When one thinks of physical therapy, several types of patients may come to mind: those recovering from traumatic injuries, or recent stroke patients, for example. But at HAS, the physical therapy team does not limit itself to these cases; the team seeks out all patients who could benefit from rehabilitation services in the hospital and the community, and brings care to them. One very important patient population served by the physical rehabilitation team: children in the Nutrition Stabilization Unit (NSU), where HAS treats severely malnourished children. About 20 percent of children admitted to the NSU receive physical rehabilitation therapy as needed, in addition to the nutritional support provided.
Children who are severely malnourished experience generalized weakness, decreased mobility and developmental delay due to lack of calories and nutrients. Although their bodies may return to a healthy weight after undergoing nutrition stabilization treatment, malnutrition can have a lasting effect on a child’s strength and mobility. The HAS physical therapy team tailors physical therapy for these children to their age and condition, and might work on some combination of simple mobilization exercises, strengthening, balance, and activities such as sitting and standing, crawling and walking.
The goal is to have a lasting, positive impact on these children’s lives. Thus, patient families play a key role in the process. Parents are encouraged to bring their children in for follow-up physical therapy appointments even after they have been discharged from HAS. Parents also learn alongside physical therapy technicians how to do exercises with their children to help avoid future weakness and increase mobility.
This work with malnourished children is one example of how HAS is serving the most vulnerable in the Lower Artibonite Valley.