In Leprosy patients, the major drawback is that if they are untreated then they may become disabled. Due to disability, they are unable to do their daily living activity like-difficulty in walking, can’t eat properly due to claw hand, unable to close eyes due to paralysis of eyelids, etc.
Our first aim is to treat the patient early to avoid being disabled. Despite this, if a patient becomes disabled or his part has become anesthetic due to Leprosy. So to prevent it from getting worse, there are some common exercises which the patient can easily do.
Note: Leprosy is not a contagious disease it is completely curable with MDT (Multidrug therapy).
In this article, I will talk about Physiotherapy In Leprosy Patient. I will describe the common exercises that the Leprosy patient can do easily and save yourself from being disabled.
Here is the same condition in which what type of exercises should be done are described properly with the figure, so plz. read my full article carefully. So let’s get started.
Some conditions and their exercises | Physiotherapy In Leprosy Patient:
Exercises for hand :
Ulnar weakness or paralysis:
Active exercise:
1. Keep the wrist straight.
2. straighten the finger of the weak hand repeatedly.
3. Stabilize the joint between hand and fingers with the palm of another hand.
4. Extend the fingers keeping the same position.
5. Repeat each exercise 20 times.
6. Do this action 2 to 3 times a day.
Passive exercise:-
Straighten the clawed fingers repeatedly using his other hand or it is to be done by PHYSIOTHERAPIST at the physiotherapy center of Leprosy.
Some active exercises for fingers:
1. Touch the tips of all fingers to the tips of the thumb repeatedly to maintain the mobility of fingers.
2. Keep the hands in a soft place(for example-thigh) and slowly fold and open the fingers to maintain the mobility of fingers.
Exercises for thumb:
Median nerve weakness or paralysis:-
Active exercise:-
1. Straighten the weak thumb and hold it straight for a few seconds. use the other hand to hold the weak thumb steady.
2. Repeat each exercise 20 times.
3. Do this action 2 to 3 times a day.
Passive exercise:-
1. Straight the paralyzed thumb with the help of the other hand.
2. Hold the base of the thumb with the other hand and pull it away towards the palm.
Excercises for wrist:
Radial nerve weakness or paralysis:-
Active exercise:-
1. Patient up the weak wrist handhold it for a few seconds.
2. Repeat each exercise 20 times.
3. Do this action 2 to 3 times a day.
Passive exercise:-
Extend the paralyzed wrist up with the help of the other hand and hold it for a few seconds and try to push it downward by the paralyzed wrist.
Exercises for foot:
Lateral Popliteal Nerve weakness or paralysis:-
Active exercise:-
1. Practice bending the foot up and holding it in this position for a few seconds.
2. Repeat each exercise 20 times.
3. Do this action 2 to 3 times a day.
Passive exercise:-
1. Practice it with the leg straight. pull the foot up using a towel .repeat this movement several times.
2. Repeat each exercise 20 times.
3. Do this action 2 to 3 times a day.
Exercises for toes:
Posterior tibial nerve weakness or paralysis:-
Active exercise:-
1. To increase the muscle strength of toes moves the toes without taking the help of other hands or clothes.
2. Repeat each exercise 20 times.
3. Do this action 2 to 3 times a day.
Passive exercise:-
1. To increase the muscle strength of toes move the toes with the help of the other hand.
2. Repeat each exercise 20 times.
3. Do this action 2 to 3 times a day.
Exercises for eyes:
Facial nerve weakness or paralysis:-
Active exercise:-
1. To increase muscle strength of eyelids close the eyes tightly and hold them in this position for a few seconds.
2. To increase the muscle strength of toes moves the toes without taking the help of other hands or clothes.
3. Repeat each exercise 20 times.
4. Do this action 2 to 3 times a day.
Passive exercise:-
1. In the case of lagophthalmos patient’s eye is not completely closed.
2. In this condition Keeping a finger on the outer edges of the eyes, gently pull the skin outwards so that the eyelid covers the eyes.
3. Repeat each exercise 20 times.
4. Do this action 2 to 3 times a day.
RCS(Reconstructive surgery):-
1. Such leprosy patients whose mobility remains in the disabled limbs can be cured by RCS(reconstructive surgery).
2. RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY is completely free
3. First, you check the disabled part of the leprosy patient.
4. If the disabled part of Leprosy Patient is stiff then tell him different exercises to mobilize the stiff part, or mobilize it by physiotherapy. then refer the patient for RCS.
5. AND If a disabled part is mobile then there is no problem, refer the patient for RCS.
6. Via RCS deformity can be corrected and the disabled part after surgery will be normal and Patients will be able to do their daily living activity.
Aim of RCS(Reconstructive surgery):-
1. prevention of development of fixed deformity.
2. make disabled limbs functional.
3. Making the patient fit to live with everyone in the society.
RCS requires in these conditions:-
1. Claw hand.
2. Wrist drop.
3. Foot drop.
4. Lagophthalmos.
5. Collapse nose.
REMEMBER:-
For the best result of RCS pre and post-operative physiotherapy is very important.
Indication for RCS:
1. Age should be between 15 and 50 years.
2. The patient must have completed a full course of MDT or have completed at least 6 months of course.
3. Duration of deformity must be greater than 1 year.
4. Leprosy patients should not suffer from leprosy reactions or neuritis within the last 6 months.
5. The hemoglobin (HB) of the patient must be at least 10gm.
6. If the patient is suffering from hypertension or diabetes then first control his sugar level and hypertension refer the patient for RCS.
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Summary:
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FAQs for Physiotherapy in leprosy patient:
Is there itching in leprosy?
No there is no itching in leprosy. The reason is that leprosy affects the nerve which leads to anesthesia and due to anesthesia there is loss of sensation.
Can you feel pain with leprosy?
Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium laprae, which affects the nerves and damages them, which causes anesthesia. Due to anesthesia, a Leprosy patient does not feel pain.
Who is at risk for leprosy?
Leprosy may develop in all those persons who are above 5 years old. Approximately 95%people who are infected with Mycobacterium laprae dose not develop Leprosy because they have high immunity levels. Leprosy can develop only in a person who has low immunity.
How many cases of leprosy are there in 2020?
According to WHO Approximately there are 127,506 Leprosy cases in the total world in 2020.
Does India still have leprosy?
The limbs don’t fall due to Leprosy. The bacteria which cause Leprosy attacks nerves which develop anesthesia to the affected part. and when that part hits an object then the patient doesn’t feel pain due to anesthesia, and due to this, he ignores it, and then that part becomes ulcerate and dissolves.