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Dr. Vishal Patle (PT)

Member, Executive Committee, Maharashtra State OT & PT Council

President, Progressive  Physiotherapy  Society, Nagpur

 

Physiotherapy  (Physical Therapy):

Often abbreviated as  PT, Physiotherapy  is a health care profession  primarily concerned with the remediation of impairments and disability and the promotion of mobility , Functional Ability and quality of life and movement potential  through examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and physical intervention carried out by physiotherapists. In addition to clinical practice, other activities encompassed in the Physiotherapy profession include research, education, consultation and administration.

The world confederation for physical Therapy, which is the international organization of physical Therapists representing more than 3,50,000 physical therapist worldwide through its 106 member organization describes physical Therapy (Physiotherapy )as under :

Physiotherapy provides services to individuals and populations to develop maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. This includes providing services in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by ageing, injury, disease, disorders, conditions or environmental factors, functional movement is central to what it means to be healthy.

Physiotherapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment/ intervention, habitation and rehabilitation. This encompasses physical, psychological, emotion and social wellbeing, Physiotherapy involves the interaction between the Physiotherapist, patient/ client, other health professional families care givers and communities in a process where movement potential is assessed and goals are agreed upon, using knowledge and skills unique to Physiotherapist.

Physiotherapy is a profession whose primary purpose is the promotion of optimal health and function. This purpose is accomplished through the application of  scientific principles to the process of examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis and intervention to prevent or remediate impairment, functional limitation and disabilities as related to movement and health.

Physiotherapy provides a through rehabilitation program with an emphasis on fitness, education, and prevention. Hands-on attention is given to reduce pain and normalize function, while indidualized programs are carefully designed for each patient, both in the clinic at home.

Physiotherapist :

Physiotherapist are professional involved in the examination, evaluation, treatment, and prevention of neuromuscular, musculosketal, cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders that produce movement impairment, Disabilities, and  functional limitations. As members of primary care teams or as providers of specialty care, physiotherapists help patients to improve function, alleviate pain, and prevent the onset of disease or disability.

Physiotherapist encompasses areas of specialized competence and includes the development of new principles and application to meet existing and emerging health needs. Other professional activities that serve the purpose of physiotherapy are research, education, consultation and administration.

Physiotherapists interact and practice in collaboration with a variety of health professionals, including physicians, surgeons, podiatrists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, and others. As responsible health professionals, physical therapists acknowledge the need to educate and inform other health professionals, government agencies and the consumer public about the services they offer and their effective and cost-efficient delivery.

Physiotherapist provide patients with services at the preventive, acute, and rehabilitative stages directed toward achieving increased functional independence and decreased functional impairment. They provide preventive care that forestalls or prevent functional decline and the need for more intense care. Through timely and appropriate intervention, they frequently reduce or eliminate the need for costlier forms of care such as surgery and may also shorten or even eliminate institutional stays.

Physiotherapists are committed to offering necessary, appropriate, and high quality health services. They provide these services to patients (individuals who are sick or injured) and clients (individuals who are not necessarily sick or injured but who can benefit from physical therapy services, e.g., a person with a chronic disability, a person wishing to prevent a loss of function). In addition,  physiotherapists offer selected services (e.g., screening) to individuals, businesses, to school systems, and others also terms clients. Physiotherapists also provide wellness initiatives, including health promotion and education; that stimulate the public to engage in healthy behaviour. Physiotherapists provide services to patients with impairments, functional limitations, disability, or change in physical function and health status resulting from injury, disease, or other causes. Impairments are losses or abnormalities of physiological, or anatomical structure or function. Functional limitations are restrictions of the ability to perform a physical action, activity, or task in an efficient, typically expected, or competent manner. Disability is the inability to engage in age-and sex-specific roles in a particular social context and physical environment. Physical function, which is fundamental component of health status, describes the state of those sensory and motor skills necessary for mobility, work, and recreation. Health status, which is part of well-being, describes an individual in terms of physical, mental, affective, and social function.

Who is Physiotherapist?

• A person with minimum qualification of 4 ½ years Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree course from a recognized institute affiliated to a university approved by the UGC.
• A person with additional qualification of Master of Physiotherapy/PhD from a recognized institute affiliated to a university approved by the UGC.

What is the role of a Physiotherapist?

A Physiotherapist  is an integral member of any rehabilitation team and has a very important role in management of various common medical conditions, but not restricted to listed below:

• Post traumatic / immobilization stiffness/arthritis ( all types)/ degenerative joint disorders/joint replacement cases/ ligament injuries/ ankylosing spondylosis /cervical lumbar spondylosis/ muscle tear/sprain/sciatica/ nerve injuries/ and other orthopaedic disorder.
• Paralysis/ stroke/paraplegia/head injury/neuropathy/ parkinsonism/multiple sclerosis/ spinal cord injury/ neurological pain/ and other neurological disorder.
• Asthama/ pneumonia/pleural effusion/ By-pass ( CABG) surgery/peripheral vascular disorder/mastectomy (ca Breast surgery )/ Amputation/ and other surgical cases.
• All types of sports injuries and training for all sports.
• Ante-Netal/Post- Netal  exercises and other gynaecological conditions.
• Cerebral Palsy/ Delayed Milestones/Muscular Dystrophy/ ADHD/Poliomyellitis etc.

 

When do you need to consult a Physiotherapist ?

You are likely to benefit from a consultation/ treatment of Physiotherapist, if:

• You are suffering from any acute/chronic/occasional pain brought by any injury.
• Your joints are hurting or stiff/ movements are restricted or painful.
• You are experiencing any trouble in performing everyday activites due to any injury.
• You have undergone any major surgery.
• Your functional independence been adversely affected after any injury/ surgery.

 

Beware of Quacks and Malpractices !!!

• These days there are lots of unqualified persons who claim to be Physiotherapist and are either operating individual Physiotherapy clinics, working in hospitals or doing home visits.
• The public in general is requested to be aware of such quaks and do not fall prey to ant such malpractice.
• Whenever you visit/consult any Physiotherapist, please check his/her credentials and registration/ license issued either by the state council of Physiotherapy, i.e. Maharashtra State Occupational Therapy  & Physiotherapy council, Mumbai.

Dr, Vishal Patle(PT)

BPTH, MPTH, MIAP,CSMT (Australia),

Dip. Ortho. Rehab.(UK)