A grand unified theory of rehabilitation (we wish!). The 57th John Stanley Coulter Memorial Lecture.

Abstract

There has been much discussion of the need to enhance the evidence base supporting rehabilitation practice. Much of this discussion focuses on the need for gathering useful empirical data to support or refute the benefit of specific treatments and services. In contrast, little attention has been paid to the role of theory in advancing science in general and rehabilitation science in particular. This lecture focuses on the role that theory has played in scientific progress and examines some of the theoretical frameworks that may have useful applications to rehabilitation research.