Client-Centred Occupational Therapy in Stroke Rehabilitation
Summary
Client-centred occupational therapy places the stroke survivor at the heart of the rehabilitation process, emphasising collaborative goal-setting, meaningful activity engagement and adaptation of the physical and social environment to support recovery. In this approach, therapists work in partnership with individuals to identify priorities for daily function, tailoring interventions to personal interests, values and cultural context. Core components include assessment of activities of daily living (ADL), co-creation of functional goals, graded task practice and ongoing reflection on performance and satisfaction. Evidence indicates that when clients are actively involved in decision-making, adherence to therapy increases, self-efficacy is strengthened and long-term outcomes in independence and quality of life are improved. Across acute, subacute and community settings, client-centred occupational therapy has been adapted to address cognitive, sensorimotor and psychosocial sequelae of stroke, with growing attention to telehealth, digital tools and family-centred strategies. Its global relevance is underscored by adoption in clinical guidelines and by studies in diverse socioeconomic contexts, demonstrating its flexibility and potential to reduce disparities in access to rehabilitation.
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Client-Centred Occupational Therapy in Stroke Rehabilitation publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in client-centred occupational therapy in stroke rehabilitation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Client-centred intervention: A therapeutic approach in which goals, activities and outcomes are set collaboratively by the therapist and the individual, reflecting the person’s priorities and values.
Activities of daily living (ADL): Fundamental self-care tasks such as dressing, eating and personal hygiene that are essential for independent living.
Self-efficacy: An individual’s belief in their own ability to execute tasks and achieve goals, which influences motivation and engagement in therapy.
Markerless motion capture: A technology that uses cameras and software algorithms to track body movements without physical markers, enabling remote assessment and feedback in rehabilitation.
References
- Exploring stroke survivors’ and physiotherapists’ perspectives of the potential for markerless motion capture technology in community rehabilitation. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation (2024).
- Struck by stroke - experiences of living with stroke in a rural area in Uganda. BMC Public Health (2023).
- The Effects of Occupation‐Based Community Rehabilitation for Improving Activities of Daily Living and Health‐Related Quality of Life of People with Disabilities after Stroke Living at Home: A Single Subject Design. Occupational Therapy International (2022).
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