About ICF: a multi-dimensional, interactive model
In the ICF, functioning and disability are multi-dimensional concepts, relating to:
- the body functions and structures of people (and impairments thereof),
- the activities of people and the life areas in which they participate (and the activity limitations or participation restrictions they experience), and
- the environmental factors which affect these experiences (and whether these are facilitators or barriers).
The ICF conceptualises a person's level of functioning as a dynamic interaction between their health conditions, environmental factors, and personal factors (Figure 1)
Disability is thus seen as multidimensional and interactive. All dimensions are important and any one may affect any other. Environmental factors are important, affect everything, must be understood and may need to be changed.
