Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2026, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (5): 508-521.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2026.05.002

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Constructing an actor-network theory for integrating sports activity into rehabilitation based on Rehabilitation in Health Service System

CHENG Yaning1a,2, CHEN Di1a,2, TANG Chenchen1b, TIAN Yifan1a,2, LIU Lixu3, ZHANG Yingxin1a,2, WANG Yizheng3, HUANG Yaling4()   

  1. 1 a. Department of Rehabilitation Information Research; b. Department of Social Service Research and Guidance, China, China Rehabilitation Science Institute, Beijing 100068, China
    2 WHO-FIC Collaborating Center in China, Beijing 100068, China
    3 Neurorehabilitation Center, Beijing Bo'ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing 100068, China
    4 China Sports Development Research Institute, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
  • Received:2026-02-03 Published:2026-05-25 Online:2026-05-26
  • Contact: HUANG Yaling E-mail:bjhyl2008@163.com
  • Supported by:
    The Fundamental Research Funds for Central Public Welfare Research Institutes, conducted by China Rehabilitation Science Institute(CRSI2025ZH-5)

Abstract:

Objective To construct an actor-network for integrating physical activity into rehabilitation services based on the World Health Organization Rehabilitation in Health Service System framework and actor-network theory (ANT).
Methods Content analysis was employed using the six building blocks of health service systems as the theoretical framework. Actors related to rehabilitation services were extracted and categorized into a rehabilitation actor pool, while a physical activity actor pool was formed based on four major physical activity scenarios. Actors from both pools were integrated, deduplicated and classified to form a final list of integrated actors. Using ANT, the construction process of the actor network integrating physical activity into rehabilitation was analyzed through the four stages of translation: problematization, interessment, enrollment and mobilization.
Results A dynamic integration network was constructed, comprising human actors (patients, rehabilitation professionals, researchers, sports coaches, government departments, medical institutions, community organizations and industry media, etc.) and non-human actors (assistive devices, sports infrastructure, smart equipment, information systems, online exercise guidance systems, laws and regulations, strategic documents, and exercise prescriptions, etc.). The study identified maximizing rehabilitation outcomes as the mandatory passage point and elaborated on the critical role of government departments as focal actors in coordinating various stakeholders.
Conclusion The integration of physical activity into rehabilitation services is a dynamic network constructed by diverse actors through a process of translation. ANT provides an operational theoretical framework for cross-departmental governance of rehabilitation policies in China, promotes the spatial expansion of the rehabilitation field, and drives its transformation toward a networked and ecological system. The government needs to play a leading role in facilitating role reconstruction and synergy among heterogeneous actors in both the sports and rehabilitation sectors through mechanism design, to create a bidirectional empowerment mechanism that fosters mutual progress and ensures the sustainable development of integrated services.

Key words: health service system, rehabilitation, sports activity, actor-network theory

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