Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) joined the global community in celebrating World Physiotherapy Day, observed annually on September 8.
This year's theme was centred around Low Back Pain (LBP) and highlighted the vital role of physiotherapy in its management and prevention.
Under the leadership of Dr Hanadi al-Hamad, deputy chief of rehabilitation, Long-Term Care and Geriatrics, and lead of Corporate Rehabilitation Therapy Services at HMC and Noora al-Mudekhla, assistant executive director for clinical services, physiotherapy at HMC, a series of activities and events have been organised throughout September to raise awareness about the significance of physical therapy in enhancing the health and wellbeing of individuals across Qatar.
Events centre around both public and staff engagement. For the community, various HMC facilities will have public awareness booths to educate patients and visitors on prevention strategies, ergonomic practices and the appropriate times to seek physiotherapy services. The campaign will also aim to reach a wider audience with booths at various malls promoting the importance of physical activity in preventing and managing LBP.
HMC staff will also have the opportunity to engage in the health day with a seminar to stimulate discussion on the latest advancements in physiotherapy with a focus on LBP as well as an educational event to learn about the tools necessary to address and manage their own LBP which has been organised by HMC's Wellness Department.
Social media will also play a vital role in spreading awareness about LBP, its causes, prevention techniques and the role of physiotherapy in its management. The campaign aims to reach a broad audience across Qatar, encouraging proactive health measures and informing the public about available physiotherapy services.
In Qatar, within HMC's Physiotherapy Outpatient Departments, 25-30% of referrals are for LBP management. The Physiotherapy Department at HMC, with over 350 therapists, plays a crucial role in delivering comprehensive care to these patients, offering services ranging from supervised therapeutic exercises and skilled manual therapy to patient education and self-management strategies.
Dr al-Hamad, who is also a panel member of the World Health Organisation's Global Low Back Pain Guideline Committee said: “At HMC, we believe that physical therapy plays a vital role in helping individuals live healthier, more active lives. This World Physiotherapy Day, we aim to emphasise the importance of exercise in reducing LBP and its potential to prevent further complications and improve patient outcomes.
“Qatar is one of the first countries globally to proactively develop national guidelines for the non-pharmacological management of LBP, a strategic initiative that has been recognised and appreciated by the WHO.”
In response to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, HMC launched an online platform in 2020, providing dedicated exercise videos for its physiotherapy patients. This initiative continues to be an essential resource for patients, offering over 500 instructional videos that support their recovery journey from the safety and convenience of their homes.
Dr Hanadi al-Hamad
