01602nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653003100055653002800086653001100114653001200125653002200137653003200159653004100191100001500232245010500247300001000352490000700362050001800369520097100387022001401358       2003                            d  c2003 Jan10aActivities of Daily Living10aEvidence-Based Medicine10aHumans10aleprosy10aPatient Care Team10aPhysical Therapy Modalities10aPhysical and Rehabilitation Medicine1 aBrandsma W00a26th Kellersberger Memorial Lecture. Lessons from leprosy rehabilitation for general rehabilitation.  a77-870 v41  aBRANDSMA 20033 a<p>Leprosy is primarily a disease of skin and peripheral nerves. Because of nerve function impairment, leprosy patients may develop primary nerve related impairments such as, loss of sensation and weakness or paralysis. These primary impairments may lead to secondary impairments such as ulceration and contractures. Many other diseases and disorders present with similar impairments as seen in leprosy e.g. diabetes and peripheral nerve injuries. Nerve function assessment and ulcer prevention and treatment are areas that have been researched in leprosy but these research findings are not yet commonly known and adopted in diseases and disorders that 'relate' to leprosy. Rehabilitation is a relatively new field in medicine and not (well) developed in many developing countries. Rehabilitation requires an integrated approach from different disciplines and professionals. As for other medical specialty fields, rehabilitation demands evidence based practice.</p>  a0014-1755