Advances in Technology-Assisted Rehabilitation

Book excerpt: According to a 2005 report of the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 1.3 billion people worldwide – 16% of the global population – experienced significant disability. This number has only been increasing due to population ageing and an increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Rehabilitation addresses the impact of a health condition on a person’s everyday life, by optimizing their function and reducing the experience of disability. Rehabilitation ensures people with a health condition can remain as independent as possible and participate in education, work, and meaningful life roles. Global demographic and health trends, such as population ageing, medical staffing shortages, rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases, as well as continued consequences of conflict, injury and developmental conditions are placing increasing demands on the health care systems. The need for quality rehabilitation is rapidly growing, yet in many parts of the world this need is largely unmet.