For Subhash Karke a 29-year-old technical writer living with spinal cord damage hasn’t been easy. The nurse at the local hospital was the first to break the news to him that he would be needing the wheelchair for a long time. Initially, it was impossible to reconcile with the fact that things would probably never go back to how they were before but it was a week after his accident that Karke was introduced to a physiotherapist and things began to change.
Doctors say that spinal injuries can be classified into two types. What is the location of the damage and what is the severity? Karke suffered from an incomplete lumbar spine injury that disrupted some of the nerve lanes and caused temporary paralysis in his limbs.
It has been eight months since he started physiotherapy and while Karke has noticed some movement in his legs, he admits that what has positively affected him is the constant support he receives from his physiotherapist.
He is not alone here in his experience. Living with a physical disability is not easy. Along with physical limitations, there is a deep emotional trauma that comes as a package due to dependence and rejection by society. Physiotherapy is a kind of medical discipline that goes above the sphere of just healing injuries. It plays a key role in helping individuals to resume a fulfilling and active life with dignity.
The Invaluable Role of Physiotherapy
Let’s discuss the value of physiotherapy in changing people’s lives by empowering them to overcome obstacles and pursue their passions.
- Physiotherapy is a program that includes exercises, techniques, and procedures that improve the strength of a person. Improving muscle strength enhances the mobility of a person and prevents falls and other accidents.
- It helps with fine and gross motor skills development that may be disrupted due to congenital conditions, impairments due to neurological conditions, or accidents. The program includes gait training, tactile play, stretches, and alignment techniques.
- The therapy takes care of the mental well-being of a person with the help of relaxation techniques and exercises that help contain anxiety levels and foster a positive attitude.
- Flexibility exercises that are included are very important for getting rid of the stiffness in the body and joints and increasing the range of motion that enables the person to be more active and carry out their daily activities more independently.
- In severe cases, the therapy has been proven to enhance the functional abilities of people by preventing further limitations in muscle length. This is especially in conditions like cerebral palsy which causes muscle contractures.
- People who benefit from physiotherapy and notice changes in their physical abilities get a definitive boost of confidence and self-esteem as they regain their independence and participation in social activities and pursue their hobbies more passionately.
Conditions Covered by Physiotherapy
- Acquired brain injury
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Intellectual and psychosocial disability
- Neurological injuries
- Cerebral palsy
- Genetic and chromosomal disorders
- Spinal cord injuries
- Multiple sclerosis
- Alzheimer disease
- Strokes
How Do Physiotherapists Work?
Physiotherapists are experts who play a pivotal role in various stages of treatment. They know how people move and learn to move in different conditions and devise a customized treatment plan that is most beneficial.
They begin by running a thorough assessment of the person and identifying the physical impairments.
Next, they devise a personalized treatment program that includes exercises, procedures, and techniques to help the person regain their strength and mobility based on their condition and capacity.
Once the treatment has started they conduct continuous and rigorous monitoring of the functionality and progress of the person. If required a reassessment of the treatment is carried out and modifications are made to best suit the person undergoing treatment.
Physiotherapists educate people and their families on the use of assistive devices like wheelchairs, crutches, and braces and ensure that these devices are used optimally.
Collaboration with other multidisciplinary teams like speech therapists, occupational therapists, doctors, and psychologists is also a part of the duties of a physiotherapist to ensure seamless and comprehensive treatment of the person.
Karke says that physiotherapy has been more than a treatment for him. He equates it with hope that has enabled him to gradually overcome his physical and mental limitations and regain his strength and confidence. He goes on to add that the right support and professional help can indeed be a life changer for people dealing with disabilities and advises them to give life a chance however dismal things may seem.
