impairment
In rehabilitation, a loss or abnormality of body structure or physiological function at the organ or body-system level.
Full Definition
Within the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework, impairment sits at the body functions and structures level, distinct from 'activity limitation' (difficulty executing tasks) and 'participation restriction' (problems with life involvement). This tripartite distinction is central to rehabilitation documentation and must be observed precisely by editors working on ICF-coded records, research articles, or medicolegal reports. A patient may have an impairment without an activity limitation, and vice versa; conflating these levels is a significant editorial error in this field.
Usage
Usage note: Use strictly in the ICF sense when editing rehabilitation documents. Avoid as a loose synonym for 'disability'.
In Context
- "Reduced grip strength was documented as an upper-limb impairment under the ICF body-functions domain." — Occupational therapy assessment
- "The report must distinguish between the patient's sensory impairment and the resulting activity limitations in self-care." — Editorial style guidance for rehabilitation research