The aims and methods of physiotherapy in field conditions in the National Leprosy Control Programme

The main aim of physiotherapy in field conditions in National Leprosy Control Programme is preventive rehabilitation which can be achieved by systematic recording and reporting on the individual deformity status of all the patients followed by standardized methods of preventive management at peripheral clinics run single handedly by para-medical workers. The few patients in acute conditions and still fewer in need of surgical rehabilitation etc, require special reporting and special attention afforded by collective efforts of all the categories of workers engaged at a control unit. The system of reporting on deformity based on the W.H.O. Classification of deformities (1960) and of preventive management introduced at the Leprosy Control Unit, West, Hyderabad is found to be appropriate, statistically appreciable and sound in principle. The idea to avoid surgeon's knife and sophisticated methods of physical rehabilitation in field work as much as possible, and yet achieve the objectives of preventive rehabilitation of leprosy patients is feasible and successfully maintainable.