Gender matters in physiotherapy

Abstract

The World Health Organization states that gender has implications for health across the course of a person's life in terms of norms, roles and relations. It also has implications in rehabilitation. In this article, we argue the need of gender perspectives in the field of physiotherapy; gender matters and makes a difference in health and rehabilitation. We highlight a number of central areas where gender may be significant and give concrete examples of social gender aspects in physiotherapy practice and in diverse patient groups. We also discuss why it can be important to consider gender from an organizational perspective and how sociocultural norms and ideals relating to body, exercise and health are gendered. Further we present useful gender theories and conceptual frameworks. Finally, we outline future directions in terms of gender-sensitive intervention, physiotherapy education and a gendered application of the ICF model. We want to challenge physiotherapists and physiotherapy students to broaden knowledge and awareness of how gender may impact on physiotherapy, and how gender theory can serve as an analytical lens for a useful perspective on the development of clinical practice, education and research within physiotherapy.

Knee osteoarthritis patients assessed during walking for ankle inversion movement discrimination sensitivity

“…Recently, gender-specific healthcare management has received increasing concern. Knowledge regarding any gender differences in KOA cohorts can be important for informing gender-specific management in healthcare ( Stenberg et al, 2022 ). For instance, in the contemporary view of graded intervention in KOA, exercise-based programs have been recognized as the primary treatment in international guidelines ( Teo et al, 2019 ; Jackie et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Second, knowledge about the gender effect often observed in KOA cohorts can be important in relation to gender-specific management in healthcare ( Stenberg et al, 2022 ). This has not previously been considered regarding differences in proprioception between female and male patients with KOA.…”

Gender diversity in therapeutic radiography: A mixed methods exploration of the gender influences impacting on male students' career choices

“…27,28 Stenberg et al refer to this phenomenon as a "gender regime"; an overrepresentation of in the workforce while male professionals, as a group, have more power. 29 To counter this phenomenon, a balanced approach would be to introduce strategies to increase male participation while actively addressing the barriers to career progression of women. However the benefits of a more balanced gender profile in therapeutic radiography need to be better articulated.…”

Integration of knowledge and competencies regarding sex, gender and further diversity aspects into the curricula of health professions education in Germany – barriers and supporting factors

“…There are also differences in the access to emergency care with severely injured men being more likely to be directed to trauma centres than women (Gomez et al, 2012). In physiotherapy, there are differences in rehabilitation, pain management, and fear of falling (Pohl et al, 2015;Stenberg et al, 2022). Beside the knowledge of medical facts, nurses are trained to also consider socio-cultural aspects in order to ensure adequate care after hospital stay.…”