Group physiotherapy boosts patients’ recovery at Milford Hospital | News

The inpatient physiotherapy team at Milford Hospital is holding group therapy sessions for patients, which are helping boost morale and recovery for elderly patients.

This is the first time group therapy has been possible since the pandemic restrictions were lifted, and the team is excited to see the benefits the classes are having for in-patients on the wards.

Led by Stephanie Osawe and Stephen Barber, the groups currently provide sessions on falls and reablement, seated exercise, and balance. They are held on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Hospital’s inpatient physiotherapy gym, and more activities are planned in the coming months.

The majority of patients coming into Milford Hospital are elderly and frail, often with fractures or broken bones, and need extra motivation to help them return to their usual mobility levels through physiotherapy.

The team has seen how group physiotherapy classes have helped speed up recovery, reduced periods of admission, and improved the mental health and overall wellbeing of patients, and they hope to see more people coming along to the groups, in addition to one-to-one therapy sessions.

Senior Physiotherapist, Olu Okunade, said: “Often, when you’ve had an injury or are recovering from surgery, it can be a very lonely time. In a group situation, you can gain positive connections with others, working towards a common goal and help support each other.

“Evidence has shown group exercises and activities in the elderly provide a channel for social interactions amongst patients, which has a positive effect on mental health, improves accountability, provides a platform for shared experiences and encourages team working towards health and wellbeing goals. The interactions patients have with us are really valuable in boosting morale and motivation. Making exercises fun and seeing other patients with similar conditions really spurs people on.

“A lot of our patients at Milford are elderly, may live alone, and have minimum social interaction. Our group sessions open up conversations about common health and wellbeing issues and increase their motivation to participate in therapy, which means they get better more quickly.”

Robert Fells, a patient, said: “I have attended three exercise groups and found them all to be extremely helpful in different ways. The groups can be lively and enable us to exercise parts of the body normally dormant.”

Patient, Graham Doubtfire, said: “I have attended several groups while an in-patient at Milford Hospital and taking part in group exercises in the therapy gym has been very motivating. When you see other patients attempting the exercises, you feel more motivated to push yourself that little bit further. I also enjoy the social element of attempting the exercises with others rather than on my own.”