Abstract

The philosophy of rehabilitation which aims to reduce the impact of disease on all those affected by it is as applicable to chronic neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as it is to single acute events such as head injury and stroke. The principles enshrined within the philosophy of rehabilitation are beguilingly simplistic often obscuring the challenge inherent in their attainment. Placing the patient in the centre of a process which inevitably involves a number of different disciplines and creating a well functioning multi-disciplinary team of which they are a part is indeed a challenge. This team then needs to embark on a journey which has a clear-cut, agreed aim and which is facilitated and supported by smaller steps or short-term goals. The entire process needs to be monitored in a way that allows the demonstration of benefit through the use of clinically appropriate, scientifically sound outcome measures which incorporate the patient's perspective