Physiotherapy essential in COVID-19 recovery

HEALTH

While growing up, I remember, mum would always complain of back pain. On the days it hurt so bad, she would lay flat on her tummy and ask any of my older siblings to stamp around her lower back.

It would somehow help to relieve her of the pain but this, would years later, exacerbate into serious back issues that were only saved by months of physiotherapy.

Godfrey Basoita, vice president of Uganda Association of Physiotherapy (UAP) says many conditions need physiotherapy but people tend to ignore them or find temporary solutions.

These can only worsen the situation leading to surgery or being bedridden.

"Muscular skeletal conditions; those which affect the muscles, bones, joints and nerves shouldn't be neglected," he cautions.

It can be the different forms of arthritis or inflammation of the joints and bones, causing pain.

This can include; osteothritis where the bones and joints wear naturally or any other form.

Whenever you feel pain, stiffness, cracking or discomfort in those parts, you should consult a physiotherapist. They will examine and treat or refer for further investigations in a scan.

"If the condition is presented in its primary stage we can help manage it from becoming severe," he asserts.

Meanwhile these experts don't treat with drugs but rather exercises and physical activity.

Annet Grace Nakalyango, physiotherapist at Mulago National specialised women and neonatal hospital, says back pain is another muscular skeletal issue that many people brush off only to aggravate into a life threatening condition.

Muscle pain, stiffness, numbness and paralysis need intervention of a physiotherapist. Similarly, don't take for granted, the pins and needles you feel in your fingers.

And as physiotherapists marked their international day recently, one very important aspect of their work came up.

That physiotherapy is one of the best ways to manage COVID-19. Find out how, in the Health and Beauty section, in today's New Vision (Monday, September 21,2020).