Philosophy and Clinical Reasoning in Rehabilitation Sciences: Bridging the Gap

Abstract

This paper addresses the relatively overlooked field of rehabilitation and physical medicine, offering an epistemological perspective on clinical reasoning in these disciplines, focusing on three different domains: diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Rehabilitation sciences, often overshadowed by medicine and nursing, present unique challenges in terms of clinical reasoning. We explore these challenges, highlighting the distinctive features that set rehabilitation apart from clinical medicine. Notably, rehabilitation focuses on functions, aiming to improve an individual’s quality of life, setting it apart from disease-centered medicine. Drawing also from philosophical insights in nursing literature, we offer a multidisciplinary perspective on the epistemological dimensions of rehabilitation and physical medicine, shedding light on their placement within healthcare disciplines.