Physiotherapeutic needs of elderly people in ambulatory care

Abstract

Aging population increases both chronic and disabling diseases. Chronic and disabling diseases lead to functional loss, decreased autonomy and quality of life. Functional loss increases the dependency for accomplishing tasks such as activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Ambulatory care has increased for the elderly pressuring for more rehabilitation care in outpatient settings, demanding for the participation of the physiotherapist. This study aims to understand the main needs for physiotherapy in the elderly outpatient proposing the minimum conditions for this service. In a cross-sectional, observational and analytical approach, patients for an outpatient geriatric service, 60 years and older, both genders, participated in this study. The study group answered about the ADL and IADL, tested for balance, flexibility and muscle function. Prevalence of diseases, cognitive status, and depression were obtained from the medical charts. All 55 participants could benefit from a physiotherapic intervention. Dementia and gout associated significantly with both ADL and IADL. Osteoarthritis was significantly associated with IALD. Among the physiotherapic techniques, cinesioterapia was the most indicated. Cinesioterapia accounts for passive and active exercises, exercises against resistance and oriented walking. We concluded that chronic diseases are related with physical dependence and the physiotherapist was an important role in the functional rehabilitation in the elderly patient in an outpatient service. It is important to create a fully equipped physiotherapic yard in a geriatric outpatient service.