Physiotherapists’ knowledge, attitude and practice of motor learning in stroke rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: To improve motor impairment in stroke survivors, physiotherapists are encouraged to structure exercise sessions in such a way that motor learning is optimised in stroke survivors. No studies have described the knowledge, attitudes or practices of South African physiotherapists regarding motor learning in stroke rehabilitation.
Objectives: To describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices of South African physiotherapists regarding motor learning in stroke rehabilitation.
Method: Convenient and snowball sampling techniques were used. Self-compiled questionnaires were sent to members of the South African Society of Physiotherapy (SASP) via an electronic survey platform.
Results: Forty physiotherapists completed the survey. Respondents’ main area of interest was spread widely: the most indicated area was neuromusculoskeletal physiotherapy (n = 16, 40%), followed by adult neurological rehabilitation (n = 7, 17.5%). Fifty per cent of respondents treated between 1 stroke survivor and 10 stroke survivors with motor impairment over the past year. Most respondents (n = 36, 90%) had moderate knowledge of motor learning in stroke rehabilitation. However, study findings indicate knowledge gaps in several areas. Most respondents (n = 37, 92.5%) considered the application of motor learning principles to be an important tool to improve motor impairment in stroke survivors. Respondents inconsistently applied motor learning recommendations from the literature into stroke rehabilitation.
Conclusion: The study revealed knowledge and practice gaps in several motor learning areas and inconsistent application of motor learning recommendations from the literature into stroke rehabilitation.
Clinical implications: Findings highlight the need for further post-graduate training to allow physiotherapists to confidently apply motor learning principles in stroke rehabilitation.