Knowledge, Practice and Barriers to Exercise Rehabilitation Among Chinese Patients with Acute Musculoskeletal Injury:...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Acute musculoskeletal injuries are common, impacting patient mobility and quality of life.
• Exercise rehabilitation is vital for recovery, yet its uptake in China remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current status of exercise rehabilitation utilization.
• To identify barriers hindering exercise rehabilitation adherence among Chinese patients with acute musculoskeletal injuries.

Main Methods:

• A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study combining online surveys and semi-structured interviews.
• Quantitative data from 284 patients; qualitative data from 23 patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
• Thematic analysis guided by the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Behavior model.

Main Results:

• Low rates of hospital visits (65.1%), rehabilitation service utilization (22.9%), and training completion (6.0%) were observed.
• Underestimation of injury severity was the primary reason for not seeking care (92.9%).
• Key barriers included lack of knowledge, mobility issues, time constraints, insufficient qualified professionals, and cost concerns.

Conclusions:

• Significant systemic and behavioral barriers impede exercise rehabilitation in China.
• Recommendations include enhanced patient and provider education, increased specialist workforce, and integrated referral/remote supervision models.