Recent years have witnessed a growing shift in the field of rehabilitation, moving from institution-centred approaches to person-centred models grounded in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These frameworks emphasise autonomy, participation, and the right to live a self-determined life, calling for rehabilitation services to be not only clinically effective but also continuous, inclusive, and tailored to real-life settings.
A pivotal development in this context is the expansion of telerehabilitation and other distance-based technologies aimed at enabling individuals to pursue meaningful recovery within their living environments. This evolution supports the transition from hospital-based care, often resource-intensive and disruptive to daily life, toward home- and community-centred care pathways, where rehabilitation becomes an integral part of everyday living.

This Research Topic aims to explore how telerehabilitation and remote interventions can be effectively implemented to support functioning and participation in real-world contexts. Technologies for remote assessment, treatment, feedback, and monitoring are increasingly proving to be flexible, adaptable, and particularly well-suited to personalised rehabilitation programs. These innovations not only facilitate continuity of care but also shift the outcome evaluation from the clinical setting to the lived experience of the person.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of telemedicine and telerehabilitation, highlighting their potential beyond emergency responses. However, the future lies not merely in substituting in-person sessions with remote ones, but in integrating these approaches to foster active engagement, sustained motivation, and long-term participation. This paradigm shift requires cultural, organisational, and technological changes in rehabilitation. Remote approaches empower individuals and caregivers through real-time feedback, environmental and wearable aids, and tools that are often cost-effective and user-friendly. They allow clinicians to assess and adjust interventions based on actual life circumstances and the dynamic evolution of functional recovery.

Emerging evidence shows promising applications of telerehabilitation for a wide range of conditions, from stroke and brain injury to Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, orthopaedic conditions, and pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders. In these cases, remote rehabilitation has been instrumental in promoting autonomy, monitoring progress, and optimising community reintegration.
The integration of artificial intelligence, smart environments, and clinical engineering further expands the potential for tailoring interventions. These technologies contribute to a rehabilitation process that is dynamic, inclusive, and rooted in individual goals and environmental contexts.

This Research Topic aims to:

- Showcase interdisciplinary research and innovations in telerehabilitation and home-based interventions.
- Emphasise functioning and participation as essential outcomes of rehabilitation.
- Seek contributions that explore effective integration of rehabilitation into daily life.
- Promote the use of ICF-based models for intervention planning, delivery, and evaluation.
- Involve diverse stakeholders—including healthcare professionals, engineers, policymakers, disability organisations, and end-users—to foster a holistic approach.

Aligned with the journal’s mission to promote comprehensive and cutting-edge research in rehabilitation, this Research Topic will strengthen the conceptual and methodological foundations of community-based rehabilitation. It will stimulate cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary collaborations, encourage the exchange of practical and scientific experiences within the global rehabilitation community, and support the development of policy and service models consistent with universal health coverage principles and the rights of persons with disabilities.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Functioning and Participation: Innovative Pathways for Telerehabilitation to Enhance Community-Based Rehabilitation