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Freedom Through Physiotherapy – By Matthew Aggerholm
Freedom, mobility and strength are three elements of life we take for granted until they are lost. The story I wish to share with you is a great portrayal of how physiotherapy can restore an individual’s quality of life through improved strength, mobility and freedom.
Natalie was a 40-year-old who was employed full-time in retail. She was referred to me with a five month history of dizziness. Following the death of her nephew, she was overcome with grief, fainted and struck the right side of her head on the ground. The next day she awoke with the room spinning, significant nausea and vomiting and severe imbalance. Investigations were negative, medications reduced her symptoms slightly and Natalie was very frustrated with her ongoing condition. Functionally, she was unable to perform any housework, read her beloved books, travel outside independently, or go to work.
During her initial assessment, Natalie’s outcome measures revealed very low balance confidence (29%) and high perceived disability levels (68%). Visual analogue scale for dizziness and disequilibrium was 6/10 in static sitting and 10/10 after repeated head movements. Objectively, Natalie was unable to maintain her static standing balance (2 feet, eyes open) and her dynamic gait index revealed that she was at high risk of falls (13/24). At the conclusion of her assessment, my clinical impression was Natalie was suffering from Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. I explained that her rehabilitation program would include manual physiotherapy treatment as well as home based exercises to retrain her brain to accurately interpret information received from the vestibular system. She consented to actively participate in her rehabilitation program.
After three treatments, Natalie was pleased to report she was feeling much better. She had resumed some reading, was walking independently without drifting, and was planning a part-time return to work. I was able to significantly progress her exercise program as Natalie’s functional abilities improved.
Natalie was discharged after only 8 sessions of vestibular physiotherapy. At her final visit, she reported no dizziness with any home or work activities. She had returned to full activities of daily living and was able to read for hours, drive independently without difficulty, and had returned to full work duties. Natalie’s reported perceived disability plummeted to 2% and confidence in her balance soared to 90%. Her dynamic gait index improved dramatically to 22/24. She reported no dizziness or imbalance even after repeated head movements.
Through an active physiotherapy program, Natalie had returned to being a strong, confident 40-year old woman who was genuinely grateful for having her mobility and freedom restored. Before leaving the clinic, in front of other patients in the reception area, Natalie gave myself and my office manager hugs and then walked out the door with a big broad smile on her face.
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