Study finds firearm injury survivors face disparities in accessing rehabilitation care

A recent study conducted at Harborview Medical Center found that people who survive firearm injuries are significantly less likely to receive physical therapy in the year after hospital discharge compared with people who experience other types of traumatic injuries.

Led by Assistant Professor Heather M. Barnett, MD, PhD, along with Assistant Professor Rachel Prusynski, DPT, PhD, NCS, and colleagues, the study analyzed data from more than 25,000 patients treated for traumatic injuries between 2013 and 2022. Researchers linked the institutional trauma registry to the Washington State All-Payer Claims Database to identify the use of physical therapy services after hospital discharge.

After adjusting for injury severity, length of hospital stay, and sociodemographic factors such as age, race, ethnicity, and insurance status, firearm injury survivors were less likely to receive any physical therapy and had fewer total therapy visits than survivors of non‑firearm injuries.

The findings are notable given that firearm injuries are often associated with functional limitations, mobility challenges, and chronic pain that may benefit from rehabilitation services. The authors note that firearm injuries in the United States disproportionately affect communities that already face structural barriers to health care, which may influence post‑injury care patterns.

The study, published in  Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal, highlights the need for further research to better understand factors that affect rehabilitation use after firearm injury and to identify strategies that support equitable access to physical therapy services for injury survivors.