Skip to main content

2019_6_socialcap

Social capital is a new concept to physical therapist practice that has the potential to facilitate interprofessional and intraprofessional relationships. Personally, I think it is very exciting to see how ideas from sociology literature can make a difference for physical therapists and health care at large.

By definition social capital is the advantage created by a person’s location in a structure of relationships. It explains how people perform better because they are connected with others.1,2 The principles of social capital are at work in the health care environment when it comes to clinical practice, teamwork, and training, and can strengthen the development of interprofessional education. The three primary forms of social capital include broker, closed, and partner networks.

Log in or create a free account to keep reading.


Join APTA to get unlimited access to content.

  • Burt R. Brokerage & Closure: An Introduction to Social Capital. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press; 2013. 
  • Strategic leadership course. University of Chicago, Booth School of Business; Summer 2016; Chicago, IL.

You Might Also Like...

News

2025 APTA House of Delegates Motions Posted

Jun 3, 2025

APTA members can now access 48 motions that include seven proposed bylaws amendments that will be forwarded for consideration by the 2025 APTA House of

Perspective

Cancer Rehabilitation Month Champions Healing Beyond Treatment

Jun 2, 2025

Members of APTA Oncology share information and resources about Cancer Rehabilitation Month, a new public awareness campaign.

Feature

Short-Handed: Workforce Projections Predict Profession Shortages

Jun 1, 2025

A new APTA report outlines forecasts of a supply shortage of physical therapists through 2037.