Fit For Life
The crucial role of physiotherapy
Physical therapists (known as physiotherapists in Bangladesh) are experts in developing and maintaining people's ability to move and function throughout their lives. With an advanced understanding of how the body moves and what keeps it from moving well, they treat and prevent many problems caused by pain, illness, disability, disease, sport, work related injuries, ageing, inactivity and so on. Every year, physiotherapists help millions of people prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer through recommending safe and appropriate exercise programmes. Physical therapists also help people manage the effects of these conditions. In order to raise awareness about crucial role of physiotherapy profession in keeping people well, mobile and independent, World Physical Therapy Day is being observed today across the world including Bangladesh. Each year, under the general theme of Movement for Health, The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) introduces a new campaign message. This year, the message and theme is "Fit for life" that embraces the important role physiotherapists. Worldwide, the number of non-communicable diseases have been increasing alarmingly and consequently, physical disabilities and movement disorders are on the rise. Promoting and strengthening physiotherapy as a cornerstone of disability care and movement disorder, we can significantly decrease these diseases and disabilities. Evidence shows that people who stay active are more likely to keep working, engaging in society and enjoying life — and that physiotherapists have a vital role in helping them to do so at every stage of life. Despite a crucial role, physiotherapy never got proper attention it deserves. There is no new post created to employ rising number of physiotherapists. There is yet any initiative to recruit in the vacant posts. Due to lack of encouragement and monitoring by the proper authority, many people are being attracted to visit quack and suffer more fatal complications instead of getting any benefit. The condition is getting worse with the rise of many unauthorised physiotherapy centers where people are frequently being victimised by these quacks. There is a clear need to take urgent initiatives for modern physiotherapy treatment and education in Bangladesh. Clinical and academic physiotherapy posts have to be created, recruited by the government to provide proper physiotherapy treatment for millions of patients. Without proper inclusion and promotion of physiotherapy, it is quite impossible to provide comprehensive healthcare services in Bangladesh.
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