Life of physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic

During a pandemic such as COVID-19 (corona virus disease), physiotherapists are one of the most affected and infected populations, considering their close contact with patients. Despite this risk, physiotherapists continue their service. They practice preventive measures to stop the spread of infection, and to create a safe, hygienic atmosphere for patients in clinics.

Physiotherapists are always trying their best to help everyone, even with the increase in COVID-19 cases in the past few weeks. They live with a constant fear of treating an infected person and transmitting the disease to subsequent patients who undergo therapy. They attend to patients in the clinic every day, taking precautions, including wearing masks and sanitizing often to have a safe environment. Wearing masks for hours can be really difficult and uneasy. During the therapy sessions and at other times, they wear gloves as a safety measure to prevent transmission. They have accepted this situation as a challenge and risked their health to help people, even when people are not confident to visit a clinic.

Most people are scared to visit clinics due to severity of the present situation. At the beginning of this pandemic, most shops, clinics and centers were closed, and only emergency centers were open. No help was available when necessary. Patients had to take care of themselves or ask therapists online through video chats and videos by therapists. During the pandemic, physiotherapists have worked hard to give their best to patients during their virtual consultations too.

There are many measures taken to ease pain in patients by teaching solutions virtually and as a result patient are treated, as well as, protected from the infection. There are many online websites to consult therapists, and a session can be booked where a therapist visits home to treat patients.

Some therapists also take the aid of a video to administer treatment and therefore there is no physical contact. The therapists are in need of creating new tools and equipment to facilitate treatment with minimal physical contact.

Physiotherapists have a role to play in the post rehabilitation phases of COVID-19 patients. During rehabilitation they treat the elderly and equip them with modifications that will help them to stand up to the demands of the current situation.

More the number of COVID-19 cases, more the worries. As physiotherapists are trying their best to bring things back to normal, the level of difficulty is growing greater with higher number of patients turning positive for the corona virus infection.