Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

This issue of our journal is dedicated to the ISPRM 2015 – 9^th World Congress of the International Society for Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine which is held conjunction with the 120^th Congress of the German Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Annual Meeting of the Austrian Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

In its function as the Official Organ of the German and Austrian Societies of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (DGPMR, ÖGPMR), as well as of the respective professional organisations in Germany and Austria (Berufsverband der Rehabilitationsärzte, and Berufsverband Österreichischer Fachärzte für Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation), the journal publishes scientific and educational articles both in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Its history goes back to 1898, when a journal named “Zeitschrift für diätetische und physikalische Therapie” (Journal of Dietary and Physical Therapy) was founded, published by Georg Thieme Verlag, then in Leipzig. This journal was continued in the German Democratic Republic; and when in 1991 the medical societies for physical medicine of East and West Germany merged, their respective journals were united under the present name of “Zeitschrift für Physikalische Medizin, Rehabilitationsmedizin, Kurortmedizin” – Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.

Today, the journal is a platform of scientific and professional information for our discipline in Germany and Austria, and by its cooperation with the ESPRM, the ISPRM, and the section of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine of the UEMS, it encourages and supports the international exchange of scientists in the field[1]. Therefore, we are glad that a considerable number of invited speakers of the ISPRM 2015 followed our invitation to publish an extended abstract of their lectures in this journal. Thank you for your contribution!

Physical Medicine as well as Rehabilitation Medicine encompass a broad range of diagnoses, therapies and and procedures. While, due to diverse structures of medical care, clinical practice may vary in different countries, interdisciplinary as well as international exchange remain the backbone of our discipline. This is why the 9^th World Congress of The International Society for Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine is of outstanding importance to all those who are active in the field. And this is also the driving force behind every scientific journal, as for “Physikalische Medizin, Rehablitationsmedizin, Kurortmedizin” – Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.

Prof. Dr. med. U. C. Smolenski