World Physiotherapy Day is today

Physiotherapist-Physiotherapy is used to treat neurological diseases, rheumatological diseases, geriatric diseases, respiratory diseases, orthopedic diseases and deal with issues related pediatrics and gynecology

World Physiotherapy Day falls on September 8 (today). To commemorate the day, the College of Physiotherapists has organised a scientific session and workshop. It will begin at 9 a.m. at the Colombo National Hospital Lecture Hall. This time the theme is to discuss physiotherapy treatments for disorders that occur in adulthood. Consultant doctors and senior physiotherapists will present lectures and practical lessons. Consultant Geriatricians Dr. Sithira Seneviratne and Dr. Soumya Darshani, Consultant Orthopedic surgeon  Dr. Nanda K Amarasinghe and Ms. Dinithi Perera, Physiotherapist of the Kalubowila Hospital will deliver lectures. This time, College of Physiotherapists and the Government Physiotherapists officers Association have jointly organided this event. 

The aim of this is to update the knowledge for physiotherapists. Since the World Confederation of Physicaltherapy declared International Physiotherapy Day as September 8, in 1997, every year we have been the pioneers in organizing various programmes on that day in Sri Lanka. We have never charge money to provide necessary knowledge to physiotherapists. Similarly, this time too, all arrangements have been made to provide that knowledge free of charge; all participants will receive food and drinks. 

Also, during this programme, recognition will be given to physiotherapist Sameera Chandimal Ponsuge, who created new creative aids for the disabled community and won the Best Businessman of Sri Lanka award. 

Physical therapy provides treatment for diseases without complications.

Patients in Sri Lanka seek physical therapy for many medical conditions as it is an effective, long-term treatment method throughout developing countries.

The main reason for this is that physical therapists do not use any chemicals. When treating patients with drugs or chemicals, the former may experience complications or reactions. But in physical therapy, there are no such complications or reactions.

Physiotherapy is defined as the treatment of using energy factors, e.g. light, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism and physical exercise.

Physiotherapy helps in restoring the physical, mental, economic and spiritual well-being of the patient along with complete rehabilitation and restoration of function. 

A physiotherapist assesses the patient and plans treatment. Physiotherapy treatments can be divided into seven categories: electrotherapy, therapeutic exercises, hydrotherapy, chest physiotherapy, positioning and treatment with assistive devices. Under electrotherapy, infrared, shortwave and wax therapy are used for heat treatment, which relieves the patient’s pain and stiffness in the muscles, and improves the range of motion of the joints and blood circulation. Physiotherapists are those who make great sacrifices in the intensive care units 24 hours a day to save the lives of patients through chest physiotherapy. 

Physiotherapy is used to treat neurological diseases, rheumatological diseases, geriatric diseases, respiratory diseases, orthopedic diseases and deal with issues related pediatrics and gynecology. Physiotherapists play a valuable role in the rehabilitation of sports injuries and the prevention of sports injuries. 

(The writer is the Superintendent Physiotherapist Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo and the President of the College of Physiotherapists)