• Rehabilitation

In this issue, Suárez-González et al provide a very useful overview of rehabilitation strategies to reduce disability in people with posterior cerebral atrophy.1 These strategies are generally compensatory or adaptive: approaches commonly employed when managing neurological disability.

• Compensatory skills can be developed and taught to find different ways to accomplish a task, such as one-handed shoelace tying.

• Adaptive strategies may use specialist equipment such as magnetic shoelaces, clothing including slip-on shoes/elasticated trousers or technology such as environmental controls to make tasks possible or easier.

Such strategies can improve function and substantially improve quality of life. Neurologists undoubtedly recognise the role of rehabilitation as a restorative intervention after an acute or single-incident illness or injury, but how many of us find the time to explore quality of life goals and rehabilitation needs at every contact with those living with long-term neurological conditions? It is therefore helpful to reflect on what rehabilitation is and how it is provided.

The WHO defines rehabilitation as ‘a set of interventions designed to optimise functioning and reduce disability in …