Physiotherapy in healthcare
Physiotherapy is the aspect of healthcare that places emphasis on the use of physical intervention in healthcare. There are various conditions that naturally can be treated by medicine or surgery, which are equally treated by use of physical means. And these include the use of heat, water, electricity, massage, exercises and some specific techniques, which we call manipulative techniques. An instance is in spinal and backache problems. In these the Physiotherapist implores what is known as manipulative techniques.
In many cases, the agents that can be used by a physiotherapist are described as non-evasive because they don’t cause side effects. For instance, massage, exercises and the use of some physical agents. Unlike drugs which are toxins.
Over used Syndrome or Musculo-Skeletal disorders
This is a key word in Ergonomics because it has to do with ailments associated with the nature of one’s job. For instance, pains in the joints or related injuries or musclo-skeletal disorders that are likely to develop sooner or later as a result of the nature of ones job. For instance, Soldiers in their late lives are prone to come down with ankle injuries and Arthritis of the ankle. And this is because they stand a lot, do a lot of march past, wearing hard boots. Teachers too stand a lot, they risk suffering joint pains and varicosity. And typists usually have Arthritis of the finger joints.
Physiotherapist to the rescue
In Musculo-Skeletal Disorders, the physiotherapist comes in, not only in the treatment, but also in prevention, So, we try to educate the population on some of these work-related problems. A banker for instance, to understand that you need to sit with your back erect and your spine straight and maintain a good 90 degrees positioned to the seat you are sitting. That is, making sure there are good angulations between the elbow joint and the table where you’re sitting.
This ensures that you’re not seated too low or too high on your seat. So we believe that if workers are made to understand that they are to maintain these angulations, then, we have achieved a lot because you have prevented him from suffering these disorders.
Varicosity
Varicosity is also occupation-related. Depending on how an individual carries out his or her work activities. People who are very sedentary are known to have increased chances of developing varicosity. Also in obsessed patients. Generally in Physiotherapy, we encourage people to be active, engage in exercises. These will reduce the chances of varicosity, which we know is very high in women, especially during their childbearing ages.
Managing stroke with physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is the main stay in the management of stroke because when stroke has occurred, treatment is basically to stabilize the blood pressure. The Physiotherapist comes in, in terms of general rehabilitation of the stroke patient. This includes the use of exercises and other techniques to improve body functions. And this is a continuous process in stroke.
Equipments
In physiotherapy a lot of complex machines are used. Some of them include therapeutic ultrasound, shortwave diathermy, microwave diathermy and a lot of other electrical stimulating machines. And these equipments are scarce, expensive and not available in the country. This is why some people say physiotherapy treatment is expensive. Government is doing its best; we however, implore them to do more especially at the teaching and the general hospitals such that patients can have good access to treatment..
Cost of treatment
Maybe this is due to the nature of equipments, then, the level of damage done. And also the person you’re seeing. As in other aspects of healthcare, f you’re seeing a consultant Physiotherapy it might be relatively expensive. But averagely speaking, it’s affordable. But we always advise our patients or the Nigerian populace to make sure they engage qualified Physiotherapists. This is pertinent because the problem we have, not only in Lagos but also all over the country is quackery. There are lots of people who claim they’re Physiotherapist but all they know is massage or how to do just one or two things.
But you see a lot of people who went to do a local masua training of six months or one year, come to claim to be Physiotherapists. Sadly, from statistics gathered, we discover a lot of damage are being done by quacks. And after terrible damage has been done on patients they run back to the Physiotherapist for help. I think thicka line must therefore be drawn between genuine Physiotherapists and a quacks.
No comments:
Post a Comment