With some staff being on leave over January, I had opportunity this week to roll my sleeves up and be on the frontline by directly providing Physiotherapy services to some of our clients.
Back in my hospital days, I remember getting a slagging (Irish slang for banter) from the nurses who would say, ‘You Physios get it handy, all you do is take patients for a walk.’
I said it then and I’ll say it now, there is more to it than that!
Some of the areas we consider at Complete Health Group include:
👨🦯 Walking Aid prescription- does Mary need a stick/frame?
🚽 Falls prevention- is there any way we can make the environment safer? ramps/bed rails/toilet frames/non-slip mats
🥾Balance- how is Mary’s balance? Does Mary need a period of rehabilitation to objectively improve her BERG balance score? Is Mary’s footwear appropriate?
🏃♀️Exercise endurance- Has Mary been more short of breath recently? What could be the cause of this? Does Mary need a review of her medications including fluid tablets?
💃Gait Analysis- how is Mary walking? Is Mary pigeon toed or does she walk with her feet pointed outwards? Is Mary’s step length the same on both sides? Does Mary hitch her hip?
Keeping active and preventing falls are a must for longevity and preventing hospitalisation of our elderly and disability participants. With the correct measures in place, Hospitalisations CAN be prevented, falls CAN be prevented, Quality of Life CAN improve.
You see?? it’s not just a wee walk 🤣
