COMMUNITY-BASED REHABILITATION IN CONTEMPORARY PHYSIOTHERAPY EDUCATION: A PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) is a worldwide recognized approach that promotes the process of treatment, inclusion, and empowerment of individuals with disabilities via active community involvement. In contemporary physiotherapy education, CBR is a helpful practice-based learning approach that connects academic teaching to social health needs. As healthcare systems place a greater emphasis on individual-centered and community-oriented treatment, physiotherapy students require opportunities to develop their clinical competence, understanding of other cultures, social accountability, and cooperative practice abilities. Students get experience in evaluation, intervention preparation, health promotion, impairment management, as well as advocacy by applying their academic knowledge in practical situations through community participation. Additionally, CBR improves knowledge of equitable healthcare delivery and socioeconomic determinants of health. This chapter looks at how CBR has developed in physiotherapy education, what its core principles are, and why it matters in teaching. It shows how CBR helps future physiotherapists build real professional skills, connect with their communities, and support disability inclusion. The chapter also digs into the challenges of putting CBR into practice and highlights new trends shaping the future of community-based physical therapy education.