It’s more than just physical therapy: reported utilization of physiotherapy services for adults with neuromuscular disorders attending a specialist centre

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate service users’ perceptions of their utilization of the physiotherapy service at a specialist Neuromuscular Centre and to identify their reasons for and barriers to attending. Method: A prospective survey design, consisting of a 13-item questionnaire was completed by 104 registered users of a physiotherapy service at a Neuromuscular Centre in northwest England. Descriptive statistics was employed to analyse data from Likert style questions and thematic analysis conducted on responses to open-ended questions. Results: Over 79% of respondents were satisfied with the frequency and duration of their treatment. Respondents attended physiotherapy to obtain physical therapy, for general wellbeing and to access specialized resources. Barriers to attendance included work commitments, travel cost and time, and lack of Centre resources. Clients attending physiotherapy valued the specialist service including advice from therapists, perceived benefit from social interaction with other clients and physical therapy. Conclusion: Adults with neuromuscular disorders identified psychosocial as well as physical benefits from attending physiotherapy at the Neuromuscular Centre. The findings highlight the importance of service users’ views in service provision and suggest that a collaborative commitment to patient management could by advantageous when developing physiotherapy services.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• In this study adults with neuromuscular disorders appeared to value the availability of frequent and ongoing access to specialist physiotherapy.

• In addition to physical gains, this client group consistently reported benefits in psychosocial wellbeing from attendance at physiotherapy

• A collaborative commitment to patient management between physiotherapy providers and service users with neuromuscular disorders could lead to optimal utilization of physiotherapy services

Keywords::

• Disability
• neuromuscular disorders
• physical therapy
• patient satisfaction
• physiotherapy
• neuromuscular

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank participants and staff at the NMC who supported and took part in this research.

Declaration of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.