Rehabilitation Interventions for Disaster Survivors
Summary
Disasters inflict a spectrum of physical, neurological and psychosocial impairments that demand prompt and sustained rehabilitation interventions. In the acute phase, rapid assessment and initiation of institutional-based rehabilitation aim to mitigate complications such as contractures, pressure ulcers and joint stiffness. This is followed by a transition to community-based rehabilitation that supports survivors’ return to daily activities, promotes social participation and addresses long-term functional decline. Multidisciplinary teams—including physical and occupational therapists, psychologists and prosthetists—work together to deliver a continuum of care. Key components include early mobilisation, pain management, assistive technology provision and psychological support. Health-system preparedness requires integration of rehabilitation into disaster response plans, workforce training, data collection systems and partnerships between governmental bodies, non-governmental organisations and local communities. Globally, interventions must be tailored to resource settings, cultural contexts and logistical constraints, with particular attention to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children and people with pre-existing disabilities.
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Rehabilitation Interventions for Disaster Survivors publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in rehabilitation interventions for disaster survivors across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Institutional-based rehabilitation: Multidisciplinary therapies initiated within hospitals or dedicated centres immediately after injury to prevent secondary complications and restore basic mobility.
Community-based rehabilitation: Continued rehabilitation services delivered in survivors’ homes or community settings, focusing on functional independence, social reintegration and vocational support.
Assistive technology: Devices, equipment and support services designed to enhance the functional capabilities and participation of individuals with impairments across daily activities.
References
- Barriers and facilitators to the participation of physical therapists in disaster response following natural hazard-driven sudden-onset disasters: A systematised integrative review of the literature. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (2024).
- Lessons learned from health system rehabilitation preparedness and response for disasters in LMICs: a scoping review. BMC Public Health (2024).
- The NHV Rehabilitation Services Program Improves Long-Term Physical Functioning in Survivors of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake: A Longitudinal Quasi Experiment. PLOS ONE (2013).
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