People affected by NTDs may have disabilities in the form of physical impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions that negatively affect their quality of life and inclusion in society. They may be in need of physiotherapy or occupational therapy, assistive devices (i.e. braces, prostheses, orthopaedic shoes, and wheelchairs) or even reconstructive or plastic surgery. These interventions are generally part of the field of physical rehabilitation. Given that many NTDs can cause some or all of the above mentioned problems, physical rehabilitation is another cross-cutting group of interventions that is important to improve quality of life of persons with NTD-related disabilities.
In countries where affected people suffer from NTD-related stigmatization because of their physical deformities, it is necessary to prevent social exclusion and promote acceptance by the community and involvement in social participation activities.
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