Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: From the Birth of a Specialty to Its Recognition

Abstract

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) was subordinate to different specialties. Currently, it is recognized as essential to improving healthcare. How did it originate and which events impacted it? Different events have impacted the development of PMR including war, epidemic, sport, natural disasters, and the demographic and sociocultural characteristics of each country. At present, PMR is experiencing some difficulties throughout the world; we present proposals to improve its position to bring the specialty up to the specialty podium. Accidentology, sports events, and natural disasters enrich medicine in general and PRM in particular. Indeed, all these events create disability through a participatory and integrative strategy of the patients; PMR always takes up the challenge.