Does the Bobath Concept Integrate Guideline Recommendations for Neglect into Teaching?

Abstract

Background

Approximately 73 % of stroke patients have additional neglect symptoms. This impacts the re-acquisition of autonomy in activities of daily living. Therapy guidelines for neglect recommend occupational- and physiotherapeutic interventions. Bobath-Therapy focusses on sensorimotor integration for the process of motor learning and is frequently applied in occupational- and physiotherapy treatment of neurologic patients. Until now it is unknown whether guideline recommendations for neglect will be integrated into BTH and the Bobath-Concepts teaching.

Aim

This research wants to find out whether I.: guideline recommendations for neglect treatment are integrated into Bobath-Therapy from the Bobath-tutors point of view, II.: Bobath-Therapy offers additional treatment options for neglect, III.: whether and which aspects of neglect treatment are taught in Basic-Bobath-Courses.

Method

An internet based mixed-methods survey was conducted among the German group of the International Bobath Instructor Training Association (IBITA) (n = 47). Sociodemographic and quantitative data were descriptively analysed, compared for feature-related representativity and evaluated with a-priori defined consensus according to “Arbeitsgemeinschaft der wissenschaftlichen medizinischen Fachgesellschaften e. V.” Qualitative data was analysed with “thematic analysis” according to Braun and Clarke.

Results

36 Data-Sets could be analysed. Ad-I: 4/6 goals and 5/7 methods reached > 75 % ( = consensus). 2 compensation-oriented goals reached > 50 % ( = majority agreement) and 2 visual neglect-focussed treatment-methods reached < 50 % ( = no majority agreement). Ad-II: The respondents stated additional BTH aspects for neglect: “enhancement of body schema and postural control” and “shaping of daily-life-oriented therapy onto neglect-related problems”. Ad-III: > 85 % of the respondents teach knowledge about neglect and guideline recommended methods in basic-Bobath-courses.

Conclusions

This research discloses treatment foci of Bobath-Therapy for neglect: treatment of sensorimotor neglect and neglect-adapted shaping strategies for ADL-oriented treatment. Respondent Bobath-tutors evaluate Bobath-Therapy and Bobath-basic-course teaching as being adherent to guideline recommendations in many aspects. The results may serve as foundation of evaluating knowledge and competencies of basic-Bobath-course participants.

Key words

bobath-concept - guidelines - neglect - health services research - stroke

Schlüsselwörter

Bobath-Konzept - Leitlinien - Versorgungsforschung - Neglect - Schlaganfall

Publication History

Received: 04 June 2024

Accepted: 01 July 2025

Article published online:
19 August 2025

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