This book presents the most efficient rehabilitation methods in the different stages of the rheumatic diseases. It aims at expanding the knowledge of rheumatological rehabilitation, which has proven to enhance, if correctly prescribed and carried out, the effectiveness of pharmacological therapy, reducing its use.  Besides, the book aims at encouraging scientific studies, the development of guidelines and the training of highly specialized medical and paramedical personnel who can validly perform the proposed treatments on rheumatic patients.

The first part of the book explores the rehabilitation approach to the rheumatic patient, which must be specific, personalized and comprehensive, as well as the assessment of the patient's global health in all its components. Then, useful methods such as postural re-education, water rehabilitation, lymphatic drainage, acupuncture, balneotherapy, etc., are addressed by experienced specialists. Particular attention is given to mind-body therapies (Feldenkrais, Qi Gong, Tai Chi Quan, Yoga, Mindfulness, Pilates and the Rességuier method), which are little known, but very useful for some rheumatic diseases. The second part of the book is dedicated to the treatment of all rheumatic diseases. Each chapter describing the pathology is followed by chapters based on the scientific evidence of the rehabilitation in its various aspects and guidelines developed by scientific societies from different countries. Subsequent chapters deal with the rehabilitation approach to various joints at different phases of the disease.

The book is aimed at rheumatologists, physiatrists, physiotherapists, and nurses, and can be adopted in degree courses for physiotherapists, in postgraduate schools in rheumatology, in postgraduate master courses in rheumatological rehabilitation and in courses for physiotherapists. 

Susanna Maddali Bongi, specialist in Rheumatology, worked from 1978 to 2016 at the University of Florence as a Researcher in Rheumatology and in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, conducting numerous scientific studies in the field of rheumatic diseases.

Her main area of interest was rehabilitation therapy to accompany the pharmacological treatment of rheumatic diseases, making a strong contribution to the creation of the discipline of Rheumatological Rehabilitation. She dealt with rehabilitation methods in the different stages of the disease, in particular Systemic Sclerosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.

She founded the non-profit association AMuRR (Multidisciplinary Association of Rheumatological Rehabilitation), in which all professionals (physiatrists, rheumatologists, physiotherapists, podiatrists and nurses) involved in the various methods of rehabilitation of the rheumatic patient. With AMuRR, Dr Maddali Bongi has dedicated herself to promoting the multidisciplinary approach to the integrated care of the rheumatic patient, personalized to his or her physio-psycho-social situation, by means of courses, masters and congresses. Together with members of the association, she has mainly carried out scientific research in the field of rehabilitation of rheumatic diseases, studying original rehabilitation approaches and methods for different types of patients.

These studies have resulted in numerous scientific publications in international journals, reports at congresses, books on Rheumatological Rehabilitation and Fibromyalgia, chapters  in Rheumatology texts and the establishment of the University Master's Degree Course in Rheumatological Rehabilitation, which she coordinated in Florence from 2004 to 2022.

From 1996 to 2022, she was intensively involved in teaching Rheumatology in many university undergraduate and postgraduate courses. She was also a member of various scientific societies. She has always conducted outpatient rheumatology clinics both in University and freelance practice.