Global Rehabilitation Needs and Barriers

Global estimates based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 indicate a significant need for rehabilitation.
Leading health conditions requiring rehabilitation include low back pain, fractures, other injuries, hearing loss, and vision loss.
A substantial percentage of Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) globally could benefit from physical rehabilitation.

Improves functional outcomes for individuals.
Helps avoid costly hospitalization and reduces hospital length of stay.
Supports individuals' participation in education, employment, and promotes independence.

Cultural perspectives deeply embed how disability is understood and addressed.
Disability is broadly conceptualized as a function of the interaction between a person and their environment.
Sociopolitical factors (religion, language, political/institutional factors, social roles, multi-culturalism) influence perceptions of disability.
The concept of "disability" is socially constructed, contingent on societal features, economic systems, culture, and language.

In LMIC, there are fewer than $10$ skilled rehabilitation practitioners per $1$ million population.
The need for rehabilitation is largely unmet, with over $50\%$ of people in some LMIC not receiving required services.

Primary Care Physicians (PCP) commonly under-refer patients to rehabilitation services.
Improvements are needed in referral processes, awareness of available services, and partnerships between PCPs and rehabilitation specialists.

Only $1$ in $10$ people in need have access to assistive products.
Countries with the highest prevalence of disability-related health conditions often have the lowest supply of health workers skilled in assistive technology provision.