Physiotherapists offer much more than mere therapy to elders

By Abhishek Sharma

“Please don’t make me do those exercises again,” the old woman grumbled as she looked at the therapy mat.

Dr. Maria Augustine, a practising physiotherapist at Sharda Charitable Clinic, New Delhi, had seen this before—in fact, several times. According to her, “The older the patient, the greater the dread of physical exercise.”

“They, in fact, need more emotional care than physical,” says Dr. Augustine, underscoring how physiotherapy goes far beyond exercises and stretches, especially for the aged patients.

Ms. Khushi Sharma, a post-graduate student pursuing Masters in Physiotherapy from Delhi University, concurs. “Patience is everything. We realise that elderly patients take more time to recover. We therefore have to go slow.”

Ms. Megha Jha, another student of physiotherapy, too emphasises the importance of patience.  She says, “Trying to convince them patiently, and listening to their concerns carefully, helps a lot.”

For Dr Augustine the most rewarding part of treating elderly patients is the blessings physiotherapists receive at the end of the session.

Ms. Jha similarly values the feeling of ‘satisfaction’ when an elderly patient smiles after a session.

The phsiotherapists aren’t just stretching limbs—they’re helping the elderly reclaim their daily lives, step by step. “Seeing them move better, live better—it’s more rewarding than you can imagine,” says Ms. Sharma. “It’s like giving someone their life back.”

“The elderly come in with all kinds of issues—osteoarthritis, frozen shoulders, back pain, knee surgeries, and even Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT),” says Dr Augustine.

The list is long. “Muscle weakness is common,” adds Ms. Sharma.

Most of them say that doctor referrals and family recommendations bring in a lot of elderly patients. But word-of-mouth also remains a powerful tool in spreading information about the location and credibility of a clinic.

While every case is unique, the average recovery period ranges from two to three weeks and sometimes stretches to a month also.

Most physiotherapy sessions last 30–40 minutes and cost about ₹500–₹600. Home visits are common, especially when patients can’t walk or even stand. But time isn’t the biggest challenge—it’s convincing the elderly to try at all.

“Some think it’s too late for them,” says Dr. Augustine. “But with empathy and patience, they realise they still have strength inside.”

She also stresses the importance of involving family members in the therapy sessions. Elderly patients feel more comfortable when they have family members around them. “If we include their family in the session, or just sit and talk before the therapy starts, they begin to trust us. That’s when the real healing begins.”

(The writer is a first-year student of media at KCC Institutes in Greater Noida.)