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In-Home Physiotherapy

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/08/2020 (1959 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In-home physiotherapy is a unique and valuable option for receiving physiotherapy care in Manitoba; however, most people, medical professionals included, do not know this is an available service! One which allows physiotherapy to be provided to Manitobans that may not otherwise have access to hospitals or private facilities. 

The term ‘mobile physiotherapy’ includes ‘in-home physiotherapy,’ but is broader in scope and includes care provided in private homes, hospitals, personal care homes (PCHs), assisted living residences, workplaces, schools, fields of play, and several other non-standard venues. Like all private physiotherapy, no physician referral is needed. 

It is important to know that when working in third party facilities, such as a hospital or care home, a mobile physiotherapist will be working with the patient’s existing health care team to ensure the best care possible. Often in care homes and hospitals, there is some physiotherapy care already being provided and, despite these physiotherapists working extremely hard, due to circumstances beyond their control, sometimes there simply isn’t enough time or resources available for optimal therapeutic care. In these cases, a mobile therapist can join a health care team to provide supplementary care, more frequent treatments, longer treatment duration, or alternate timing of treatment, such as evenings and weekends, with the shared goal of expedited recovery and return to home (if hospitalized). 

There are many reasons that patients and families choose to engage a mobile physiotherapist. One reason is limited mobility. A mobility issue could be due to weakness, pain, disability, low energy, or lack of transportation. It may be too difficult for a person to get in and out of their home, vehicle, or building resulting in an inability to access the physiotherapy care they need. This should not be the case for anyone. 

A second reason is for the on-going management of a chronic condition such as Parkinson’s, arthritis, or multiple sclerosis, with the goal of being able to slow the progression of the disease. Another reason to access mobile physiotherapy is for increased comfort, such as needing to avoid exacerbation of a painful condition by too much movement or expending too much energy due to travel. Sometimes an individual feels more at-ease in their own space, as is the case for many people, especially children, which often lends itself to better participation in treatment and overall recovery. Most recently, on account of COVID-19, many individuals and caregivers feel more comfortable having treatment in-home as it limits contact for them or their loved one with other people.

Lastly, it’s also convenient. Sometimes a patient wants to remove the commute time from their rehab commitment, or in the case of caregivers, it is one less appointment they will have to provide transportation for.

Ensuring access to physiotherapy care is a vital part of ensuring all people are treated with the dignity they deserve – especially when engaging with our healthcare system. Mobile physiotherapists aim to play a unique role by removing as many barriers to accessing physiotherapy as possible. If you, a loved one, or a patient of yours could benefit from this service, please engage the ‘Find a Physiotherapist’ search on the Manitoba Physiotherapy website to find an available mobile physiotherapist ready to help!

Stay well and keep moving.To find a physiotherapist,visit mbphysio.org today.

Amanda Reimer is a physiotherapist at Amanda Reimer Mobile Physiotherapy, you can find her and many other great physiotherapists at mbphysio.org.