Noida: Physiotherapy treatment has come to play a vital role in recovery of Covid patients.
With over 200 Covid recovered patients still recouping on oxygen support in both government and private hospitals including Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) Greater Noida, Noida Covid Hospital (NCH) sector 39, Sharda hospital Greater Noida, Fortis and Yatharth etc, demand for physiotherapy treatments are on the rise.
The treatments include various energy conservation techniques of breathing (active cycle of breathing techniques – ACBT) and mobilisation, autogenic and postural drainage positioning depending upon upper/lower lobe secretions and oxygen saturation, interpersonal and diaphragmatic exercise such as clapping, vibration, huffing, coughing and ambulation (ability to walk without assistance).
While two to four physiotherapists are deployed 24×7 across both ICUs and rehabilitation wards in these hospitals, the treatment aims to help oxygenation and boosts the immune system of a patient.
GIMS director Brigadier (retd) Dr RK Gupta said, “We had about 150 patients till today of which nearly 100 have recovered from Covid-19.
But the majority of them are still on oxygen support and require regular physiotherapy.” Dr Ajit Kumar, director public relations at Sharda L3 Covid hospital in Greater Noida, told TOI that 70 Covid recovered patients take part in various breathing and ambulation exercises with the help of a team of five physiotherapists.
“With this treatment, oxygen levels of patients have improved and it has also helped in the overall recovery of patients,” Dr Kumar said, adding that early evaluation byphysiotherapists have played a vital role in facilitating more energy conservation techniques of breathing and mobilisation.
Dr Sunil Kumar medical superintendent of Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital said that 20 Covid patients on oxygen support are currently undergoing daily chest and body physiotherapy at the hospital’s Covid recovered rehabilitation centre.
At Fortis Hospital in Sector 62, four-five patients are daily getting the same treatment.