Rethinking Rehabilitation

"…a recommended read for any physiotherapist…"
—Journal of Physiotherapy

"The editors … are to be congratulated for assembling and publishing such a rich and thoughtful contribution…"
—Physiotherapy Canada

"This is an interesting and unusual book. Its aim is set out clearly: to help those who practise rehabilitation to reflect on their practice. ... I enjoyed the exploration of words in their restricted meanings which we use and the less restricted ways they are used in everyday speech, and the exposition of movement as a (postmodern) metaphor was fascinating. The section on philosophy in action should be most useful as it is not easy to get such a clear exposition in relation to our practice. ..."
—Anne Chamberlain, FRCP, FRCPCH, Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Leeds, UK, from the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, Volume 47, 2015

"I wish this book was around 10 years ago! Many groups of rehabilitation specialists have tried to accomplish what this book has. The scope of the book is exceptional and the depth of information is reassuring. It will set the stage for many discussions about the nature of rehabilitation for many years. All researchers in rehabilitation need to read this book!"
—Professor Linda Worrall, The University of Queensland, Australia

"Bridging the gap between science and practice is an overwhelming task for the clinician, who must endeavour to keep up to date in scientific findings in a wide range of subjects, as well as work out how to use the information to intervene with clinical problems. … This book shall go a long way in helping you to Rethink Rehabilitation thus encouraging young rehabilitation professionals to think and question."
—Dr. Chitra Kataria, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi, India

"This book easily achieves its aim to encourage "rehabilitation practitioners to engage with theory and theorizing, to assist systematic reflection on what we do, to conceptualize, problematise and theorize as freely as possible, so that new thinking about rehabilitation emerges progressively and collectively" (p.10). The book editors succeed in getting readers to think differently about rehabilitation. Readers can be in for a challenge about their unreflected assumptions and they can expect lots of encouragement to rethink them."
—Franziska Trede, Charles Sturt University

"This volume offers a much needed, high level examination of the rehabilitation research agenda. The issues and questions raised, if carefully considered by the profession, should result in a more strategic approach to rehabilitation research that results in the greatest good for individuals with disabilities."
—James F. Malec, PhD, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Indiana University School of Medicine; Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana

"This book provides an opportunity to ‘get to know’ rehabilitation historically, socially and politically. The authors ‘trouble’ current practice and thinking exposing assumptions and ‘thinking as usual’ to in-depth inquiry and critique. Far from just being critical (in the negative sense of this word) Rethinking Rehabilitation: theory and practice presents realistic and optimistic suggestions for change, which can be incorporated into policy and clinical practice on a very concrete level. This book has excellent clarity of writing making this material accessible to clinicians and academics alike."
—Jenny Setchell, The University of Queensland

"Among the main strengths of book, we should note that the authors were not afraid to propose the process of ‘challenging’ current conception and theories of rehabilitation as an essential way to develop and validate new approaches for better meeting needs of people with disability. … addresses issues such as the iniquity between specific populations in service delivery and the concrete outcomes needed by our society. In many situations, it brings about an individual as well as societal perspective."
—Luc Noreau, Ph.D., Université laval Department of Rehabilitation and Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration

"Let’s start at the beginning. The title of the book presents readers with a challenge: why ‘rethink’ rehabilitation? As a paediatrician with a longstanding interest and involvement in ‘childhood disability’ I have seen the field evolving remarkably – usually too slowly for some of us – and therefore welcome this interesting book, which provides the opportunity – one might say the imperative – to look at all that we do through a fresh lens and consider anew the basic assumptions of our work as professionals. As Professor Wade suggests in his excellent Foreword, this is a book that can and should be used by learners and practitioners at every stage of our careers. The material in this book provides great ‘fodder’ for discussion, reflection, and debate and of course a ‘reconsideration’ of what we do, why and how, in the broad and increasingly important field of ‘rehabilitation’."
—Peter Rosenbaum, Department of Paediatrics, CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University

"I personally recommend reading this book as I have gone through the chapter and contents of it. It’s a boon to clinical practice. This book will help clinician and academicians including students in rehabilitation science. It does make you ponder on known rehabilitation facts again. I shall put it in my practice."
—Dr. Sanjay Parmar, MPT, PhD, Pediatric Physiotherapy, Associate Professor of SDM College of Physiotherapy, India

"…a recommended read for any physiotherapist…"
—Journal of Physiotherapy

"This is an interesting and unusual book. Its aim is set out clearly: to help those who practise rehabilitation to reflect on their practice. ... I enjoyed the exploration of words in their restricted meanings which we use and the less restricted ways they are used in everyday speech, and the exposition of movement as a (postmodern) metaphor was fascinating. The section on philosophy in action should be most useful as it is not easy to get such a clear exposition in relation to our practice. ..."
—Anne Chamberlain, FRCP, FRCPCH, Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Leeds, UK, from the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, Volume 47, 2015

"I wish this book was around 10 years ago! Many groups of rehabilitation specialists have tried to accomplish what this book has. The scope of the book is exceptional and the depth of information is reassuring. It will set the stage for many discussions about the nature of rehabilitation for many years. All researchers in rehabilitation need to read this book!"
—Professor Linda Worrall, The University of Queensland, Australia

"Bridging the gap between science and practice is an overwhelming task for the clinician, who must endeavour to keep up to date in scientific findings in a wide range of subjects, as well as work out how to use the information to intervene with clinical problems. … This book shall go a long way in helping you to Rethink Rehabilitation thus encouraging young rehabilitation professionals to think and question."
—Dr. Chitra Kataria, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi, India

"This book easily achieves its aim to encourage "rehabilitation practitioners to engage with theory and theorizing, to assist systematic reflection on what we do, to conceptualize, problematise and theorize as freely as possible, so that new thinking about rehabilitation emerges progressively and collectively" (p.10). The book editors succeed in getting readers to think differently about rehabilitation. Readers can be in for a challenge about their unreflected assumptions and they can expect lots of encouragement to rethink them."
—Franziska Trede, Charles Sturt University

"This volume offers a much needed, high level examination of the rehabilitation research agenda. The issues and questions raised, if carefully considered by the profession, should result in a more strategic approach to rehabilitation research that results in the greatest good for individuals with disabilities."
—James F. Malec, PhD, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Indiana University School of Medicine; Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana

"This book provides an opportunity to ‘get to know’ rehabilitation historically, socially and politically. The authors ‘trouble’ current practice and thinking exposing assumptions and ‘thinking as usual’ to in-depth inquiry and critique. Far from just being critical (in the negative sense of this word) Rethinking Rehabilitation: theory and practice presents realistic and optimistic suggestions for change, which can be incorporated into policy and clinical practice on a very concrete level. This book has excellent clarity of writing making this material accessible to clinicians and academics alike."
—Jenny Setchell, The University of Queensland

"Among the main strengths of book, we should note that the authors were not afraid to propose the process of ‘challenging’ current conception and theories of rehabilitation as an essential way to develop and validate new approaches for better meeting needs of people with disability. … addresses issues such as the iniquity between specific populations in service delivery and the concrete outcomes needed by our society. In many situations, it brings about an individual as well as societal perspective."
—Luc Noreau, Ph.D., Université laval Department of Rehabilitation and Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration

"Let’s start at the beginning. The title of the book presents readers with a challenge: why ‘rethink’ rehabilitation? As a paediatrician with a longstanding interest and involvement in ‘childhood disability’ I have seen the field evolving remarkably – usually too slowly for some of us – and therefore welcome this interesting book, which provides the opportunity – one might say the imperative – to look at all that we do through a fresh lens and consider anew the basic assumptions of our work as professionals. As Professor Wade suggests in his excellent Foreword, this is a book that can and should be used by learners and practitioners at every stage of our careers. The material in this book provides great ‘fodder’ for discussion, reflection, and debate and of course a ‘reconsideration’ of what we do, why and how, in the broad and increasingly important field of ‘rehabilitation’."
—Peter Rosenbaum, Department of Paediatrics, CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University

"I personally recommend reading this book as I have gone through the chapter and contents of it. It’s a boon to clinical practice. This book will help clinician and academicians including students in rehabilitation science. It does make you ponder on known rehabilitation facts again. I shall put it in my practice."
—Dr. Sanjay Parmar, MPT, PhD, Pediatric Physiotherapy, Associate Professor of SDM College of Physiotherapy, India