Physical medicine and rehabilitation in Croatia is regulated activity that has developed slowly over history. We can attribute this to the influence of different civilizations, cultures and nations of wich Croatia was part. Some rehabilitation facilities have a millenial tradition, while others have been running for less than a decade. Various social phenomena (wars, migrations), wich was a significant part of the last century, had a great influnece on the development of physical medicine and rehabilitation as a global professional activty. In addition to the society, it is important to mention social factors wich have long been recognized as an important health factor, but only recently they have been given greater importance. All of these factors have led to the development of the medical profession, wich had a major impact on extending life expectancy of the population, leading to the development of the profession, first as physical therapy, then as physical medicine and finally as physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physical medicine and rehabilitation is concerd with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment or intervention, habilitation and rehabilitation wich encompasses the physical, psyhological, emotional and social well being.