Conclusion

Abstract

The thought underlying the rehabilitation of patients with vertebral disorders must be that a disorder seldom has one cause; it is almost always the result of several pathogenetic elements acting together. Unalterable factors that are also involved should not be attributed more importance than they deserve. They do play a role in multifactorial disease processes, but in very few cases is this role decisive. In order that rehabilitation be successful, the cause of the disturbance — the pathomechanisms — need to be uncovered. This begins with several clinical and pathological diagnoses. The rehabilitation program that is then put together should take all of the pathogenetic factors determined into consideration and strive for restitutio ad integrum, or at least attempt to come as close as possible to this ideal condition.