Persons with disabilities in Kisii County have been urged to seek the services of physiotherapists for the prevention and management of arthritis and also to help keep their bodies fit.
Speaking during the commemoration of World Physiotherapists Day, whose theme was inflammatory arthritis, Kisii Physiotherapist Caroline Kwamboka said the celebration was meant to create awareness about the role of Physiotherapy in keeping people healthy.
“Arthritis brings with it pain, affects mobility, and also decreases the quality of life of those who suffer from it,” she said. “As physiotherapists, it is our responsibility to improve the lives of individuals grappling with this condition, and our approach must extend beyond addressing physical aspects of arthritis. We must also consider the emotional and psychological well-being of our patients.”
Kwamboka noted that physiotherapists can play a vital role in helping arthritis patients manage it and improve their quality of life.
Physiotherapists can develop individualized treatment plans to help people relieve fatigue, improve mobility, and reduce pain. They can also train individuals on exercises to keep the body fit and prevent further complications.
Dina Sarange, who has been suffering from arthritis since childhood, confessed that she had no knowledge about the disease until she visited a local clinic for a regular body checkup and the result turned out positive.
“Since then, I have been visiting hospitals, both foreign and local,” she said. “Physiotherapy has helped me to manage my pain and improve my mobility. I can now walk and do other activities of daily living without much difficulty.”
Sarange encouraged other persons with disabilities to seek physiotherapy care for arthritis. “Don’t suffer in silence,” she said. “There is help available.”
Concerns are now being raised over the rising prevalence of arthritis in Kenya, with medical practitioners saying that an estimated nine million people are at risk of permanent disability after suffering from arthritis.
Source: KNA