Physiotherapy averts loss of body function
Aug 30, 2005
FRANKLY, I knew nothing about physiotherapy until I was struck with paralysis. The paralysis confined me to a wheel chair for four months and kept me home for about two years and six months.
By Elvis Basudde
FRANKLY, I knew nothing about physiotherapy until I was struck with paralysis. The paralysis confined me to a wheel chair for four months and kept me home for about two years and six months. When I was admitted to Mulago physiotherapy department in 2003, I had paralysis of the limbs, I could not balance and I was experiencing serious swellings on my feet. I could not walk without support.
Today, two years and seven months after getting intensive physiotherapy services and undergoing muscle-strengthening exercises, I feel almost no trace of my former condition and have since thrown away the wheel chair. Those who saw me struggle to walk testify that I have greatly improved. My balance is much better now.
James Mwesigwa, a senior physiotherapist at Mulago Hospital, says the major aim of physiotherapy is to restore a lost function. If the function cannot be restored, the loss is compensated by providing wheel chairs or walking sticks to maximise the individual’s self reliance.
Mulago’s Physiotherapy ward has two sections: The electrotherapy section, where electricity and radiation is used to treat injuries. This section has major machines: The infrared rays lamp used for superficial injuries (muscular skeletal and nerve-related pains); the short wave diathermy (SWD), which is used for the deep-seated pains and the Neuromuscular stimulator that is used to treat paralysed patients suffering from stroke.
The second section is the gymnasium one, which is like the common gyms, is for exercises. There are several exercise machines, including the bars, wall bars, the mars, the beds, shoulder wheels, the steps and many others.
According to Kasiita Richard, a physiotherapist, the majority of patients at Mulago Hospital were children who were paralysed by quinine injection. Quinine injection trauma is the leading cause of paralysis and disability amongst children.
The way the quinine injection is administered is the main cause of trauma. Sometimes those who give it are careless. Either it is poor mixing of drugs, poor location of injection site or because children fight when being injected,†says Kasiita.
Other patients at Mulago include those with stroke (hemiplepia), where one side gets paralysed while others have spinal injuries.
Treatment is free. You can also access the facilities on a private scheme at a cost of sh48,000 for 10 days. Everybody needs physiotherapy, most especially people who live a sedentary life (without exercises), children who carry books on their backs, people who sit on stools or benches without back support, cyclists and bikers, sportsmen and women, pregnant women and old people.
Physiotherapy treatment can be accessed in Jinja, Mbarara, Mbale and Kabale hospitals. It is regrettable that there are only 120 physiotherapists in Uganda. Of these, 10 serving at Mulago Hospital. Physiotherapy is a gradual process, but very effective.
According to Mwesigwa, it is very fulfilling. “It is very exciting to see a once paralysed person back on his feet again,†he said.
Additional reporting by
Dianah Nalunkuma
FRANKLY, I knew nothing about physiotherapy until I was struck with paralysis. The paralysis confined me to a wheel chair for four months and kept me home for about two years and six months. When I was admitted to Mulago physiotherapy department in 2003, I had paralysis of the limbs, I could not balance and I was experiencing serious swellings on my feet. I could not walk without support.
Today, two years and seven months after getting intensive physiotherapy services and undergoing muscle-strengthening exercises, I feel almost no trace of my former condition and have since thrown away the wheel chair. Those who saw me struggle to walk testify that I have greatly improved. My balance is much better now.
James Mwesigwa, a senior physiotherapist at Mulago Hospital, says the major aim of physiotherapy is to restore a lost function. If the function cannot be restored, the loss is compensated by providing wheel chairs or walking sticks to maximise the individual’s self reliance.
Mulago’s Physiotherapy ward has two sections: The electrotherapy section, where electricity and radiation is used to treat injuries. This section has major machines: The infrared rays lamp used for superficial injuries (muscular skeletal and nerve-related pains); the short wave diathermy (SWD), which is used for the deep-seated pains and the Neuromuscular stimulator that is used to treat paralysed patients suffering from stroke.
The second section is the gymnasium one, which is like the common gyms, is for exercises. There are several exercise machines, including the bars, wall bars, the mars, the beds, shoulder wheels, the steps and many others.
According to Kasiita Richard, a physiotherapist, the majority of patients at Mulago Hospital were children who were paralysed by quinine injection. Quinine injection trauma is the leading cause of paralysis and disability amongst children.
The way the quinine injection is administered is the main cause of trauma. Sometimes those who give it are careless. Either it is poor mixing of drugs, poor location of injection site or because children fight when being injected,†says Kasiita.
Other patients at Mulago include those with stroke (hemiplepia), where one side gets paralysed while others have spinal injuries.
Treatment is free. You can also access the facilities on a private scheme at a cost of sh48,000 for 10 days. Everybody needs physiotherapy, most especially people who live a sedentary life (without exercises), children who carry books on their backs, people who sit on stools or benches without back support, cyclists and bikers, sportsmen and women, pregnant women and old people.
Physiotherapy treatment can be accessed in Jinja, Mbarara, Mbale and Kabale hospitals. It is regrettable that there are only 120 physiotherapists in Uganda. Of these, 10 serving at Mulago Hospital. Physiotherapy is a gradual process, but very effective.
According to Mwesigwa, it is very fulfilling. “It is very exciting to see a once paralysed person back on his feet again,†he said.
Additional reporting by
Dianah Nalunkuma