Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2012 Dec;48(4):543-8.
The aim of this article is to focus some numbers of research in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM): from a better understanding of these data new insights can be gained about where we are and where we are going.
We performed a bibliometric search in May 2012 using the Medline MeSH term "Rehabilitation", whose definition is: "Restoration of human functions to the maximum degree possible in a person or persons suffering from disease or injury". We used the instruments of the research engine GoPubMed® as an independent search device.
The number of papers published in PRM every year has risen steadily in PubMed. This is even more true for rehabilitation, where the rise has been more rapid (114% more than PubMed growth). This increase in research interest in the last ten years is more marked in some countries, mainly in the Mediterranean area (e.g. Italy +207%), than in others. In the top ten countries in Pubmed, the Australasian area is publishing relatively less in PRM than in general. Specifically, Europe takes a leading role mainly owing to the high rank of the northern countries.
These results clearly show a steady increase of research in PRM. Some reasons include the relatively recent development of specific measurement tools and research methodologies, as well as that of the general reference framework for our specialty (ICF). One consequence is the increasing number of journals and their Impact Factor (from a maximum below 2 in 2000, to around 4 now).
The PRM growth parallels the evolution of the Western countries (aging and burden of chronic diseases). Somehow, our specialty is relatively gaining power and resources when compared to others. Consequently, PRM is attracting also physicians from other specialities. Only by properly accommodating this growth, we will we be able to harness the surging forces we have already encountered and will presumably continue to face in the years ahead.
本文旨在聚焦物理医学与康复医学（PRM）的部分研究领域：通过更好地理解这些数据，我们可以深入了解我们所处的位置以及未来的发展方向。
我们于 2012 年 5 月在 Medline MeSH 主题词“康复”下进行了文献计量学检索，其定义为：“对患有疾病或受伤的个体，最大程度地恢复其人体功能”。我们使用了 GoPubMed®研究引擎的工具作为独立的搜索设备。
PRM 每年在 PubMed 上发表的论文数量稳步上升。康复领域的上升速度更快（比 PubMed 的增长率高出 114%）。在过去十年中，对康复研究的兴趣增长在某些国家更为明显，主要是在地中海地区（例如意大利增长 207%），而在其他国家则不然。在 PubMed 排名前十的国家中，澳大拉西亚地区在 PRM 方面的发表量相对较少。具体而言，欧洲处于领先地位，主要是因为北欧国家的排名较高。
这些结果清楚地表明，PRM 的研究在稳步增长。一些原因包括特定测量工具和研究方法的相对较新发展，以及我们专业的一般参考框架（ICF）的发展。其结果是期刊数量及其影响因子的增加（从 2000 年的最高值低于 2 到现在约为 4）。
PRM 的增长与西方国家的发展轨迹相吻合（老龄化和慢性病负担增加）。不知何故，与其他专业相比，我们的专业正在获得更多的权力和资源。因此，其他专业的医生也开始关注康复医学。只有通过适当适应这种增长，我们才能利用我们已经遇到的和未来几年可能继续面临的汹涌澎湃的力量。
