The Effectiveness of Group Physiotherapy Compared to Individual Physiotherapy on Anxiety and General Health in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences

2 Kodakyar Ave., Daneshjo Blvd., Evin, Tehran, Iran

3 University of Tabriz, Faculty of Education and Psychology

4 Shahid Beheshti University, Department of Physiotherapy

10.22034/jrc.2025.143970.1013

Abstract

Background and Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to physical, motor, and psychological
complications, including depression, anxiety, and social isolation. Anxiety is particularly common,
highlighting the need for rehabilitation that addresses both physical and psychological aspects. Group
physiotherapy can foster social interaction and mutual support, potentially reducing anxiety and improving
emotional well-being. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of group versus individual
physiotherapy. The focus was on their impact on anxiety reduction and general health improvement in
patients with SCI.
Methods: The study population included all patients with spinal cord injury covered by the Kahrizak Charity
Nursing Home in Tehran in 2022. Using simple random sampling, 40 eligible participants were selected and
randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The intervention consisted
of 12 physiotherapy sessions conducted over four weeks, with three sessions per week. The experimental
group received group physiotherapy, while the control group received individual physiotherapy. To prevent
contamination between groups, intervention sessions were scheduled at different times. Data were collected
using the Zung Anxiety Questionnaire (Zung, 1971) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ; Goldberg,
1972). Data analysis was performed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).
Results: Comparison of post-intervention mean scores indicated that group physiotherapy led to a significant
reduction in anxiety among patients with SCI (P < 0.01), whereas anxiety levels increased in the individual
physiotherapy group. Conversely, individual physiotherapy was more effective than group physiotherapy in
improving the general health of patients with spinal cord injury.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that group physiotherapy is an effective intervention for reducing anxiety in
patients with spinal cord injury, while individual physiotherapy plays a more prominent role in enhancing
general health. Therefore, it is recommended that rehabilitation programs for individuals with SCI integrate
both group and individual physiotherapy approaches to achieve optimal physical and psychological
outcomes.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Journal of Rehabilitation Counseling
Volume 1, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
November 2025
Pages 213-224

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History

  • Receive Date: 27 June 2025
  • Revise Date: 10 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 10 December 2025
  • Publish Date: 23 September 2025

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