The 13th International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine World Congress (ISPRM 2019) was open in Kobe, Japan on June 10, 2019. 2470 rehabilitation experts from 73 different countries and regions gathered together to discuss the cutting-edge technology and future development trend in the field of rehabilitation medicine. The theme of this conference is that: Rehabilitation as the Cutting Edge of Medicine (Rehabilitation is at the forefront of medicine.). Just as Professor Eiichi Saitoh, who is from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Japan, said, "Pathological changes determine function, but rehabilitation can change pathology by improving function. Let's start the magic of rehabilitation."

    In the keynote report of the conference, Professor Kazuhisa Domen from Hyogo Medical University in Japan expounded the multimodal neural rehabilitation strategies for upper limb dysfunction. He divided the commonly used rehabilitation programs into three categories: A, motor relearning therapy; B, terminal effector regulation; C, neural regulation. He believes that the combination of these two or more treatments can produce better rehabilitation efficacy. This is similar to the "Central-peripheral-central" closed-loop rehabilitation theory that was put forward by Professor Jia Jie of Fudan University. 

    Professor Gerard Francisco, who is from the Center for Health Sciences at the University of Texas, introduced the vagus nerve stimulation technique (Vagus nerve stimulation, VNS). He explained the principle of VNS, clinical treatment and preliminary clinical studies, as well as the possible risks of VNS in detail. Implantation of VNS can improve the efficiency of rehabilitation by promoting the release of neurotransmitters acetylcholine and norepinephrine. 

    Professor Alberto Esquenazi from MossRehab gait and exercise analysis laboratory in Philadelphia, USA, explored and summarized the influence of rehabilitation innovation technology on the development of rehabilitation medicine. With the progress of science and technology, the field of physical and rehabilitation medicine has accelerated its development, and more resources have been devoted to the innovation of rehabilitation technology to improve the quality of life of patients.