Current

Knowledge & News

Current news from Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – Austria and internationally. For questions: 01 / 769 29 91 or Contact.

Current Medical Findings 2025. Updates from Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy – ÖGPMR, guidelines, statutory cover and pain therapy. For questions or appointment: 01 / 769 29 91 or Contact.

AUSTRIA · LAW

MTD Act 2024: Dry Needling in physiotherapy scope

As of 1 September 2024 the new MTD Act is in force. Intramuscular trigger point therapy (Dry Needling) is now part of the physiotherapy scope and recognised as an ÖGK statutory service since October 2024 – an important step in pain treatment.

Brief · Status 2024/2025

PAIN THERAPY

Interdisciplinary pain therapy: Physical medicine in focus

The Austrian Society for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ÖGPMR) and the Austrian Pain Society are working more closely together. Physical medicine plays a central role in multimodal pain management – e.g. through heat, cold and electrotherapy. The future of pain therapy is interdisciplinary.

Brief · Status 2024/2025

GUIDELINES

Guidelines 2024: Spasticity, stroke rehab and exercise therapy

2024 saw updated guidelines on spasticity assessment and management (AAPM&R), stroke rehabilitation with task-specific practice and botulinum toxin for focal spasticity. For chronic pain, guidelines continue to recommend exercise therapy and a biopsychosocial model as core.

Brief · Status 2024/2025

ÖGK · STATUTORY COVER

ÖGK cost reimbursement: Physiotherapy and therapeutic massage 2024/2025

Under the elective scheme, ÖGK reimburses individual treatments (30–60 min), therapeutic massage (min. 15 min), MLD and home visits, among others. The framework agreement between ÖGK and Physio Austria ensures nationwide harmonisation. Elective physiotherapists can submit invoices directly via WAH-Online – speeding up processing for patients.

Brief · Status 2024/2025

REHABILITATION

Rehabilitation: ICF, MLP and participation-oriented rehab

The pension insurance uses the medical performance profile (MLP) based on the WHO ICF model. Focus: individual, participation-oriented rehabilitation, return to work and self-determination. Stroke rehabilitation is guided by ICF-based goal setting and life-oriented therapy targets.

Brief · Status 2024/2025

EARLY REHABILITATION

Early mobilisation and stroke rehab: guidelines 2024

Current stroke rehabilitation guidelines recommend task-specific, repetitive practice for motor function and activities of daily living, mirror therapy and neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Early mobilisation in intensive care remains central; botulinum toxin is recommended for focal spasticity. Physiotherapy is essential in the early rehab phase.

Brief · Status 2024/2025

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