The Strategic Role of Physiotherapy in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: A SWOT-Based Survey of Professional Perceptions and Challenges (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare by reshaping clinical decision-making, service organization, and professional competencies. In physiotherapy, AI offers opportunities to enhance efficiency, personalization, and interdisciplinary collaboration, while also posing ethical, educational, and governance challenges. OBJECTIVE Objective: This study aimed to examine physiotherapists’ perceptions of AI implementation across professional domains, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT), and to assess the influence of prior AI experience and knowledge levels on these perceptions. METHODS Methods: An observational, cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 26-item online questionnaire structured within a SWOT framework. The survey included demographic data, 20 Likert-scale items, and two open-ended questions. Composite indices for Opportunities and Concerns were calculated, internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach’s α, and non-parametric tests with false discovery rate adjustment were applied. Qualitative responses were thematically analyzed. RESULTS Results: Fifty physiotherapists participated, most reporting basic or no AI knowledge, while 52% had prior AI experience. The Opportunities Index showed excellent internal consistency (α = 0.93) and the Concerns Index acceptable consistency (α = 0.77). Overall, Concerns outweighed Opportunities (3.68 vs. 3.31). Main concerns included reduced human contact, insufficient training, and data privacy, while key opportunities involved administrative automation, training in emerging technologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Prior AI use was associated with greater concern about data privacy. CONCLUSIONS Conclusions: Physiotherapists view AI as a promising yet challenging innovation. Strengthening digital literacy, ethical oversight, and participatory governance is essential to ensure AI adoption aligns with human-centered physiotherapy care.