The International Biophilia
Rehabilitation Academy (IBRA) is a growing international body devoted to innovative rehabilitation medicine.
The literary meaning of the word 'biophilia' is 'love' for 'life'. That
is actually the essence of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation, in the past,
was most often associated with neuro-musculo-skeletal recuperation after
trauma or various somatic diseases. This meaning has considerably evolved
in recent times. We now talk about organ, like the lung, or system, like
the respiratory system, rehabilitation. Psychological and antistress rehabilitation
has moved to the center stage of late, which, in particular, concerns counteracting
of the aging process. Since the aging process is not a pathological condition,
the latter area of rehabilitation is not related to a disease – quite a
change from the original concepts of medical rehabilitation. Aging
is inevitable. We witness a rapid extension of the life span, as individuals
get ever closer to the biological limit of life. That, understandably, causes a
range of medical problems. Rehabilitation aims at slowing of the aging process,
making the life of better quality in old age, and promoting healthy life style.
'Love for the life' is the psychological basis of rehabilitation success.
Rehabilitation research is thus not only about methods and technical innovations
to improve physical functioning, albeit always much desired, but also to
give psychological strength to overcome stigmatization of disabled persons
and to change attitudes toward them.IBRA organizes conferences on rehabilitation
medicine and innovations in it. It was my honor to be the chair of the
last such conference held in Warsaw, Poland in September of 2008. The next
conference is planned to be held in Cuba, where the rehabilitation medicine
is on the rise. The conference is expected to cover a broad range of aspects
of rehabilitative medicine. The goal is to have clinically oriented conferences, which, however, cannot take place
without the underlying basic research. IBRA
endeavors to contribute to the improvement of people's lives and welfare, in
particular, those who live into the old age, and by doing so IBRA proves the excellence and standing in the rehabilitation field.
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