title: Evidence based position paper on physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) practice for people with spinal deformities during growth. The European PRM position (UEMS PRM Section).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scoliosis and other spinal deformities involve 3-4% of the population during growth. Their so-called conservative treatment is in the field of competence of physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) physicians. This evidence based position paper represents the official position of the European Union through the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) - PRM Section. The aim of the paper was to improve PRM specialists' professional practice for patients with spinal deformities during growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of the literature and a Consensus procedure with 26 recommendations by means of a Delphi method process has been performed involving the delegates of all European countries represented in the UEMS-PRM Section.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the systematic literature review is reported together with 26 recommendations coming from the Consensus Delphi procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The professional role of PRM physicians in spinal deformities during growth is to propose a complete PRM treatment for the patients considering all the concurring diseases and pathologies, impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions. The PRM physician's role is to coordinate the individual PRM project developed in team with other health professionals and medical specialists, in agreement with the patient and his family, according to the specific medical diagnoses.
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Experimental Sciences Department, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy - stefano.negrini@unibs.it.|Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy - stefano.negrini@unibs.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Negrini
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Hacettepe University, University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fitnat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dincer
authors.affiliation: Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, Pellenberg, Belgium.
authors.forename: Carlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kiekens
authors.affiliation: Orton Rehabilitation Centre, Orton Orthopedic Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Liisamari
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.affiliation: Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Complutense University, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varela-Donoso
authors.affiliation: European University Cyprus, School of Medicine, Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
mesh_terms: D005062:European Union; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013121:Spinal Curvatures / Q000534:rehabilitation*