Physiotherapists’ perception of patient compliance to home exercises in chronic musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Background: Disorders of the musculoskeletal system are common, are responsible for a considerable amount of disability, impairment, and handicap, and are associated with high economic costs. Rehabilitation of chronic musculoskeletal conditions necessitates long-term home-based exercise programs. Exercises have been shown to alleviate pain, improve joint mobility and stability, allow faster return to work and prevent progression of chronic conditions. Non-adherence of patients to unsupervised long-term exercise is a major problem that affects treatment outcome. This study explores Indian physiotherapists’ perception of exercise adherence and their interventions to tackle it in clinical practice. Methods: A convenience sample of fifteen experienced physiotherapists from Saurashtra region of Gujarat was interviewed. Interviews were recorded and analysed. Results: The identified themes revolved around issues of patient-therapist collaboration in chronic rehabilitation. The subordinate themes were: negotiating ownership and self management, education and pain, patient attitudes and communication. Conclusion: Experienced physiotherapists recognised barriers and often critically viewed their practice. They undertook necessary interventions in their practice but persisting non-adherence made them question the patient’s role in the partnership.

Effectiveness of play therapy over conventional physiotherapy in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy children.

Background: Play therapy has become an important part of physiotherapy treatment program to improve functional outcome in children with cerebral palsy. This study is to examine the effectiveness of play therapy together with conventional therapy to improve the hand function ability in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Methods: 30 spastic diplegic cerebral palsy children were divided into two groups, Group-I received conventional physiotherapy alone where as Group-II received play therapy and conventional therapy (n=15) both. The treatment was given 3 days a week for 6 weeks continuously for both the groups. Results: After the treatment period Group II who received play therapy in addition to conventional therapy scored significantly higher on the Box and block test and Nine hole peg test for grasp and release showing p<0.05. Conclusion: Play therapy along with conventional physiotherapy was found to be much effective in improving the hand function in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. This study may help the physiotherapist to utilize and evaluate the functional outcomes using play therapy in cerebral palsy children.