Tailor-made physiotherapy
The interview is at 7 a.m. on Monday. While I make myself comfortable on a chair, 28-year-old Theruni Wijewardene sits, nay balances herself without a wobble across the table, on a big silver-grey ‘fitness’ ball. We are at her office down Longdon Place, Colombo 7 – the name of which needs no detailed explanation but is an indication of her profession.
Theruni at work on a patient on the Reformer. Pix by Indika Handuwala
It’s ‘The Physio’ opened as recently as January 22, this year, and her patients have not only the benefit of a team comprising a Sports Medicine Doctor, a General Practitioner and a Sports Massage Therapist but also state-of-the-art equipment including a Studio Reformer. Clinical Pilates administered through the Reformer helps a patient to engage in a gentle form of exercising which leads to body conditioning, strengthening and improvement of flexibility and control and stabilization of deep muscles, explains Theruni to the uninitiated.
Theruni who is armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Science and a Master’s in Physiotherapy from two universities in Perth, Australia, says that the Reformer challenges people’s bodies gently. Giving a demonstration, she says it looks easy but points out that the person would feel its effects the next day.
Tackling muscular-skeletal pain, disease or injury by physical means is what physiotherapy is all about, MediScene learns, with Theruni citing the examples of sports-related issues and rheumatism. Back and neck pain and knee and shoulder injuries are quite common with a familiar culprit being back pain. This may come about due to working in an office and being seated at a computer for long stretches. A sedentary posture could result in stiff and tight muscles or joints. During the sports meet season, meanwhile, she also sees young athletes with sports-related injuries.
Her job as a physiotherapist is to help people with disabilities or injuries to overcome these physical barriers using exercises, manual therapy and electrotherapy as well as give advice and make them aware about their condition and how to prevent a recurrence. Pointing out that the regimen dished out by her is “a little bit different”, Theruni explains that there is heavy emphasis on manual therapy which includes exercise and rehabilitation.
Sometimes she would focus on the patient’s breathing pattern or concentrate on coordination and balance. Each patient is assessed by her and the physiotherapy regimen tailor-made for that person. Weak areas would be identified and an exercise pattern developed to strengthen those areas. Starting with 30-minute sessions two-to-three times a week, as the patient progresses, there would be a reduction of the programme after re-assessment while also coming up with a home programme for the patient.
“The whole body is taken into consideration and not just one component,” stresses Theruni adding that a patient may come in with a problem affecting one area of the body, but the actual cause may be elsewhere, as there is a bio-mechanism involved. If a person comes with a knee or hip alignment problem, it could be caused by a flat-foot. This is why each piece of the puzzle should be solved for an overall answer. Plans are underway to make The Physio, a one-stop centre offering a range of services, including the strengthening and conditioning of athletes for a higher-level of performance.
A word of caution comes from Theruni to all coaches and parents to be careful whenever a school athlete suffers an injury. “Don’t force the athlete back onto the field without thoroughly checking him or her. It may be an important game for the school, but if the injury is aggravated due to the early return to the game, it would spell the end of the athlete’s sports life,” she adds.
| Dry Needling Dry-needling similar to acupuncture to relax muscle tension, reduce pain and improve circulation is another treatment that Theruni offers to her patients. Many are sceptical at the beginning as it is more invasive but it has become a popular option among my patients now, she says.  |