Conventional rehabilitation focuses on remedying chronic diseases through acupuncture, massage and acupressure to relieve pains, without much consideration in supporting patients' daily living. In view of this, Prof. Cecilia Li at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and her team have been practising a new rehabilitation concept in the quake-stricken areas in Sichuan, integrating rehabilitative therapy and supporting services to patients.

Jointly established by PolyU and the Sichuan University, the "Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Sichuan University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction" is the forerunner of such new concept. In addition to the treatments for wounds and diseases, Prof. Li's rehabilitation team provides patients with community rehabilitative services, such as making supportive aids for hand movements. This will improve patients' self-care ability and living quality during their recovery stage. The team shares theories and experiences with hospitals, with an aim to strengthening healthcare personnel's support and service quality. Efforts are also made to integrate hospitals' rehab services with communal rehabilitation through inter-disciplinary management.