Public Health and Physiotherapy Notes

Public Health and Physiotherapy

• The World Health Organization (WHO) defines public health as "the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through organized efforts of society."
• Physiotherapists can work not only in clinical settings but also within broader communities and at a population level to impact the health of more people and focus on prevention.
• Public health focuses less on biology and more on the determinants of health.
• The Dahlgren and Whitehead Rainbow (1991) model illustrates that determinants of health influence well-being and highlight the importance of considering factors beyond the individual.
• Physiotherapists work with groups having conditions like multiple sclerosis or heart disease to manage symptoms and prevent further health issues.
• They also work with healthy populations to prevent injuries and illnesses.
• Examples of public health activities:
  • Group activities for injury prevention for sports teams.
  • Preventing musculoskeletal disorders in workplaces.
  • Producing resources (blogs, YouTube videos, apps) for the public to prevent and manage conditions.
• Clinics use public health approaches to promote their businesses, raising ethical issues, especially concerning privacy with apps.
• Physiotherapists can engage in public health by advocating for patients and the local community.
• A survey of allied health professionals revealed physios advocating for and engaging in improving nature spaces:
  • Gardens in care settings.
  • Natural elements in non-care settings.
  • Community and school gardens.
  • Public parks, green corridors, and blue spaces.
• Physiotherapists can address health needs of many people, preventing illness, disease, and injury, particularly for those with limited access to physiotherapy and health services.
• Green spaces improve health as people benefit from having such spaces nearby, even without actively using them, improving health without requiring individual behavior change.
• Even clinical physiotherapists can support population health.

Fact Sheet: Torticollis

• Torticollis in infants causes the baby's head to tilt to one side, with the baby preferring to look in one direction.
• It results from a tightened muscle on one side of the neck and affects approximately 3 in every 100 babies.
• Congenital torticollis (present at birth) usually stems from the baby's position in utero or injury during birth.
• Acquired torticollis develops after birth, often due to trauma or infection.
• Symptoms may not be noticeable until 6-8 weeks after birth when the baby gains more head and neck control.
• Symptoms to watch for:
  • Head tilt or rotation to one side.
  • Reduced range of motion when moving the baby’s head.
  • Flattening on one side of the baby’s head.
  • Preference for feeding from one side only.
  • A small lump on the baby’s neck.
  • Plagiocephaly (flat spot behind one ear).
• Management involves encouraging the baby to turn their head in both directions and consulting a physiotherapist.
• Physiotherapy is important to:
  • Confirm the diagnosis.
  • Provide home exercises.
  • Monitor progress.
  • Offer range of movement and strength exercises.
  • Track head shape development.
  • Recommend ways to reduce head flatness and improve movement restrictions.
• The Physiotherapist can also check for associated conditions and ensure appropriate development and milestones are met.