Factors associated with physical rehabilitation in people with motor impairment: sistematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v80.118266Keywords:
Adults , associated factors, comorbidities, motor impairment, physical rehabilitationAbstract
Introduction: Physical rehabilitation outcomes are influenced by clinical, functional, social, and environmental factors.
Objective: To analyze the main factors affecting physical rehabilitation in adults with motor impairments, as well as to examine comorbidities and their relationships with the profiles of patients undergoing physical rehabilitation.
Methodology: This is a systematic literature review, conducted through a search of scientific articles in the databases PubMed, PEDro, Web of Science, Scopus, and SciELO, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, published between 2014 and 2024. Study eligibility was determined using the PICOS strategy criteria, and the quality of evidence was evaluated based on the GRADE approach.
Results: A total of 778 articles were found between 2014 and 2024. After the screening process, 9 studies were included in the review. The studies addressed populations with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, amputations, traumatic brain injury, and transverse myelitis, identifying clinical, functional, psychosocial, and environmental factors that affect rehabilitation.
Discussion: There is convergence among the analyzed studies regarding the influence of neuromuscular integrity, strength, and spasticity, combined with psychosocial and clinical factors, on functionality, independence, and rehabilitation outcomes.
Conclusions: Physical rehabilitation for individuals with motor impairments is multifactorial and requires an interdisciplinary approach. Factors such as muscle strength, lesion level and duration, spasticity, neuropathic pain, fatigue, education, social support, and access to services directly influence functionality and quality of life. Care should be patient-centered, with comprehensive assessments and public policies that promote equity and inclusion.
References
(2025). Ecological barriers to physical activity among people with mobility disabilities in Indonesia. Retos, 72, 387–397. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v72.116559
Annunziata P., Masi G., Cioni C., Gastaldi M., Marchioni E., D'amico E., Patti F., Laroni A., Mancardi G., Vitetta F & Sola P. (2019). Clinical, laboratory features, and prognostic factors in adult acute transverse myelitis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 40, 1383–1391. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-019-03830-6
Betancur Bedoya, S. P., Grajales Toro, S., Lopera Muñeton, C., Suarez Muñoz, L. G., Valencia Legarda, F., & Gonzalez Garrido, A. (2026). Telerehabilitación en adultos mayores con enfermedades cardio-pulmonares y multimorbilidad: un ensayo clínico controlado aleatorizado. Retos, 78, 492-502. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v78.118765
Carrasco-López C., Jimenez S., Mosqueda-Pozon M. C., Pérez-Borrego Y. A., Alcobendas-Maestro M., Ga-llego-Izquierdo T., Esclarin-Ruz A. & Oliviero A. (2016). New insights from clinical assessment of upper extremities in cervical traumatic spinal cord injury. Journal of Neurotrauma, 33(18), 1724–1727. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2015.4155
Chetna Gupta, M., Shabana Azami, D., Rawat, D. A., Jha, D. K., Ahmad Dar, D. J., Konwar, D. D. J., & Vaid, M. S. (2025). Narrativas culturales en movimiento: una perspectiva sociocultural sobre la rehabili-tación deportiva y la fisioterapia. Retos, 71, 760-769. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v71.116937
Chen M. H., Cherian C., Elenjickal K., Rafizadeh C. M., Ross M. K., Leow A. & DeLuca J. (2023) Real-time associations among MS symptoms and cognitive dysfunction using ecological momentary as-sessment. Frontiers in Medicine, 9, 1049686. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.1049686.
Fergany, L. A., Abdelmoneam, H., El-Sayed, S. A. E. A., Heneidy, W. E., Shaban, S. M., Zaid, A. A. A. A., & Mohamed, M. A. R. (2026). Noninvasive neuromodulation as an adjunct rehabilitation strategy for respiratory dysfunction in individuals with low-level spinal cord injury. Retos, 75, 698–706. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v76.118409
Finnerup, N. B., Johannesen, I. L., Sindrup, S. H., Bach, F. W., & Jensen, T. S. (2001). Pain and dysesthesia in patients with spinal cord injury: a postal survey. Spinal cord, 39(5), 256-262
Finnerup, N. B., Norrbrink, C., Trok, K., Piehl, F., Johannesen, I. L., Sørensen, J. C., Jensen, T. S., & Werha-gen, L. (2014). Phenotypes and predictors of pain following traumatic spinal cord injury: A prospective study. The Journal of Pain, 15(1), 40–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2013.09.008
Gorgey, A. S., & Dudley, G. A. (2007). Skeletal muscle atrophy and increased intramuscular fat after in-complete spinal cord injury. Spinal cord, 45(4), 304-309.
Guyatt, G. H., Oxman, A. D., Vist, G. E., Kunz, R., Falck-Ytter, Y., Alonso-Coello, P., & Schünemann, H. J. (2008). GRADE: An emerging consensus on rating quality of evidence and strength of recom-mendations. BMJ, 336(7650), 924–926. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39489.470347.AD
Hastings, B. M., Ntsiea, V., & Olorunju, S. (2015). Factors that influence functional ability in individuals with spinal cord injury: A cross-sectional study. South African Journal of Physiotherapy, 71(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v71i1.235
Jourdan, C., Bayen, E., Pradat-Diehl, P., Ghout, I., Darnoux, E., Azerad, S., Vallat-Azouvi, C., Charanton J., Aegerter, P., Ruet, A., & Azouvi, P. (2016). A comprehensive picture of 4-year outcome of severe brain injuries: Results from the PariS-TBI study. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medici-ne, 59(2), 100–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rehab.2015.10.009
Khan, M. I., Arsh, A., Ali, I., & Afridi, A. K. (2022). Frequency of neuropathic pain and its effects on rehabi-litation outcomes, balance function and quality of life among people with traumatic spinal cord injury. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 38(4Part-II), 888–892. https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.4.4681
Lučarević, J., Gaunaurd, I., Clemens, S., Belsky, P., Summerton, L., Walkup, M., ... & Gailey, R. S. (2020). The relationship between vestibular sensory integration and prosthetic mobility in community ambulators with unilateral lower limb amputation. Physical therapy, 100(8), 1333-1342. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzaa091
Maas, A. I. R., Menon, D. K., Adelson, P. D., Andelic, N., Bell, M. J., Belli, A., Bragge, P., Brazinova, A., Büki, A., Chesnut, R. M., Citerio, G., Coburn, M., Cooper, D. J., Crowder, A. T., Czeiter, E., Czosnyka, M., Diaz-Arrastia, R., Dreier, J. P., Duhaime, … & Yaffe K. (2017). Traumatic brain injury: Integrated approaches to improve prevention, clinical care, and research. The Lancet Neurology, 16(12), 987–1048. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(17)30371-X
Moore, C. D., Craven, B. C., Thabane, L., Laing, A. C., Frank-Wilson, A. W., Kontulainen, S. A., Papaioannou A., Adachi J. D., Giangregorio, L. M. (2015). Lower-extremity muscle atrophy and fat infiltration after chronic spinal cord injury. Journal of Musculoskeletal & Neuronal Interactions, 15(1), 32-41.
Neto, F. R., Gomes Costa, R. R., Dorneles, J. R., Gonçalves, C. W., Veloso, J. H., & Carregaro, R. L. (2021). Handgrip strength cutoff points for functional independence and wheelchair ability in men with spinal cord injury. Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, 27(3), 60-69. https://doi.org/10.46292/sci20-00040
Nightingale, T. E., Walhin, J. P., Turner, J. E., Thompson, D., & Bilzon, J. L. (2016). The influence of a ho-me-based exercise intervention on human health indices in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (HOMEX-SCI): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 17(1), 284.
Gupta, A., Kumar, S. & Taly, A. (2016). Neurological and functional recovery in acute transverse myelitis patients with inpatient rehabilitation and magnetic resonance imaging correlates. Spinal Cord, 54, 804–808. https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2016.23
Post, M. & van Leeuwen, C. (2012). Psychosocial issues in spinal cord injury: a review. Spinal Cord, 50, 382–389. https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2011.182
Scivoletto, G., Torre, M., Iosa, M., Porto, M. R., & Molinari, M. (2018). Prediction model for complica-tions at admission to rehabilitation after traumatic spinal cord injury. Topics in Spinal Cord In-jury Rehabilitation, 24(2), 151–156. https://doi.org/10.1310/sci17-00013
Souza, M. T., Silva, M. D., & Carvalho, R. (2010). Revisão integrativa: o que é e como fazer?. Einstein (São Paulo), 8(1), 102-106. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-45082010RW1134
Shumway-Cook, A., & Woollacott, M. H. (2017). Motor control: Translating research into clinical prac-tice (5th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.
Wade, D. T. (2020). What is rehabilitation? An empirical investigation leading to an evidence-based description. Clinical Rehabilitation, 34(5), 571–583. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215520905112
Wang, T. N., Wu, C. Y., Chen, C. L., Shieh, J. Y., Lu, L., & Lin, K. C. (2013). Logistic regression analyses for predicting clinically important differences in motor capacity, motor performance, and functio-nal independence after constraint-induced therapy in children with cerebral palsy. Research in developmental disabilities, 34(3), 1044-1051.
World Health Organization. (2011, 14 diciembre). World report on disability. Geneva: WHO. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241564182
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 David Braga de Lima, Jessica Fernanda Zoz Bolomini, Maria Luiza Coitinho Gonzalez, Lais Mendes Tavares, Rudney da Silva

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and ensure the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of authorship of the work and the initial publication in this magazine.
- Authors can establish separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Is allowed and authors are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically (eg, in institutional repositories or on their own website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as to a subpoena more Early and more of published work (See The Effect of Open Access) (in English).
This journal provides immediate open access to its content (BOAI, http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/boaifaq.htm#openaccess) on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The authors may download the papers from the journal website, or will be provided with the PDF version of the article via e-mail.