In observance of World Physical Therapy Day, Mafraq Hospital’s Rehabilitation department conducted an educational campaign today for patients and staff,promoting physical fitness and raising awareness ofphysiotherapy.Mafraq Hospital is owned and operated by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA).

Studies indicate that people who stay physically active are more likely to remain healthy and independent throughout their lives. Physical therapy plays a vital role in helping people keep physically fit contributors to society, whatever their physical limitations or stage of life. It is an essential part of health services and its importance, particularly in rehabilitation, is recognised by healthcare professionals and their patients around the world.

World Physical Therapy Day, held on 8 September each year, is an opportunity for physiotherapists around the world to raise awareness about their role in keeping people well, mobile and independent. The World Confederation for Physiotherapy adopted the theme ‘Movement for Health’ for the day to emphasise the importance of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of problems caused bypain, illness, disability and disease, sport and work related injuries, ageing and inactivity.

Marking the contribution of its physiotherapists to the local community and people of the UAE, Mafraq Hospital observed the day by handing out educational leaflets and souvenirs at an educational booth situated at the main entrance of the hospital.

Teri Mason, Manager of Rehabilitation Service at Mafraq Hospital, commented, “World Physical Therapy Day is an excellent opportunity for us to express our commitment and educate people about exactly what it is we do. Every year, physical therapists worldwide help millions of people overcome or mitigate the effects of ageing, illness, accidents, stresses and strains of lives. At Mafraq Hospital, our team of physiotherapists is committed to fight against lifestyle-related ailments and disabilities that may affect children as well as adults.”

Throughout the day, Mafraq Hospital’s Physiotherapy Team manned a booth in the Hospital Main Entrance offering advice to patients, both in Arabic and English, on safe simple lifting techniques and proper back care. “Many people injure their backs during a ‘simple’ lift that they believe was done safely. Safe lifting is more than just bending the knees”, highlighted Teri. They also handed out leaflets to the patients on the role of the physiotherapist; physical exercise and child obesity; physical exercise and diabetes; physical activity and cancer and physical activity and ageing.

As part of the awareness drive, a team of physiotherapists demonstrated Passive Range-of-Motion exercises to the nursing staff for patients who are unable to move against gravity and need help to fully stretch their muscles and move their joints to prevent problems associated with immobility. The team also discussed early mobilization and ways to ensure safe transferring of patients to the nurses.They educated the Emergency Department team on how to teach the patients to walk safely on crutches and to measure them correctly and showed the nurses how to safely transfer the more immobile patients from the bed to the chair and vice versa without hurting their backs.
“For patients who are referred for physical therapy, our goal is to help decrease pain, increase function and teach the patient a maintenance program to prevent future problems. We firmly believe, however, that that prevention is better than cure,” Teri added.

Mafraq Hospital’s8-steps for safer lifting and avoiding back injuries:
1. Keep whatever you are lifting as close to you as possible
2. Tighten your abdominal muscles
3. Keeping your back straight, bend your knees and squat down to the floor
4. Get a good grasp on the load with both hands
5. Keeping the load close to your body, use your leg muscles to stand up, rather than your back, when you liftanything off the floor
6. Keep your back straight throughout, using only the muscles in your legs to lift
7. Do not twist your body while lifting. Instead take small steps with your feet, turning until you are in the correct position
8. When you are putting things down, again, bend at the knees using only your leg muscles and place the goods inwhere they need to go.
 

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