be understood as the “medicine of functioning.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Sciences and Health Policy, University of Lucerne Lucerne and SPF, Switzerland

    Gerold Stucki

  2. Swiss Paraplegic Research (SPF), Postfach, CH-6207, Nottwil, Switzerland

    Gerold Stucki & Alexandra Rauch

  3. ICF Research Branch WHO FIC CC Germany (DIMDI) at SPF And at Institute for Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (IHRS), Ludwig-Maximilian University, Marchioninistr. 17, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Gerold Stucki & Alexandra Rauch

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  1. Gerold Stucki
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  2. Alexandra Rauch
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Stucki, G., Rauch, A. (2010). The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), a unifying model for physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM). In: Rethinking physical and rehabilitation medicine. Collection de L’Académie Européenne de Médecine de Réadaptation. Springer, Paris. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-2-8178-0034-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-2-8178-0034-9_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Paris

  • Print ISBN: 978-2-8178-0033-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-2-8178-0034-9

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