Role of Physiotherapy in HIV/AIDS patients

Physiotherapy treatment of  HIV/AIDS 

Physiotherapist (physical therapist) plays very important role in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Physiotherapist is one among other rehabilitation team working in HIV/AIDS. The main goal of any physiotherapist is to improve the ADL and keep the patient active to improve quality of life in the community. Patients with HIV/AIDS develops many complications like decreased general daily activities, function limitations, injuries or/and arthritis and abnormal reduction in body weight.

Due to decreased immune, they are also more prone to other infections, diseases and also produce side affect of medications. 

So, a physiotherapist should develop a plan to improve followings:

1.  Patient’s ability of doing  ADL

2. Reduce pain

3. Improve balance

4. Improve cardiorespiratory health/fitness

5. Maintain a healthy body weight.

6. Improve the psychological strength

7. In addition to this, a proper home program should be prescribed to achieve goal set by the patient or by physiotherapist.

How exercise works in HIV/AIDS patients.

Exercise is important in these patients because it provide following benefits: 
 I.       Regularity of bowels 
II.           Enhances immune function (by increasing T helper/ inducer CD4 cells and activating CD8 cells.
III.          Improves cardiovascular function.
IV.           Reduction of muscle atrophy 
V.            Pain relief 
VI.          Improves pulmonary function
VII.        Reduces anxiety and improves mood 
VIII.      Helps prevent pneumonia and other respiratory infections 
IX.            Improves endurance

Self safety

It is very important to deal with self safety when you are treating specially these patients. So following precaution should be taken before dealing with these patients:

1. Always use protective barriers. Specially while handling blood, body fluids and infectious fluids.
2. Wash hands before and after treatment.
3. Prevent needle sticks. And also make sure that patient’s nails are clean.
4. If you have any open wounds or skin lesion than do not treat the patient until lesion have healed.
5. Use ventilation and valve device for resuscitation.
6. In pregnant women, new born and very old age patients take extra precautions.