Physical Therapists Use Different Motivational Strategies for Stroke Rehabilitation Tailored to an Individual’s Condition: A Qualitative Study

 

You have motivation wrong. Write up 100% recovery protocols on this and survivors will do the millions of reps needed, no external motivation required. You don't understand one goddamn thing about stroke survivors, DO YOU? The problem is stroke researchers are not motivated to solve stroke. What the fuck is your solution to that failure?

Physical Therapists Use Different Motivational Strategies for Stroke Rehabilitation Tailored to an Individual’s Condition: A Qualitative Study

Kazuaki Oyake, PT, PhD, Keita Sue, PT, MSc, Motofumi Sumiya, PhD, Satoshi Tanaka, PhD

Physical Therapy, pzad034, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzad034

Published:

05 April 2023

Article history

Abstract

Objective

Various strategies are used to motivate individuals with stroke during rehabilitation. However, how physical therapists select the motivational strategies that they use for each individual is yet to be established. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how physical therapists use different motivational strategies for individuals in stroke rehabilitation programs.

Methods

A criterion sample of 15 physical therapists who have worked in rehabilitation for over 10 years and were interested in an individual’s motivation participated in one-on-one semi-structured online interviews. The interviews explored their perspectives and experiences regarding the motivational strategies used depending on each individual’s condition. The collected data were analyzed with thematic analysis.

Results

A total of 9 themes emerged from the data upon thematic analysis and inductive coding. Participants used different strategies to encourage individuals’ active participation in physical therapy depending on (1) their mental health, (2) their physical difficulties, (3) their level of cognitive function, (4) their personality, (5) their activities and participation, (6) their age, (7) their human environment, and (8) the type of rehabilitation service where the individual underwent treatment. For example, in cases where an individual lost self-confidence, participants offered practice tasks that the individual could achieve with little effort to make them experience success. The interviews also revealed (9) motivational strategies used regardless of the individual’s condition. For instance, patient-centered communication was used to build rapport with individuals, irrespective of their condition.

Conclusions

This qualitative study suggests that physical therapists use different strategies depending on the individual’s mental health conditions, physical problems, level of cognitive function, personality, activities and participation, age, human environment, and the type of rehabilitation service where the individual undergoes treatment to motivate individuals with stroke during physical therapy.

Impact

The findings of this study can provide experience-based recommendations regarding the selection of motivational strategies for stroke rehabilitation.