Comprehensive Study Guide to Foundations of Health, Physiotherapy, and Rehabilitation Systems

Definition and Pillars of Health According to the OMS

  • Official Definition of Health:

    • Defined by the OMS (Organización mondial de la salud) not merely as the absence of affections or diseases, but as a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being.

  • The Three Fundamental Pillars of Health (33 Pilares):

    • Physical Pillar (Fisico):
    • Defined as the proper, optimal biological and bodily functioning of the organism.
    • Mental Pillar (Mental):
    • Encompasses emotional, psychological, and cognitive well-being.
    • Social Pillar (Social):
    • Represents the capacity for adequate interpersonal interaction and effective integration within the community environment.

Conceptual Foundations and Organizational Definitions of Physiotherapy

  • AMEFIR (Asociación Mexicana de fisioterapia):

    • Professional Identity: A specialized health profession whose primary objective is to promote health and optimal function ("función óptica").
    • Scientific Process: Applies rigorous scientific principles to execute a continuous clinical pathway comprising examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.
    • Core Aims: Seeks to prevent, develop, maintain, and restore movement as well as functional capacity throughout the entirety of life ("durante toda la vida").
    • Therapeutic Modalities and Methods:
    • Therapeutic exercise (ejercicion terapéutico).
    • Application of heat (calor).
    • Application of cold (frío).
    • Therapeutic massage (masale).
    • Physical agents (agentes Fisicos) deployed systematically to attain maximum functionality.

  • WCPI:

    • Core Scope and Practice: A health profession dedicated comprehensively to human function and movement.
    • Target Beneficiaries: Delivers professional clinical services designed for both individual patients and broader community populations.
    • Lifespan Approach: Strives to develop, maintain, and restore maximum movement and functional capacity across all stages of life.
    • Central Goals: Maximizes physical potential and overall quality of life.
    • Etiological Factors Addressed: Manages and addresses impairments, limitations, and physical conditions resulting from:
    • Aging processes (envejecimiento).
    • Traumatic injuries (lesiones).
    • Pathological conditions and diseases (enfermedades).
    • Environmental factors and external barriers (factores ambientales).
    • Continuous Spectrum of Action: Spans health promotion, prevention, clinical treatment/intervention, and functional rehabilitation.

  • OMS (Organización mondial de la salud):

    • Dual Nature: Defined as both an art and a science centered on treatment through physical modalities.
    • Historical Benchmark: Landmark definition established in the year 19581958.
    • Specific Treatment Modalities:
    • Therapeutic exercise (ejercicio terapectico).
    • Heat therapy (calor).
    • Cold therapy (frío).
    • Light therapy (luz).
    • Hydrotherapy / Water therapy (agua).
    • Therapeutic massage (masaje).
    • Electricity / Electrotherapy (electricidad).
    • Rehabilitative and Restorative Objectives:
    • Prevents functional deterioration, readapts individuals to their environments, and rehabilitates patients to enhance functional movement and life quality.
    • Goes beyond treating isolated traumatic injuries by promoting general health and systemic well-being.
    • Directly restores functional capacity and operational independence required for daily living activities.
    • Healthcare System Integration: Positions rehabilitation directly into primary health care (atención primaria de salud).

Healthcare Levels and Rehabilitation Delivery Architecture

  • Primary Care Level (Atención Primaria):

    • Integration of rehabilitation into foundational, community-level public health.
    • UBR: Community Physiotherapy Clinic (Clinica comunitaria de Fisioterapia).
    • Home Healthcare Services: Home-based clinical care (Atención domiciliaria).

  • Secondary Care Level (Alenación Secundaria / Atención Secundaria):

    • Specialized ambulatory facilities and hospital institutions (Ambulatorio especializado - Hopital).
    • CRI: Specialized intermediate rehabilitation facilities.
    • Home Healthcare Delivery: Specialized home care interventions (Atención domiciliaria).

  • Tertiary Care Level (Atención Terciaria / Atencion teraaria):

    • Highly specialized outpatient units (Ambulatorio especializado).
    • Specialized home-based intervention protocols (Atención domiciliaria / Atencion domialaria).