As progress in scientific medicine has led to considerable improvement in the outcome of formerly fatal diseases and injuries, rehabilitation has gained an important position in the overall system of health care. The need for such services, however, varies greatly for various age groups. Only some 10% of the disabled population have incurred disabilty in childhood or adolescence. Over 30% have become disabled in the middle years of their life, and more than 50% have acquired the disability beyond the age of 65 (Fig. 1).