Survey on Changes in Neurophysiotherapy at a Hospital/Clinic and Home-Based Settings in India During COVID-19 Pandemic

Background COVID-19 exposed the weakened healthcare sector and burdened the economic sector. Patients with neurological diseases require physical rehabilitation from the acute to chronic phase irrespective of their COVID positive status. Objective To evaluate the qualitative and quantitative changes in neurological physiotherapy at hospital/clinic and home-based settings in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology Using an online survey, a cross-sectional observational study was implemented among physiotherapists in India who treated neurological patients amidst the pandemic at hospital/clinic and for home-based settings using an online survey. Convenience sampling was used for recruiting participants in the study. Results and Conclusion Most of the physiotherapists, whether working in hospitals or in patients’ homes, indicated a decline in the number of referrals and therapy sessions given to their patients. Both groups resorted to the use of various forms of telerehabilitation in delivering therapy. Even though there is evidence supporting the necessity of physiotherapy for respiratory care, most of the respondents did not put it into practice. No protocols/guidelines for therapy delivery were implemented or used by our sample of respondents. This paper highlights the needs under 3 main categories: (a) development and implementation of contextualized clinical-practice-guidelines and clinical-monitoring systems for neurological physiotherapy, (b) incorporating respiratory physiotherapy sessions supported by research to treat neurological cases in such pandemics, and (c) to modify policies both at public and private domains ensuring incorporation and implementation of physiotherapy for neurological conditions, and to raise campaigns that educate the public on the significance of receiving uninterrupted physiotherapy, even during similar pandemics.