Multi-disciplinary palliative rehabilitation, including physiotherapy interventions, aimed at optimising function, independence, and quality of life for people with life-limiting illness is increasingly recognised as an essential component of high-quality palliative care. Yet delivery remains inconsistent across healthcare systems, settings, and professional groups, including physiotherapy, worldwide. Significant variation exists between specialist palliative care providers and generalist rehabilitation services, and between high-income and low- to middle-income countries. For many physiotherapists, particularly those working in generalist settings, palliative care is perceived as a specialist domain, creating a significant workforce gap at a time of growing global need.

This interactive symposium brings together four international experts to explore the critical challenges and opportunities in palliative rehabilitation delivery, with a particular focus on empowering generalist physiotherapists to recognise and embrace their role in life-threatening illness trajectories. Using a panel discussion format, four themed presentations will address distinct yet interconnected issues: the integration of palliative rehabilitation into healthcare systems; the generalist physiotherapist’s role in palliative care; patient barriers to accessing palliative rehabilitation; and physiotherapist barriers to delivering palliative rehabilitation. Each presentation will be followed by structured audience participation using a live voting system, enabling delegates to share their experiences and perspectives and situate their responses within a global context.

The symposium draws on a breadth of international research and clinical experience. Presentations will draw on findings from the multinational Inspire Project, including a mixed methods study of palliative rehabilitation integration in cancer care and a randomised controlled trial; results from the INSPIRE palliative care trial; doctoral research into optimal community palliative rehabilitation delivery in the UK; PhD research examining perceptions on the role of physiotherapy in palliative oncology care in Belgium; and insights from physiotherapy practice in The Global South. Together, these perspectives illuminate both the universality of the challenges facing palliative rehabilitation globally and the diversity of approaches being developed to address them.

Audience voting will be used to stimulate debate, surface areas of controversy, and draw on the collective experience of delegates from across the world. The symposium will close with a facilitated panel discussion and a collaborative call to action, challenging all physiotherapists, regardless of specialism, to consider their role in delivering high-quality rehabilitation to people with palliative care needs.

1. Ogundunmade BG, John DO, Chigbo NN. Ensuring quality of life in palliative care physiotherapy in developing countries. Front Rehabil Sci. 2024 Feb 23;5:1331885. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2024.1331885. PMID: 38463610; PMCID: PMC10920222.

2. Maddocks M, Bayly J. The value of rehabilitation specialists to team-based palliative care. Palliative Medicine. 2026 Mar:02692163261422334.

3. Maddocks M, Fettes L, Takemura N, Bayly J, Talbot-Rice H, Turner K, … & Turner-Stokes L. (2025). Functional goals and outcomes of rehabilitation within palliative care: a multicentre prospective cohort study. BMC Palliative Care, 24(1), 172.

4. Bayly J, Ahmedzai H.H, Blandini M.G, Bressi B, Caraceni A.T, Carvalho Vasconcelos J, … & Maddocks, M. (2023). Integrated Short-term Palliative Rehabilitation to improve quality of life and equitable care access in incurable cancer (INSPIRE): a multinational European research project. Palliative Care and Social Practice, 17, 26323524231179979. https://doi.org/10.1177/26323524231179979

5. World Health Organization (EU Office Copenhagen) (2023). Mishra, S., Ling, J., Maddocks, M., Bayly J, Normand C, Harding R. Policy brief on integrating rehabilitation into palliative care services. No. WHO/EURO:2023-5825-45590-68173. World Health Organization.

6. Manson J, Taylor P, Mawson S, et al. Identifying aspects of physiotherapy and occupational therapy provision in community palliative rehabilitation that could improve outcomes: A realist review. Palliative Medicine. 2025;39(7):734-749. doi:10.1177/02692163251331166

7. Manson J, Taylor P, Mawson S & O’Cathain A. What models of community palliative rehabilitation exist for adults in the United Kingdon? a national cross-sectional study. BMC Palliative Care (accepted for publication)

8. Gauchez, L., Boyle, S. L. L., Eekman, S. S., Harnie, S., Decoster, L., Ginderdeuren, F. V., De Nys, L., & Adriaenssens, N. (2024). Recommended Physiotherapy Modalities for Oncology Patients with Palliative Needs and Its Influence on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: A Systematic Review. Cancers, 16(19), 3371.

9. Gauchez, L. et al. Perspectives on physical therapy in advanced cancer care from those who give, receive, and refer: a qualitative interview study. Submitted to Supportive Care in Cancer (Submission ID: 9264b729-1ada-42f5-964f-de3c8656b479).

10. Pryde, K., Lakhani, A., William, L., & Dennett, A. (2024). Palliative rehabilitation and quality of life: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2023-004567