Physiotherapy: Helping you regain your physical health

By Cynthia Cherono

The KNH Physiotherapy Department prides itself in having a diverse, multi-disciplinary team. As an institution that promotes research, KNH is dedicated to providing quality health care services, to aid individuals in achieving their highest level of functionality.

The department assists patients in achieving their rehabilitation to optimize patient experience through innovative, evidencebased specialized health care, facilitate training and research, and participating in national health policy formulation through accurate diagnosis, clinically proven treatment, intervention, and patient education.

KNH offers a full spectrum of services on orthopedic injuries, pediatrics, musculoskeletal injuries, neurological conditions, geriatrics, foot pain, back pain, and pain management (just to name a few).

The Physiotherapy department is a frequently visited clinic and they attend to all patients with different conditions daily.

They offer individualized treatment and also offer an affordable wellness fitness program on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 12:45 pm to 2 pm.

Lamaze classes are also offered and Ergonomics through highly trained physiotherapists, consultants, and collaborations with the University of Nairobi.

“In every treatment process, a physiotherapist is vital,” said Mr. Kennedy O. Mogire a Principal physiotherapist and Head of the Unit physiotherapy department tells Newsline in an interview.

“Physiotherapy works to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs, or recover from serious medical conditions and disabilities without the use of drugs. Physiotherapy provides services that address existing ailments, maintain and restore maximum movement to people throughout their lifespan including infants, children, adults, and geriatrics,” explained Mr. Mogire.

Common conditions that require physiotherapy attention are due to aging; that is degenerative conditions such as Arthritis, conditions due to injuries, which contribute to disorders that are brought about by musculoskeletal changes, backaches, muscles, joints, and anything that threatens an individual’s movement.

KNH physiotherapy department frequently receives patients with problems on; backache and neck are classified as musculoskeletal like leg, Arthritis, stroke and its complications, diabetes and its complications, neurological conditions. like nerve, paralysis, and children born with congenital conditions. This they collaborate with different clinics and different specialists e.g newborn unit and critical care units.

Mr. Mogire admits that KNH has a bigger burden in society for handling non-communicable diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, road traffic accidents and the worst of it is obesity; brought about by lack of exercise and lifestyle changes.

“We, however, accept the challenge and KNH is up to the task to help everyone at the moment, KNH has been able to set aside specialized wards for such patients where physiotherapists and other multidisciplinary teams conduct ward rounds, they address the problems and advise the best way forward. The physiotherapist can refer the patients accordingly and conduct a trend analysis for the patients and this enhances research and training and helps in addressing the gaps.” “There is also a big burden in orthopedic, medicine and pediatrics which has the most patients with pneumonia and reproductive health issues and because KNH is a specialized hospital, the physiotherapy department allocates a physiotherapist in all sections (pediatrics and adults sections) and this makes our work easier,” adds Mr. Mogire.

Mr. Mogire concludes: “KNH should be supported to offer further training with more funding and adequate staffing, taking into account the rapid expansion of services and also providing modern equipment. At the moment, the Physiotherapy department is supporting the annexes (Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital and the KNH Othaya branch).

Some of the benefits of Physiotherapy are;

• Reduces or eliminates pain

• Helps avoid surgery

• Improves mobility

• Assists in recovery from stroke

• Helps recover from or prevent a sports injury

• Improves balance and prevents falls

• Manages diabetes and vascular conditions

• Manages age-related issues

• Manages heart and lung diseases

• Manages Women’s Health and other conditions .

We often view physiotherapy and physiotherapists as one entity – a group or an individual who can do it all and know everything about every condition. On the contrary, there is a high degree of specialization within the industry, and it’s important to find physiotherapists that have the training and experience to help you with your specific injury or condition.