Participation and Quality of Life in Stroke Rehabilitation
Summary
Stroke rehabilitation aims not only to restore motor function but also to re-establish meaningful engagement in life roles and improve subjective well-being. Participation, defined as involvement in life situations according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, encompasses domestic tasks, social and community activities, and vocational roles. Quality of life refers to an individual’s perceived physical, mental and social health. After stroke, deficits in mobility, cognition and communication, as well as emotional sequelae such as anxiety or depression, limit reintegration into family, social networks and work. Modern rehabilitation adopts a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that integrates task-oriented training, patient-centred goal setting and environmental adaptations to foster autonomy and engagement. Assessment tools spanning performance metrics, self-reported participation scales and health-related quality-of-life instruments guide tailored interventions. Evidence highlights the interdependence of physical capacity, psychosocial support and environmental facilitators in driving long-term reintegration. Global trends emphasise community-based programmes, telehealth delivery and social support interventions to bridge gaps in access. Understanding these interconnections is key to optimising rehabilitation pathways and promoting sustainable improvements in participation and quality of life for stroke survivors worldwide.
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Participation and Quality of Life in Stroke Rehabilitation publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in participation and quality of life in stroke rehabilitation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Participation: Involvement in life situations, including domestic, social, educational or vocational activities, as conceptualised by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.
Quality of life: A multidimensional construct reflecting an individual’s subjective perception of physical, psychological and social well-being.
Activities of daily living (ADL): Fundamental self-care and mobility tasks required for independent living, such as dressing, bathing and transferring.
Non-motor outcomes: Post-stroke impairments beyond movement, including emotional, cognitive, sensory and communicative domains.
Nomogram: A graphical tool that uses multiple predictors to estimate the probability of a clinical outcome in an individual case.
References
- Prevalence, patterns, and predictors of patient-reported non-motor outcomes at 30 days after acute stroke: Prospective observational hospital cohort study. International Journal of Stroke (2023).
- A predictive model for social participation of middle-aged and older adult stroke survivors: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Frontiers in Public Health (2024).
- The relationship between social support and participation in stroke: A systematic review. African Journal of Disability (2018).
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