Director Mieczyslaw Pokorski Prof. of Medical Research Center, Polish Academy of Sciences
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 and 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.