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Deconstructing the Role of the Physical Therapy Profession in Disability Acceptance for People With Stroke

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The lowest degree of disability acceptance has been found among people with a history of stroke. Disability acceptance involves adapting to disability-related changes and coming to terms with losses to redefine and live a meaningful new life. Across many movement-related disabilities and chronic conditions, disability acceptance has been positively associated with psychological well-being, social and physical functioning, and adjustment. Further, self-acceptance of disability is an important factor in rehabilitation and recovery. There is a growing need for physical therapy to engage with disability acceptance and understand the role of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in facilitating disability acceptance after stroke. The purpose of this Perspective article is to critically evaluate the role of the physical therapy profession in disability acceptance for people with stroke. The article first reflects on ways in which the physical therapy profession has historically (and unintentionally) created obstructions to disability acceptance after stroke. The authors discuss assumptions implicitly underpinning physical therapist practices for stroke that are consistent with normalization tendencies, medicalized approaches to disability, and the mechanical body. The authors then present new and alternative approaches that can be applied in physical therapy to better facilitate disability acceptance after stroke, focusing on mindfulness-based interventions and a celebration of unique movement strategies of people with disability (ie, movement "improvisation"). The Perspective concludes with practical strategies for clinicians to employ in an effort to better foster disability acceptance poststroke. Impact The physical therapy profession may play an important and unique role in facilitating disability acceptance poststroke. supporting disability acceptance after stroke requires physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to critically reflect on ways in which the profession may unintentionally impede acceptance and consider new and alternative approaches to promote acceptance in clinical practice.
DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzaf064
Language: English
Subfield: Rehabilitation
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: bronze
Award: OHIO DISABILITY AND HEALTH LINKAGES PARTNERSHIP: LINKING INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE GREATER EQUITY IN SERVICES - OVERVIEW: THE OHIO DISABILITY AND HEALTH PARTNERSHIP (ODHP) PRESENTS THE OHIO DISABILITY AND HEALTH LINKAGES PARTNERSHIP: LINKING INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE GREATER EQUITY IN SERVICES TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND ADULTS WITH MOBILITY LIMITATIONS. THE PROJECT AIMS TO ADDRESS SIX STRATEGIES: TO (1) ESTABLISH, EXPAND, AND ENHANCE PARTNERSHIPS; (2) CONDUCT COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND IDENTIFY ACTION STEPS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS; (3) ADMINISTER AND EVALUATE A TRAINING FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ON ACCESSIBLE PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE; (4) IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO LINK ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS IN THEIR COMMUNITY; (5) IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH PROMOTION INTERVENTIONS AND PSE CHANGES, AND DEVELOP NEEDED RESOURCES AND TOOLS; AND (6) DISSEMINATE KEY FINDINGS AND LESSONS LEARNED.POPULATIONS TO BE SERVED: THIS PROJECT WILL TARGET OHIO ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND/OR MOBILITY LIMITATIONS IN CONDUCTING A COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT, ADMINISTERING AND EVALUATING TRAINING FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, AND IMPLEMENTING AND EVALUATING HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS AND CHANGES IN POLICIES, SYSTEMS, AND ENVIRONMENTS. ODHP WILL IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT THAT WILL LINK AT LEAST 200 ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO NEEDED HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.KEY PARTNERSHIPS: THERE ARE SEVERAL KEY PARTNERS FOR THIS PROJECT, INCLUDING THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY NISONGER CENTER, THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE OHIO COLLEGES OF MEDICINE GOVERNMENT RESOURCE CENTER, THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, THE HEALTHCARE COLLABORATIVE OF GREATER COLUMBUS, THE OHIO ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, SPECIAL OLYMPICS OHIO, TH E FRANKLIN COUNTY BOARD OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP EDUCATION IN NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR FACULTY ADVANCEMENT, MENTORING, AND ENGAGEMENT. IMPORTANTLY, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THIS PROJECT, THE DISABILITY HEALTH PARTNERSHIP, IS COMPRISED OF OHIOANS WITH DISABILITIES, FAMILY MEMBERS AND CAREGIVERS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND DISABILITY STAKEHOLDERS.
OpenAlex ID: W4410080401
FWCI: 0.624
Cites: 68
Cited by: 2
Related to: 10