TRENDS OF PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES, STAFFING AND MODALITIES AT PHYSIOTHERAPY CENTERS OF FAISALABAD

Abstract

 Abstract

Background:  Physiotherapy is an essential element of modern health care system. Physiotherapists around the globe work in various sectors, their roles are well established and distinguished from all other medical professionals.

Objectives:  The aim of this study was to provide evidence on the trends of Physiotherapy services, staffing, electro and exercise modalities at physio-therapy centers of Faisalabad. In the context of given objectives awareness will be provided to government to establish physiotherapy accredited body; to ensure standardized physiotherapy practices.

Methodology:  Descriptive, Cross-sectional survey was conducted. A self - designed questionnaire in the perspective of guidelines issued by University of hea-lth sciences was filled by twenty two perspective phy-siotherapy centers of Faisalabad.

Results:  The results show Private hospitals (63.64%)

Yaquib M.¹

Doctor of Physiotherapy

Madina Teaching Hospital, Faisalabad

Kashif M.²

Assistant Professor, The University of Faisalabad

Heera S.A.³

Head of School of Physical Therapy

The University of Faisalabad

are playing the major role in providing physiotherapy services in the city, Majority (59.1%) of centers offer services for 6 - 8 hours, Daily patient load is10 - 20 patients at 50% centers, 81.82% centers work in a multidisciplinary environment while number of quail-fied physical - therapist at 72.73% centers is "One". Commonly available electromodalities include: Trans-cutaneous electrical stimulation, ultrasound, Infrared radiation and short wave diathermy. Laser therapy units, Mechanical tractizer and compression therapy were rarely available. Exercise equipments and adju-vant tools were not commonly available, moderately common tool include exercise balls, shoulder wheels and boards (wobble and wedge). Moreover,(out of eighteen cases) most frequent cases in physiotherapy centers of Faisalabad are shoulder pathologies, Back pain, Neck pain, Developmental delays , stroke and sports injuries respectively.

Conclusions:  Physiotherapist-population ratio of 3^rd largest city of Pakistan is 1:168926. There is a dire need of Physical therapists; the role of physical thera-pists in Intensive care units, geriatric and pediatric departments and industries is badly neglected, availa-bility of physiotherapy equipments was not well estab-lished. In this regard formation of a physiotherapy regulatory body is the need of the hour for the sake of patient's health and the dignity of profession.

Keyword:  Physical therapy, services, electrotherapy, availability trends, common cases, manual therapy, home plan, common cases, physiotherapy centers, acu-te care, chronic cases, manual therapy, , manual thera-py, exercise equipments, regulatory bodies, physiothe-rapist - patient ratio.