[Exercise therapy in the medical rehabilitation of German Pension Insurance: Healthcare provision in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic].

Authors

Lukas Born, Silke Brüggemann

Published in

Die Rehabilitation. Jul 13, 2026. Epub Jul 13, 2026.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine exercise therapy in medical rehabilitation provided by the German Pension Insurance (DRV) in 2022 and assess possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We analyzed routine data from 2022 and 2023, collected within DRV's rehabilitation quality assurance and coded the data using the Classification of Therapeutic Services (KTL). Scope, distribution, and formats of exercise therapy (sports and exercise therapy, physiotherapy, recreation therapy) were evaluated across eleven indications. Data from 2007 and 2014 served as historical comparators.
In 2022, exercise therapy accounted for an average of 40.2% of total rehabilitation treatment time. The highest share was observed in orthopedics (49.5%), the lowest in rehabilitation for substance use disorders (13%). The average weekly duration was 8.8 hours, markedly lower than in 2014. Oncology and neurology showed the most pronounced declines, alongside reductions in group therapy time. In 2023, the share of exercise therapy increased again to an average of 45.3%.
Exercise therapy remains a cornerstone of rehabilitation within the DRV but varies considerably across indications. The COVID-19 pandemic led to substantial reductions, particularly in group and physiotherapy services. First post-pandemic data indicate a partial recovery; further research is needed to clarify long-term effects.

PMID:
42442710
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 14 Jul 2026.

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