Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences最新文献

{"title":"Application of continuing care based on an information platform in discharged patients with first-ever stroke.","authors":"Lai Wenping, Du Xiaojun, Wang Liyan","doi":"10.3389/fresc.2026.1812131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2026.1812131","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To develop a continuing care intervention program based on an information platform and evaluate its effectiveness in discharged patients with first-ever stroke.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 90 eligible patients were randomly assigned to a control group (<i>n</i> = 45), which received traditional continuing care, or an experimental group (<i>n</i> = 45), which received traditional care plus the information platform-based intervention. Outcomes were assessed at discharge, 1 month, and 3 months post-discharge.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At 1and 3months post-intervention, significant differences (<i>P</i> < 0.05) favoring the experimental group were observed in modified Rankin Scale scores, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, Activities of Daily Living scores, stroke readmission rates, complication rates, patient satisfaction, and disease knowledge awareness rates.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The information platform-based continuing care program significantly improved neurological function, enhanced daily living activities, reduced complications and readmissions, and increased patient knowledge and satisfaction, demonstrating its value in the rehabilitation of first-ever stroke patients after discharge.</p>","PeriodicalId":73102,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences","volume":"7 ","pages":"1812131"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13139152/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147846992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Latent profile analysis for kinesiophobia in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.","authors":"Qi Luo, Xiaojing Guo, Yi Xu, Yanqiu Yang, Mingzi Li","doi":"10.3389/fresc.2026.1755424","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2026.1755424","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Kinesiophobia is a common psychological barrier among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), yet its heterogeneity remains unclear. Identifying distinct fear-of-movement patterns may support targeted rehabilitation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients scheduled for CABG (<i>N</i> = 296; 78.7% male; mean age=59.97 years, SD = 10.0). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed using the four domains of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart to identify subgroups. Model fit indices, entropy, and class interpretability guided the selection of the optimal model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three distinct latent profiles emerged, representing the best statistical fit and interpretability. The majority of participants exhibited moderate kinesiophobia (75.3%), followed by a low kinesiophobia group (22.3%). A small high kinesiophobia group (2.4%) demonstrated substantially elevated scores across all domains, especially in perceived danger and exercise avoidance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Three distinct latent profiles of kinesiophobia were identified among patients undergoing CABG, highlighting notable heterogeneity in fear-of-movement responses. These findings provide a basis for developing personalized rehabilitation strategies, and future studies should investigate the psychological and clinical factors underlying this heterogeneity and its implications for postoperative outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":73102,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences","volume":"7 ","pages":"1755424"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133559/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of continued inpatient therapies on functional recovery and community discharge in patients with acquired brain injury.","authors":"Esha Patel, Aditya Dharani, Simon Gelman, Hayk Petrosyan, Kristen A Harris","doi":"10.3389/fresc.2026.1804358","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2026.1804358","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Inpatient rehabilitation (IRF) is beneficial for patients with acquired brain injuries (ABI), yet some require ongoing therapy at a skilled nursing facility (SNF). While previous research has examined factors influencing community discharge from SNFs, no studies have specifically evaluated ABI patients admitted to SNFs after IRF stays. The aims of this study are to evaluate functional improvements of acquired brain injury patients undergoing rehabilitation at SNF after an IRF stay and determine factors associated with community discharge.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a retrospective cohort study at a SNF unit specialized in brain injury patients and affiliated with an academic medical center. It included patients admitted to a SNF unit from an acute IRF between September 2018 to May 2024, age 18 years or older, with an ABI. The main outcome measures included AM-PAC (Basic Mobility, Daily Activity, and Applied Cognitive) scores and a multivariate analysis of factors associated with community discharge.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 218 patients with ABI admitted to SNF, 191 (88%) were discharged to the community and 27 (12%) to long-term care (LTC). Mean AM-PAC scores improved across the entire sample in all subdomains. Patients discharged to LTC had a longer length of stay, time since injury, and lower AM-PAC scores. Admission Basic Mobility scores and a diagnosis of ischemic stroke were predictors of community discharge.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Patients with ABI admitted to SNF following an IRF demonstrate significant functional progress, with most patients discharged to the community. Admission functional scores and diagnosis are key factors associated with community discharge.</p>","PeriodicalId":73102,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences","volume":"7 ","pages":"1804358"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13125107/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neurosurgery to restore function in cerebral palsy: current practice and emerging therapies.","authors":"Akshay Sankar, Awa Jobe, Bailey McDonald, Taylor J Abel, Amit Sinha, Martin G Piazza","doi":"10.3389/fresc.2026.1789774","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2026.1789774","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cerebral palsy (CP) affects 1.5-2.5 per 1,000 live births and manifests as diverse movement disorders including spasticity, dystonia, and mixed phenotypes that significantly impact motor function and quality of life. This review examines surgical and neuromodulatory interventions for medically refractory CP-associated movement disorders. Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) offers a novel treatment option for spastic diplegia in ambulatory children (GMFCS II-III), with combined dorsal-ventral rhizotomy showing promise for mixed presentations. Peripheral neurectomies provide targeted focal spasticity management with sustained improvements in muscle tone and walking speed. Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) effectively reduces spasticity and dystonia through programmable drug delivery, though infection rates and potential scoliosis progression require monitoring. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting the globus pallidus internus demonstrates efficacy for dystonia-predominant CP, with younger patients showing greater improvement. Emerging cerebellar DBS approaches show early promise for spasticity and mixed presentations. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) may benefit select patients with spasticity or painful dystonia, though evidence remains limited. Focused ultrasound represents a novel noninvasive ablative option currently under investigation. Treatment selection requires multidisciplinary evaluation considering movement disorder phenotype, functional goals, patient age, and family factors. As understanding of CP pathophysiology advances, mechanism-based, individualized treatment algorithms will increasingly optimize functional outcomes for this heterogeneous patient population.</p>","PeriodicalId":73102,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences","volume":"7 ","pages":"1789774"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13125063/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of self-selected music on psychophysiological responses to goal-directed exercise in Parkinson's disease.","authors":"Sophia L Porrill, Jane B Allendorfer, Alexandra M Evancho, Christine C Ferguson, Jenna M LaChenaye, Haley M Nguyen, Rebecca R Rogers, Christopher G Ballmann","doi":"10.3389/fresc.2026.1778451","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2026.1778451","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exercise is a cornerstone adjunct therapy for people with Parkinson's Disease (PwP) but tolerance is often impaired by non-motor processes including decreased motivation, psychological arousal, and physical effort allocation. Self-selected music (SSM) improves motivation and arousal state thereby enhancing physical effort and capacity during goal-directed exercise in healthy adults. Whether these effects translate to PwP is unclear. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of SSM on psychophysiological responses and goal-directed exercise performance during a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in PwP. In a counterbalanced crossover manner, PwP (<i>n</i> = 12) completed two 6MWT under different listening conditions: 1) White noise (WN) and 2) SSM. Participants walked as far as possible in six minutes while listening to the corresponding condition while heart rate, metabolic equivalents (METs), steps, and distance were monitored. After the completion of each 6MWT, motivation, psychological arousal, enjoyment, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed. Findings show SSM music resulted in significantly higher heart rate (<i>p</i> = 0.004; d = 1.1), METs (<i>p</i> = 0.013; d = 0.9), total steps (<i>p</i> = 0.029; d = 0.8), and distance (<i>p</i> = 0.044; d = 0.6) compared to WN. Levels of psychological arousal (+62.6%; <i>p</i> = 0.001; d = 1.6), motivation (+94.1%; <i>p</i> < 0.001; d = 1.4), and enjoyment (<i>p</i> < 0.001; d = 2.0) were higher with SSM compared to WN. No differences in RPE were seen with SSM vs. WN (<i>p</i> = 0.309; d = 0.3). These preliminary data suggest SSM may aid in improving goal-based exercise performance and psychophysiological determinants of exercise capacity in PwP. Although larger sample sizes and more robust testing are warranted, SSM may be an effective ergogenic tool for PwP.</p>","PeriodicalId":73102,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences","volume":"7 ","pages":"1778451"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13121146/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147791073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanomaterial-enabled physical rehabilitation: mechanisms, evidence, and translational pathways.","authors":"Sarfaraz K Niazi","doi":"10.3389/fresc.2026.1763655","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2026.1763655","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Physical rehabilitation relies on macroscopic therapeutic modalities such as ultrasound, photothermal stimulation, electrical activation, magnetic fields, and controlled mechanical loading to restore function after injury, surgery, or neurological impairment. Although these approaches are clinically established and widely used, their effects remain constrained by limited spatial precision, shallow penetration, heterogeneous tissue responses, and insufficient control over the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern healing. Advances in nanoscience have introduced a new class of materials capable of mediating, amplifying, or refining external physical stimuli at the nanoscale. Nanomaterials exhibit tunable optical, magnetic, mechanical, and electrical properties that enable the conversion of externally applied energy into localized thermal, mechanical, or electrochemical cues, thereby influencing cellular behavior with a degree of precision not achievable by conventional modalities alone. These properties suggest potential-demonstrated primarily in preclinical models-to improve musculoskeletal repair, modulate nociceptive pathways, enhance neuromuscular activation, and integrate with regenerative scaffolds, though clinical validation remains limited. Yet, despite promising experimental findings, translation into rehabilitation practice remains limited by gaps in mechanistic understanding, variability in experimental design, safety uncertainties, and complex regulatory pathways. This review examines the fundamental properties of nanomaterials relevant to physical rehabilitation, analyzes their interactions with primary therapeutic modalities, evaluates preclinical and early clinical evidence, and outlines translational, safety, and regulatory considerations. By synthesizing mechanistic insight with empirical data, the review defines realistic opportunities and the limitations that must be resolved to advance nanomaterial-enabled physical rehabilitation toward clinical implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":73102,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences","volume":"7 ","pages":"1763655"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13111205/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147791115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Upper limb motor recovery using a digital health-driven IoT rehabilitation system: a case report.","authors":"Shuichi Sasaki, Naonobu Takahira, Natsuki Sato, Takayuki Watabe, Michiteru Miyazaki, Syuhei Chiba, Sora Kurosaki, Yutaka Ishii, Takuya Nakai, Atsuko Karube, Akari Kobayashi, Kouji Tsuda","doi":"10.3389/fresc.2026.1767786","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2026.1767786","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Digital health-driven rehabilitation systems incorporating Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have attracted increasing attention as a means to support upper limb motor recovery after stroke. However, detailed clinical descriptions of their implementation in routine inpatient rehabilitation remain limited.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>We report the case of a right-handed man in his forties with right-sided upper limb motor impairment following putaminal hemorrhage. The patient underwent rehabilitation using a digital health-driven IoT-based upper limb rehabilitation system starting approximately one month after stroke onset during the convalescent rehabilitation phase.</p><p><strong>Intervention: </strong>The intervention was conducted over a two-week period, consisting of 10 sessions (approximately 40 min per session) as part of routine inpatient rehabilitation. The system integrated a portable smart projector, a three-dimensional motion capture sensor, and a communication robot to deliver interactive, task-oriented training. Five activities of daily living-oriented tasks (wiping, unlocking, squeezing, cup transfer, and typing) were implemented, with task difficulty adjusted by the treating occupational therapist according to the patient's performance.</p><p><strong>Outcomes: </strong>Upper limb motor function assessed by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the Upper Extremity improved from 63 to 66. Real-world arm use assessed by the Motor Activity Log showed an Amount of Use score of 5 both before and after the intervention, suggesting a ceiling effect, while the Quality of Movement score improved slightly from 4.8 to 5. The patient demonstrated high engagement and adherence throughout the intervention, and no adverse events were observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This case report demonstrates the clinical feasibility of integrating a digital health-driven IoT rehabilitation system into routine inpatient stroke rehabilitation. Although generalization is limited by the single-case design, the present case highlights the potential of IoT-based digital health technologies to support task-oriented training and patient engagement in upper limb rehabilitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":73102,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences","volume":"7 ","pages":"1767786"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13111331/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147791012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Treatment of residual and phantom limb pain using percutaneous ablation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Kevin R Murray, Griffin Pauli, Michael Catapano","doi":"10.3389/fresc.2026.1802455","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2026.1802455","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Limb loss is estimated to affect 176 million people globally. Up to 80% of patients experience significant residual limb pain (RLP) and phantom limb pain (PLP) following amputation, and generally respond poorly to conventional therapies. Percutaneous ablation has emerged as a promising intervention for both RLP and PLP pain. We sought to systematically review and evaluate the efficacy and adverse outcomes of thermal radiofrequency ablation (RFA), pulsed RFA, and cryoablation in the treatment of post-amputation pain.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Medline, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus databases were systematically search on August 19, 2024 for all English language articles related to post-amputation pain treated with an ablation technique. Articles were assessed for risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool for case reports and case series. Outcomes included response to standardized pain scales (either numeric rating scale or visual analog scale), functional outcomes, and adverse events.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 1233 articles, 20 were included for analysis. This included 1 randomized control trial (<i>n</i> = 144 patients), 9 case series (<i>n</i> = 74), and 10 case reports (<i>n</i> = 10). Comparing across 3 studies (<i>n</i> = 32 patients), thermal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) improved RLP compared to baseline at 2-weeks [weighted mean difference from baseline: 7.0 (95% CI: 6.8-7.3; <i>p</i> < 0.0001)] and 6-month [6.7 (6.7-6.8; <i>p</i> < 0.0001)]. For pulsed RFA we compared across 4 studies (<i>n</i> = 6 patients) to show improvement in RLP from baseline to 1-month [7.8 (7.1-8.5; <i>p</i> < 0.0001)] and 6-months [6.4 (4.7-8.1; <i>p</i> < 0.0001)], as well as across 7 studies (<i>n</i> = 10 patients) to show improvement in PLP from baseline at 1-month [5.9 (4.0-7.7; <i>p</i> < 0.0001)] and 6-months [5.6 (3.7-7.5); <i>p</i> < 0.0001]). In 3 studies (<i>n</i> = 27 patients) cryoablation decreased PLP compared to baseline at 6-months [3.9 (3.7-4.1; <i>p</i> < 0.0001), but a randomized control trial (<i>n</i> = 144 patients] did not demonstrate significant benefit at 4-months. There was one report of a fall secondary to temporary motor block with no other significant complications reported across all studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Both thermal and pulsed RFA appear to be safe and effective treatments for post-amputation pain. Further research is required to better assess their effectiveness and safety profile in larger and more well controlled studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":73102,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences","volume":"7 ","pages":"1802455"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13111287/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147791030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Missed opportunities in post-total knee arthroplasty rehabilitation in Indonesia: a narrative review of insurance-driven delays in functional recovery.","authors":"Yose Waluyo, Nuralam Sam, Yukio Mikami, Fikri Rifa Hamdi","doi":"10.3389/fresc.2026.1767231","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2026.1767231","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is increasingly performed worldwide, including in Southeast Asia and Indonesia, and early-phase rehabilitation is a primary determinant of postoperative functional recovery; delays during this critical window can impair strength, mobility, independence, and long-term quality of life. This narrative review examines the gap between internationally established evidence-based rehabilitation protocols and current practices in Indonesia and describes the impact of insurance-related delays on functional outcomes. Global literature consistently supports early mobilization, intensive therapeutic exercise, multidisciplinary care, and standardized outcome monitoring, whereas rehabilitation in Indonesia is often constrained by short hospital stays, uneven distribution of rehabilitation professionals, the absence of national protocols, and, most critically, limited BPJS insurance coverage. These constraints create missed opportunities during the first 1-2 postoperative weeks, contributing to stiffness, muscle weakness, abnormal gait, delayed daily function, and lower patient satisfaction, while systemically increasing long-term care needs, caregiver burden, and indirect healthcare costs. Because functional recovery after TKA is highly dependent on timely, intensive early rehabilitation, administrative and insurance-related barriers in Indonesia produce clinically meaningful delays and long-term dependency. By mapping these systemic gaps and their consequences, this review aims both to inform future policy refinement and to raise awareness among policymakers, clinicians, and stakeholders regarding the urgent need to optimize early rehabilitation to improve outcomes and strengthen healthcare system efficiency.</p>","PeriodicalId":73102,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences","volume":"7 ","pages":"1767231"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13106510/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147791107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perception of occupational therapy intervention in wheelchair seating among healthcare professionals in Bahrain.","authors":"Yathreb Aladraj, Mohamed Altajer, Ahmed Almarhoon, Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak","doi":"10.3389/fresc.2026.1797993","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2026.1797993","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Proper wheelchair seating is essential for functional independence and quality of life. However, the role of Occupational Therapy (OT) in these interventions is often undervalued within multidisciplinary teams, particularly in regions like Bahrain where specific systemic barriers are not fully understood.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the perceptions, awareness, and referral practices of Bahraini healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding OT in wheelchair seating and mobility (WSM).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 110 licensed HCPs in Bahrain, primarily physical therapists (34.5%), nurses (27.3%), and medical doctors (18.2%). Data were collected on professional awareness, self-rated knowledge, referral history, and systemic barriers. Statistical analyses included Pearson's Chi-Square, Kruskal-Wallis H tests, and Binary Logistic Regression to identify predictors of clinical referrals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>While 80.9% of respondents were aware of the OT role, only 33.6% had ever referred a patient to OT for seating, revealing a profound \"knowledge-practice gap\". OT interventions were highly regarded, with 74.5% of participants viewing them as \"very effective\". Primary obstacles to referral included a lack of HCP awareness (78.2%), limited OT availability (71.8%), and high equipment costs (63.6%). Binary logistic regression identified formal training as the only significant independent predictor of referral behavior (<i>p</i> = 0.005); those without training had 82% lower odds of initiating a referral. No significant correlation was found between years of professional experience and self-rated knowledge (<i>p</i> = 0.887).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite a high level of professional regard for OT, systemic barriers and a critical lack of specialized training hinder its clinical integration in Bahrain. To optimize wheelchair service delivery, healthcare institutions must prioritize structured interprofessional education (IPE) and implement standardized digital referral pathways within electronic medical records.</p>","PeriodicalId":73102,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences","volume":"7 ","pages":"1797993"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13106601/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}