The physical therapy department was set up in the year 2002 as an integral part of the hospital and since then the department has been providing physical therapy and rehabilitative programs for in and out patients . Close to 50 patients per day receive therapy sessions in the process of their recovery. The department has been working closely with other departments to help and restore a patient’s highest level of physical functioning.

WHO IS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST? Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional and physical activities.

WHAT IS PHYSIOTHERAPY? It is a relatively young and evolving branch of healthcare which is growing and getting recognized as a vital part of patient management and recovery process. Physical therapists deal with a wide range of cases with orthopedic and sports, neurology and neuro-surgery, ICU, cardio-respiratory, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatric, geriatric and community based rehabilitation. With a huge array of electrotherapy equipments and exercise therapy a physical therapists uses them or their combination to aid the patient’s outcome and restore his/her life to the highest possible level of physical functioning thereby improving their overall quality of life.

WHO DO WE TREAT? The department is providing physical therapy to all cases that require some form of physiotherapy. Some of the most common cases seen on a day to day basis include spondylosis (cervical/lumbar), inter vertebral disc prolapsed (IVDP), disc bulge, spondylolisthesis, ankylosing spondylosis, back and neck pain, frozen shoulder, joint pain and stiffness, muscle pain and weakness, post fracture or any orthopedic invasive procedure that require rehabilitation and joint function restoration, arthritis and rheumatic joint disease, ligament, tendon and soft tissue injuries, sciatica, stroke, paralysis, gait and balance disorders, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Bell’s and facial palsy, delayed developmental milestones, post amputation management, burns rehabilitation etc.

TREATMENT METHODS: Ultrasonic Therapy (UST), Interferential Therapy (IFT), Transcutaneous Electrical Nervous Stimulation (TENS), Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS), Continued Passive Movement (CPM), Shortwave Diathermy (SWD), Wax Therapy, Cryotherapy, Infra-red Ray and Intermittent cervical and lumbar traction, Specialized Ceragem Bed are among the electro-therapy tools available for pain management and treatment process of patients.

Exercise therapy is another mode of therapy being provided by the therapists as a part of treatment protocol. With a huge selection of exercise protocols to choose from it is gaining widespread recognition and importance in the prognosis and outcome of a patient’s stay and discharge from the hospital. The team is practicing and promoting early rehabilitation to help minimize secondary complications such as bed-sores, joint stiffness and muscle contractures to aid early physical functioning restoration and thereby invoke a sense confidence among the patient.

Besides this targeted and individually tailored exercise therapy program is being taught to out-patients for their various ailments such as back and neck weakness leading to pain, arthritis, muscle weakness and imbalance, joint and muscle in-coordination, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s etc.

PFT: The department is also conducting pulmonary function test (PFT) to help identify the pattern, severity and efficacy of medical therapy for patients with respiratory problems.

MANUAL THERAPY: Peripheral joint mobilization techniques, Spinal manipulation and mobilization (Maitland, McKenzie and Mulligan School) are being used to treat joint stiffness, mobility dysfunction, disc bulge, spinal hypo-mobility etc.

TRIGGER RELEASE OR MYOFASCIAL RELEASE technique is also used to treat patients with fibromyalgia, generalized and prolonged muscle pain with tender spots etc.

MUSCLE ENERGY TECHNIQUES is also used as a part of special therapy in various conditions such as muscle stiffness, joint dysfunction, muscle weakness, joint mobility dysfunction etc.

NEURAL MOBILIZATION in cases with neural tension leading to various problems such as sciatica, hypomobility etc. is practiced to improve patient outcome.

BRONCHIAL HYGIENE THERAPY is being delivered in ICU and wards which comprise of various special techniques such as postural drainage, chest physiotherapy and assisted cough techniques to clear the chest and aid in the recovery process. Besides this early chest physiotherapy in ventilator bound patients is also playing a major role to reduce various forms of pneumonia including ventilator acquired pneumonia (VAP) besides helping in early weaning from the ventilator. Chest physiotherapy is also widely delivered to help COPD’s, asthmatics, cystic fibrosis, chest wall disorder and various other related respiratory problems and help in early weaning from oxygen therapy and maintain desired oxygen levels in the body.

VESTIBULAR REHABILITATION which includes various exercise program and special manipulation technique to restore balance and vertigo management is being run. The program has been initiated with the department of ENT and Internal Medicine and the number of patients receiving this therapy and being benefitted is rising steadily.

Besides this the patients in the wards are also receiving early physiotherapy post various procedures and surgeries of various forms to help prevent secondary complications such as lobar collapse, chest infection due to inability to remove secretions, Deep vein Thrombosis (DVT), early weaning from supplemental oxygen and initiating early mobility to improve self confidence and promote highest level of physical independence.