Rehabilitation Definition for Research Purposes: A Global Stakeholders' Initiative by Cochrane Rehabilitation.
Stefano Negrini, Melissa Selb, Carlotte Kiekens and 4 others
PMID 35583514WHAT IT FOUND
Rehabilitation is defined as a multimodal, person-centered, collaborative process.
Single interventions like manipulation or exercise alone do not qualify unless embedded in this broader process. This definition helps researchers and clinicians distinguish true rehabilitation from isolated treatments.
Key findings
01The definition requires rehabilitation to be a multimodal, person-centered, collaborative process targeting capacity and contextual factors to optimize functioning.
02Single interventions provided by rehabilitation professionals outside of a multimodal process are explicitly excluded from the definition of rehabilitation.
03The term 'collaborative' was chosen over 'problem solving' or 'active' to acknowledge the participation of both the person receiving care and the providers.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
This is a definition for research purposes and may not capture the full nuance of clinical practice or patient experience. The consensus was reached by a specific group of global stakeholders and may not reflect the views of all clinicians or patients in every setting. The definition is explicitly stated as a 'first edition' and is subject to future refinement.
Declared interests
The project was initiated and supported by Cochrane Rehabilitation, involving its Advisory Board, Executive Committee, and Headquarters. No specific commercial funding or individual financial conflicts of interest were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this definition as invalidating single interventions in clinical practice. It is a research tool to classify studies. A single intervention can still be effective, but this definition clarifies that such a study is testing an 'intervention within rehabilitation' rather than 'rehabilitation' as a whole process.