Applications of ICF-Based Assessments and Interventions in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Narrative Review.
Stroke rehabilitation interventions covered only 36% of activity and participation needs.
Applications of ICF-Based Assessments and Interventions in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Narrative Review.
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is widely used as a framework for post-stroke rehabilitation, but its clinical application requires further synthesis.
This narrative review examined the current applications of ICF in post-stroke rehabilitation, benchmarked against the United Kingdom Stroke Guideline (UK Guideline).
Both assessment and intervention mapping allocated less attention to the Participation component and Contextual Factors (Contextual Factors), indicating limited specificity to community reintegration after stroke.
Interventions mapped to just 36% of activity and participation goals in stroke care.
ResultsA total of 546 assessments were mapped to the ICF across 166 studies, overlapping with more than 80% of the UK Guideline topics.
These assessments appeared to be primarily Body Function-based (40.7%) and Activity-based (27.1%).
For ICF-based interventions, 247 interventions were identified across 66 studies and covered fewer than half of the UK Guideline topics.
To promote the holistic ICF framework in post-stroke rehabilitation, more work is needed to address the assessment-intervention mismatch in current practice, particularly for Participation and Contextual Factors.
Resources, such as clinician training and service-level support, should also be mobilized to support the routine clinical application of the ICF.