Defining the Bobath concept using the Delphi technique
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Bobath concept, based on the work of Berta and Karel Bobath, offers therapists working in the field of neurological rehabilitation a framework for their clinical interventions. It is the most commonly used approach in the UK. Although they recognize that over the last half-century the concept has undergone considerable developments, proponents of the Bobath concept have been criticized for not publishing these changes. The aim of the present study was to use the Delphi technique to enable experts in the field to define the current Bobath concept. METHOD: A four-round Delphi study design was used. The sample included all members of the British Bobath Tutor's Association, who are considered experts in the field. Initial statements were identified from the literature, with respondents generating additional statements during the study. The level of agreement was determined using a five-point Likert scale. The respondents were then provided with feedback on group opinions and given an opportunity to re-rate each statement. The level of group consensus was set at 80%. RESULTS: Fifteen experts took part. The response rate was 85% in the first round, and 93% in each subsequent round. Ten statements from the literature were rated with a further 12 generated by the experts. Thirteen statements achieved consensus for agreement and seven for disagreement. CONCLUSIONS: The Delphi study was an effective research tool, maintaining anonymity of responses and exploring expert opinions on the Bobath concept. The experts stated that Bobath's work has been misunderstood if it is considered as the inhibition of spasticity and the facilitation of normal movement, as described in some literature. They agreed that the Bobath concept was developed by the Bobaths as a living concept, understanding that as therapists' knowledge base grows their view of treatment broadens.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The Bobath Concept has evolved into its current form by selectively incorporating scientific knowledge.
“the Bobath Concept has evolved into its current form by selectively incorporating this knowledge.9 -12”
From The Effectiveness of the Bobath Concept in Stroke Rehabilitation: What is the Evidence? (2009) · cites this paper as [10]
The Bobath Concept targets both impairments and functional task practice.
“IBITA 12 and Raine 10,11, which have investigated the beliefs of expert Bobath tutors, both confirm that the Bobath Concept targets both impairments and functional task practice”
From The Effectiveness of the Bobath Concept in Stroke Rehabilitation: What is the Evidence? (2009) · cites this paper as [10]
Successful goal acquisition in a given task must be practiced to improve efficiency of movement and promote generalization in everyday life.
“stating that successful goal acquisition in a given task must be practiced to improve efficiency of movement and promote generalization in everyday life.”
From The Effectiveness of the Bobath Concept in Stroke Rehabilitation: What is the Evidence? (2009) · cites this paper as [10]
Cites
the delphi method: techniques and applications
Linstone, H. A., & Turoff, M. (1975) · Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (Québec government) · Cited by 5,236 · see citing works
The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications
J., J. E., Linstone, H. A., & Turoff, M. (1976) · Technometrics · doi:10.2307/1268751 · Cited by 2,245 · see citing works
Gazing into the oracle : the Delphi method and its application to social policy and public health
Ziglio, E., & Adler, M. E. (1996) · Jessica Kingsley Publishers eBooks · Cited by 1,444 · see citing works
The Delphi technique: a methodological discussion
Williams, P. L., & Webb, C. (1994) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.1994.tb01066.x · Cited by 933 · see citing works
Turoff, M. (1970) · Technological Forecasting and Social Change · doi:10.1016/0040-1625(70)90161-7 · Cited by 623 · see citing works
Adult Hemiplegia: Evaluation and treatment
Atkinson, H. W. (1991) · Physiotherapy · doi:10.1016/s0031-9406(10)63589-4 · Cited by 575 · see citing works
Langhammer, B., & Stanghelle, J. K. (2000) · Clinical Rehabilitation · doi:10.1191/0269215500cr338oa · Cited by 303 · see citing works
The Delphi method: a useful tool for the allied health researcher
Walker, A. D. M., & Selfe, J. (1996) · British Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation · doi:10.12968/bjtr.1996.3.12.14731 · Cited by 226 · see citing works
Professional competence and quality assurance in the caring professions
Ellis, R. (1988) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 197 · see citing works
Shepherd, R. B. (2001) · Neural Plasticity · doi:10.1155/np.2001.121 · Cited by 171 · see citing works
Physiotherapy based on the Bobath concept in stroke rehabilitation: a survey within the UK
Lennon, D. B. (2001) · Disability and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1080/096382801750110892 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Mathiowetz, V. G., & Haugen, J. D. B. (1994) · American Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.5014/ajot.48.8.733 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Lennon, S., & Ashburn, A. (2000) · Disability and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1080/096382800445461 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Physiotherapists Working with Stroke Patients
Davidson, I., & Waters, K. R. (2000) · Physiotherapy · doi:10.1016/s0031-9406(05)61208-4 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
A Delphi Survey of Best Practice Occupational Therapy for Parkinson's Disease in the United Kingdom
Deane, K. H. O., Ellis-Hill, C., Dekker, K., Davies, P., & Clarke, C. E. (2003) · British Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.1177/030802260306600603 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Ballin, A. J., Breslin, W. H., Wierenga, K. A. S., et al. (1980) · Physical Therapy · doi:10.1093/ptj/60.7.888 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Bork, C. E. (1994) · Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation · doi:10.1097/00008483-199401000-00018 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Barrett, J., Watkins, C. L., Plant, R., Dickinson, H. A., Clayton, L. H., Sharma, A. K., Reston, A., Gratton, J. A., Fall, S., Flynn, A., et al. (2001) · Clinical Rehabilitation · doi:10.1191/026921501672264719 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Restoring Movement and Functional Ability after Stroke
Pomeroy, V. M., & Tallis, R. C. (2002) · Physiotherapy · doi:10.1016/s0031-9406(05)60524-x · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Physiotherapy for people with Parkinson's disease in the UK: an exploration of practice
Ashburn, A., Jones, D. E., Plant, R., Lövgreen, B., Kinnear, E., Handford, F., & Loader, S. (2004) · International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation · doi:10.12968/ijtr.2004.11.4.13371 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Panturin, E. (2001) · Clinical Rehabilitation · doi:10.1191/026921501667401893 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Approaching Consensus in Clinical Competence Assessment
Cross, V. (2001) · Physiotherapy · doi:10.1016/s0031-9406(05)60866-8 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Different approaches to physiotherapy in stroke
Cj, P., & Weerdt, W. D. (1995) · Reviews in Clinical Gerontology · doi:10.1017/s0959259800004147 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Brock, K. A., Jennings, K. M., Stevens, J., & Picard, S. (2002) · Australian Journal of Physiotherapy · doi:10.1016/s0004-9514(14)60217-8 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Bobath or Motor Relearning Programme: a continuing debate
Barrett, J. A., Evans, L., Chappell, J., Fraser, C., & Clayton, L. (2001) · Clinical Rehabilitation · doi:10.1191/026921501678310252 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Langhammer, B. (2001) · Clinical Rehabilitation · doi:10.1177/026921550101500113 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The Effectiveness of the Bobath Concept in Stroke Rehabilitation: What is the Evidence?
Kollen, B. J., Lennon, S., Lyons, B., Wheatley-Smith, L., Scheper, M., Buurke, J. H., Halfens, J., Geurts, A. C. H., & Kwakkel, G. (2009) · Stroke · doi:10.1161/strokeaha.108.533828 · Cited by 274 · see citing works
The current theoretical assumptions of the Bobath concept as determined by the members of BBTA
Raine, S. (2007) · Physiotherapy Theory and Practice · doi:10.1080/09593980701209154 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Raine, S.
- Corresponding author
- Raine, Sue
- Venue
- Physiotherapy Research International
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2006
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 4-13
- ISSN
- 1358-2267 (ISSN-L)
- 1471-2865
- OpenAlex
- W2121159335
- Cited by
- 75
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 16.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Physiotherapy Research International (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Delphi Technique in Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery
- Keywords
- Bobath concept, neurorehabilitation, expert consensus, spasticity, expert opinion
- MeSH terms
- Central Nervous System Diseases, Concept Formation, Delphi Technique, United Kingdom, Humans, Muscle Spasticity, Professional Competence, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sensitivity and Specificity, Health Care Surveys, Physical Therapy Modalities
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
