Nous Unbound, Fostering Equity: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Physical Therapists in Rehabilitating Stroke Patients with Comorbid Mental Health Conditions

Abstract

Stroke rehabilitation is not only a physical recovery, but also mental health comorbidities that influence participation, motivation and overall rehabilitation outcomes. This study investigated the lived experiences of physical therapists in LORMA Medical Center in catering the physical and psychosocial needs of stroke patients through qualitative phenomenological approach. Data was collected through in-depth interviews using semi-structured and open-ended questions and thematically analysed to elicit recurrent insights and patterns from participants’ experiences. Physical therapists face emotional and professional challenges balancing motor rehabilitation with patients’ psychological struggles, especially in resource-limited and emotionally demanding clinical environments, findings showed. Resilience and commitment to holistic care by therapists despite these difficulties included empathy, patient and family education, emotional support and psychosocial awareness in the rehabilitation practice. The study further highlighted the significance of trauma-informed care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and institutional support in enhancing rehabilitation outcomes for both patients and healthcare professionals. These findings suggested an equity-focused rehabilitation framework, recognising the link between recovery of physical and mental health, and providing practical implications for curriculum development, enhancement of clinical practice, policy revision, and future research in rehabilitation and mental health integration.