Heidelberg Hospital marks World Physiotherapy Day with stroke awareness programme
Healthcare professionals at Heidelberg Hospital used World Physiotherapy Day to educate the community about stroke prevention, rehabilitation, aphasia and the importance of multidisciplinary care.
Heidelberg Hospital hosted a World Physiotherapy Day programme on September 10, bringing healthcare professionals and community members together to raise awareness about stroke, rehabilitation and the importance of maintaining good health.
The initiative formed part of Physiotherapy Week and included presentations, practical demonstrations and discussions aimed at helping community members better understand the different services available to patients during recovery.
Physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists participated in the programme, explaining their respective roles and how they work together with other healthcare professionals to provide patients with comprehensive care.
Physiotherapists focused on stroke awareness, explaining how a stroke can affect the body, the challenges that patients may experience during recovery and ways of reducing the risk of suffering a stroke.
The presentation also encouraged community members to pay closer attention to their health and highlighted the importance of prevention and early intervention.
Occupational therapists conducted practical demonstrations to show how stroke survivors can be assisted with everyday activities.
One demonstration showed how a person affected on one side of the body can put on a jersey, highlighting the role of occupational therapy in helping patients regain independence.
Speech therapists addressed communication difficulties associated with aphasia, explaining how the condition can affect a person’s ability to speak, understand, read or write.
Community members were also encouraged to be patient and supportive when communicating with people living with aphasia.
Representatives from the South African Social Security Agency also attended the programme and provided information about social support services.
Attendees were given guidance on who can apply, where and when applications can be submitted, and how the application process works.
