THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, OCT 18: Kerala University Vice-Chancellor Dr N Babu has said that the university was planning to introduce a bachelor's course in physiotherapy.Inaugurating the fourth annual conference of Indian Association of Physiotherapists (IAP) Kerala Chapter here on Sunday, he said that steps were being initiated to start the four-year course.He stressed the need for more qualified physiotherapists to meet the requirement of health care system in the next millennium. The Vice-Chancellor called for more research activities in the field of physiotherapy involving modern technology.IAP chairman L J Padmakumar said that one of the long-pending demands of the association was the setting up of a separate council for physiotherapy. The demand was raised at the IAP national meet held at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, in 1994. However, despite several representations the Government was yet to take a decision on it.He said that only a separate council can thwart the unjust use of physiotherapy modalities which could injure and endanger the health of people. To ensure that the patients were not deprived of proper relief and treatment, the physiotherapy council, like other independent councils would emphasise on streamlining the system.He said though the Central Government had recently included physiotherapy in Rehabilitation Council of India, the move could not take off following the Supreme Court directive keeping the particular order in abeyance. It was the IAP that moved the apex court for staying the order.At the Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme held later, Chandra Kesavan spoke about a new technique. The technique known as Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique (PNF) which originated in the West was yet to catch up. It mainly focused on coordinated functional movements.Experts at the CME said that 80 per cent of all common pain can be effectively treated by physiotherapy.
