Referral Practices to Physical Therapy and Its Relevance in Wound Care: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: The aim of this scoping review was to identify and describe available evidence regarding factors that guide health care professionals to refer to physical therapy (PT) for treatment of chronic wounds. METHOD: Scoping review. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and PEDro databases using the key words wounds and injuries, wound healing, wound care, physical therapy modalities, and referral and consultation. In addition, we searched the Canadian grey literature using the Google search engine. No language limits were imposed; the search was limited to elements published from 1993 to 2024. We limited records to studies of adults aged 19 years or older. We included studies focusing on chronic wounds such as venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, peripheral arterial ulcers, mixed ulcers, and pressure injuries. FINDINGS: Data were extracted from 37 records that included published studies and grey literature. None directly addressed referral practices to PT in wound care. Grey literature from Canada provided some guidance on referral criteria. However, these 20 records were primarily based on expert opinion rather than original research. IMPLICATIONS: Our review revealed a lack of high-quality evidence and a gap in our understanding of referral pathways to PT. It is essential to investigate how referral practices affect integration of physiotherapy into wound care process to enhance healing, reduce complications, and improve mobility outcomes for patients with chronic wounds. Future recommendations include improving interdisciplinary training programs to foster better collaboration between wound care specialists and physiotherapists, ultimately leading to more holistic and effective patient management.