Application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health in spinal cord injury rehabilitation: a case study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/Keywords:
International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health;, Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injuries, Case ReportsAbstract
The International Classification of Functioning,
Disability, and Health (ICF) has been widely used as a
framework to support and guide clinical reasoning across
rehabilitation settings. Despite increasing familiarity with
the ICF over the years, many professionals still experience
difficulties implementing it in clinical practice, often
perceiving it as complex. This study aimed to describe the
application of the ICF to support clinical decision-making
in the rehabilitation of a patient with spinal cord injury: a
53-year-old single Black woman with a neurological level of
injury at T5 and with overweight. Data were collected during
the patient’s history-taking process using a structured
questionnaire based on the ICF. Assessment tools were
selected according to the patient’s reported impairments,
activity limitations, and participation restrictions. These
included the International Standards for Neurological
Classification of Spinal Cord Injury, handgrip dynamometry,
the Brazilian version of the Spinal Cord Independence
Measure – Self-Reported version, and the Modified
Functional Reach Test. The disability diagnosis identified a limitation in independently bathing due to trunk muscle weakness,
impaired trunk control, and fear of falling, especially when alone at
home. This study demonstrated that the ICF can be a valuable tool in clinical decision-making in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Its systematic approach facilitated the assessment of functioning and supported the development of an individualized therapeutic plan.
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