Physiotherapy in South Gujarat

Physiotherapy in South Gujarat

Physiotherapy has emerged as an important discipline for good health care. It caters to rehabilitation of patients recovering from wide variety of diseases ranging from congenital disorders, neuromuscular conditions, trauma patients, cardio respiratory conditions, geriatrics and patients undergoing joint replacement surgery- cancer surgeries-reconstructive surgeriessports surgeries and bypass surgery. Physiotherapists deal with preventive and promotive aspects of health care. Good therapist can make all the difference in the ultimate recovery and make patient independent in activities of daily living to make this mission successful.

Progress of the institute depends on the efforts but good progress depends on sincere efforts by the management, staff members and students. They have worked hand in hand to be the architects of such good physiotherapy graduates who have achieved colorful success not only academically-skillful scientific knowledge not only in college but globally too.

It gives me immense pleasure to be the silent witness of this venture right from the first batch of the students

I wish a very bright future to all. I heartily congratulate all staff and students for their release of first souvenir.

In the decade of 1960, Dr. Induben Patel, our senior colleague started her own clinic and started department at Maskati children Hospital. In the decade of 1970, Dr. Virendra Bhai contractor started a physiotherapy in whole of south Gujarat with very little co-operation from the consultants as well as other doctors. To convince the consultants and the patients about the physiotherapy treatment was a hard nut to crack in those days.

When I joined Surat general Hospital in 1976, two other physiotherapists were also working with me. At times, it used to happen when both physiotherapists were on leave and about more than 70 patients used to come without any record of history or diagnosis on the case papers. Every time we had to ask the detailed history and had to examine the patients and treat accordingly. Even new patients were referred by the consultants just mentioning 'mobilization exercises' patients used to come without x-rays, without operative notes and treatment taken. When the patients approached us we had to ask the details about surgery, operative procedures, incision, x-rays, post-operative instructions etc. Because all these details are important to start the physiotherapy management.

Some of the consultants used to feel offended and they did not like when their patients were exposed. They used to dislike all these but how can a qualified physiotherapist treat the patient just blindly without knowing history and examination? How can we start exercises or any modality just by order of the consultants? As consultants were under the impression that we just follow their orders without thoroughly examining the patient? They used to think we are just trained to give active and passive movements and supposed to arrange diathermy pad, infra-red etc. We did not have the knowledge of anatomy, physiology, orthopedics, surgery, medicine and other conditions. They considered us as technicians who just have to follow their orders as they wished. We had to fight with such consultants to give them the true concept of physiotherapy, to show our ability about the knowledge, the mode of exercise therapy and other different modalities of electrotherapy.

During that period, we had decided to invite consultants of the branches to discuss on different subjects so that consultants can be aware of the knowledge of physiotherapist and they can know the important role of physiotherapy for treating the patients as a whole.

It was going on from 1978 to 1980 but the physiotherapists started losing interest and attendance decreased with each meeting. Interest of the physiotherapists, to meet consultants to show our ability decreased, so how can we blame others? Today same scenario with students, they think we pay the higher fees and each teacher should pass each student with distinction. Ultimately profession suffers and that reflects in society. Most of the students are not interested in study; they are interested in other activities rather than focusing on study subjects which are important. Even today some of the consultants consider physiotherapists just as trainees-technicians for giving exercise and electrotherapy modalities. They have no respect for physiotherapist.

Let us be optimistic and sincerely hope that they will give due respect to physiotherapists and our profession. As some of the consultants feel that it is an important branch and know that qualified physiotherapists have better knowledge of physiotherapy and keep full confidence in the physiotherapists for the patient's benefit. There are some physiotherapists who have up graded our profession while there are some of our colleagues, hospital authorities, some politicians, some private managements who have degraded the profession. Let us do some introspection and find out for ourselves to which category we belong to!!

New physiotherapy departments established in each city like Vapi, Valsad, Pardi, Billimora, Navsari, Bardoli, Bharuch, Ankleshwar. Each hospital has also established becomes first contact practice. Responsibility and accountability of the physiotherapist increases. Physiotherapy college at Kadodara started only for girls, affiliated to S.N.D.T university and later on 11 colleges affiliated to V.N.S.G.U. In south Gujarat, Masters program in three colleges.

In our college 30 students were admitted in first batch 1 student left for dentistry within 2 months 4 students left the college after completion of first year. 2 students in 4th year, 1 student in third year, 22 students appeared in final year and 100 % result of first batch. They have completed internship satisfactorily outside Surat at Ahmedabad and Mumbai and specialized institutes of cardiac and neuro hospitals of Surat. We got satisfactory feedback from all institutes from where they did internship six students got job in various institutes from where they did internship.

Fifty students admitted from second batch and subsequent year inspite of so many hurdles from inside and outside in college and university.

We are also planning to start masters program in neurology, cardiology and usculoskeletal system provided we get the permission from VNSGU. We are hopeful to get permission from Gujarat government and Gujarat council of physiotherapy.

We have full fledge physiotherapy department having OPD of 60 to 70 patients per day. 100 bedded geriatric home. Students are also going for clinical practice at Apple hospital, Unique hospital, Unity hospital and Sunshine global hospital and our trusts own hospitals K P Sanghvi hospital and Bharat cancer hospital. We are also going to tie up with Mahavir cardiac hospital and institute of neuro sciences for our PG students.

Dr. Subodh Desai (P.T.) 
Head/coordinator Physiotherapy
Ex.Treasurer

Indian Association of Physiotherapists
[1992-1996 and 1998 -2009]

Ex..visiting faculty physiotherapy
Shree Swaminarayan college of physiotherapy Kadodara, Surat
(2000-2010)