Intersecting perceptions: a Foucauldian study of mobility disability representations in clinical encounters from physiotherapists’ perspectives

While patient-doctor interactions have been extensively studied, how interactions during rehabilitation influence individuals’ self-concept—particularly through the subtle reproduction of disability-related stereotypes—has received less attention. This subtle mechanism is often shaped by representations of disability framed through a biomedical or mechanistic lens (e.g., the body as a machine), which can reinforce negative assumptions and dominant discourses about clients with mobility disability. This study seeks to examine the interactional dynamics between clients and the combined entity of healthcare professionals and medical systems, emphasizing representations that contribute to the construction of clients’ experiences and self-concepts during rehabilitation. Using representation theories and Foucauldian medical discourse as our framework, we conducted in-depth interviews with 12 experienced physiotherapists, acting as intermediaries between clients and other healthcare professionals and systems. The transcripts were analyzed through a six-phased inductive thematic analysis framework. In the results, three themes were identified: (I) The Complex Medical System, But Reliable Physiotherapy Clinic; (II) A Knowledge-Language Differential in Healthcare Professionals-Clients Talks; and (III) Iconic Representations: Practical Use vs. Perceived Stigma. Each theme was supported by relevant quotes. While dominant stereotypes surrounding disability persist across the rehabilitation steps, physiotherapists’ inclusive approaches were differentiated in themes I and II. However, healthcare professionals involved in rehabilitation, including physiotherapists, still reproduce the perception of the body as a machine. The themes identified are not limited to interactions within rehabilitation settings but also extend into wider public discourse, influencing societal perceptions of mobility impairments. Future research should prioritize co-produced approaches that center lived experiences to challenge dominant representations and promote inclusive rehabilitation.