Let’s talk about physical therapy

Do you feel joint and mobility problems because of inactivity? Dr. Nean Pauline Donasco, a registered physical therapist, graced Daily Tribune's online show Gising Na! to share helpful insights on keeping your body in tiptop shape.

Daily Tribune (DT): What does regular therapy mean to our elderly? In the therapy session you offered for persons with disabilities, people who feel sick, those who are taking their maintenance medicine, and for those who have joint and mobility problems, what do you do to help them?

Nean Pauline Donasco (NPD): Basically, as a licensed physical therapist, we help our patients restore their movements, improve their mobility and balance, and also help with their pain management through preventive care, rehabilitation, and exercises.

DT: Before you provide the structure and the program for the elderly, do you openly consult their doctors or do you just visit medical records?
NPD: Usually for our patients, they have to go through a rehabilitation doctor. They are the ones endorsing the patients to us. Then, we'll be the one to execute the exercises that are given to them.

DT: I had a mild stroke before when I was 36. During that time, I couldn't move my left shoulder. My physical therapist created a program for me and that helped me to move again. So that time, I had to consult my rehabilitation doctor and the physical therapist. What are the dynamics of a physical therapist and rehabilitation doctor to create a program to help the patient's recovery?
NPD: Aside from the evaluation of the doctor, we will also evaluate the patient and take note of their current health status. The doctor will give them six to eight sessions and after every session, we will take note on the patient's progress. They'll have another check-up or evaluation after the session they had with us.

DT: Since you have elderly clients with caregivers, do you also teach them what exercises they need to do with the patient?
NPD: Yes. We have certain exercises that they can do while we are not with the patient or for their daily exercise that a caregiver can do. We call it a "health exercises program" because it is an easy routine that even a caregiver can perform.

DT: There are elderly people who are not experiencing health problems but still consult a physical therapist and go to rehabilitation centers. What basic tips can you give to those who still qualify to maintain their mobility, strength, and do their normal daily activities?
NPD: To our elderly patients who do not have any problem, they have to perform exercises such as low-intensity workout like active range of movement of their upper extreme. For example, they can lift their hands 10 times. Also, they can perform cardio exercises like walking for 10 minutes every day — up and down the stairs. They can do this exercise to reduce the risk of heart disease and help their muscles. If they fail to do this, there is a possibility that the patient can have a sedentary lifestyle which may need iron mobility or balance. They are also prone to contracture or risk of fall. It would be best to do exercises that are recommended by their doctors or physical therapist.

DT: For the elderly who do not have problems but just to follow a program or set of exercises, do you recommend a direct consultation with a physical therapist like you, or do they need to see their doctor first?
NPD: If that is the case, they can go directly to us and we will evaluate them personally — face to face — so we can check if they have conditions that contraindicate or need precautionary measures. If we have patients like this, it is better to refer them to a rehabilitation doctor first so they can check because we cannot give exercises to all patients. Therefore, it is a
case-to-case basis.

DT: Since we are talking about physical therapy, normally it has sessions, right? Would it depend on the case? Can you give us a sample of those cases or sessions you normally cater to?
NPD: Most of the elderly's conditions are decondition or physiological change of body due to weakness if there is inactivity or long bed rest or they have a sedentary lifestyle. Some have arthritis, neurological conditions like Parkinson's Disease or dementia. Most of our patients have strokes and we also cater to fracture patients or those who just underwent operation.