Physiotherapy is a necessary method of treatment that is essential for the recovery of the body. While medicine is taken for most diseases, physiotherapy is itself a method of treatment that generally works from outside the body and gives results that last for a long time. In various conditions such as fractures, post-surgery care, and neurological or developmental disorders, physiotherapy is a must. However, many times, it is not possible to go out to a clinic or hospital for physiotherapy. This may be due to various reasons that limit the scope of visiting a physiotherapist at a designated place. In this scenario, homecare physiotherapy appears as an alternative option. In a home therapy session, a therapist comes to the home often with his modalities and gives the treatment at home. In a home therapy session, there’s not much change in treatment.
When homecare is needed
There are many different conditions that require physiotherapy at home. These conditions need proper treatment just like any other condition. What is necessary is to understand the condition and call the therapist whenever it is needed.
- Quadriplegia: In conditions like this, physiotherapy is necessary for the movement of the body. When a person is quadriplegic, their body can get stiff, so it is necessary that limbs are moved. A physiotherapist does all the passive movements and can help in strength training and allow the patient to recover. They can also use modalities such as muscle stimulators to stimulate the muscles.
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- Post-surgery care: Many times, there are certain orthopedic or muscular conditions that require surgery. After surgery, it becomes quite difficult for a patient to regain their movements for some time. Surgeons recommend physiotherapy during this recovery phase to accelerate the healing process.
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- Developmental disorders: There are certain developmental disorders such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, etc. These develop due to genetic issues during the fetal stage. These conditions lasts for a long time (some are lifelong) and physiotherapy becomes a major part of life. Patients with these conditions generally find it difficult to have normal movements. Therefore, they require physiotherapy at home so that their condition doesn’t worsen.
- Young age: Kids can also require physiotherapy, especially if they have had some disease that affected their mobility, such as hypotonia, Down syndrome, or behavioral disorders such as ADHD, autism, or even anxiety disorders. These can make it difficult for the child to visit the clinic daily or weekly.
- Old age: This is another common scenario for which a home visit is a better option. Many elderly people find it difficult to move quickly and often. It could be due to their issues for which they are taking therapy, such as joint pain, muscle spasms, or age-related degenerative issues such as osteoarthritis. Also, for many elderly people, staying at home is a common desire.
Differences in homecare and clinic
While visiting a physiotherapist at their clinic, things are quite different. In a clinic, there are all sorts of modalities such as traction machines, treadmills, diathermy, etc. These are quite large machines, and they can’t be taken for homecare. Apart from these, certain treatments such as hydrotherapy also require visiting a clinic. While these are what are offered by visiting a clinic, homecare is also not lacking in terms of providing adequate treatment. For many conditions, homecare is the only option. During homecare sessions, the therapist assesses the patient and plans the treatment around the setting. Additionally, homecare also has certain advantages. These advantages make it a superior option. The care that a patient receives in homecare is certainly more.
Benefits of homecare
Homecare provides privacy during the treatment. Many people are not comfortable with others knowing about their treatment and want to keep their condition secret. For them, homecare is the option that allows them to have their treatment at home.
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- Personalized treatment is a significant reason why many prefer homecare. During a home therapy session, a physiotherapist looks closely at the patient, develops the whole treatment plan in detail, and keeps adjusting it whenever there’s a need.
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- Comfort is another factor that makes homecare a better option. This is especially true for patients who are quite young or elderly. Home is the most comfortable place for a patient, and receiving treatment at home is the best option for them.
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- At home, the patient also feels quite positive. The overall ambiance of the home is uplifting, which gives a moral boost to the patient and makes them mentally more open to the treatment. Many feel quite anxious in a hospital setting, which may hinder their recovery phase. By being at home, they feel more confident about their treatment.
Physiotherapy is a form of treatment that can also be achieved at home. While there can be some limitations at home, in many cases, homecare doesn’t affect the treatment and can, in fact, help in achieving the treatment goals. What matters most is to understand the treatment and to follow the instructions given by the therapist. This is the way to complete rehabilitation. Whether the treatment should be at home or in a clinic should always be decided by the therapist. A therapist looks at the whole condition of the patient and plans their treatment accordingly.
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