Biomechanical Therapy
Musculoskeletal conditions impose a substantial burden of illness in disadvantaged communities throughout the world BJD online). Conditions affecting the bones, muscles, and joints are the most notorious and common causes of severe, long-term pain and disability throughout the world, especially in lower-income communities, with a significant impact on health-related mobility and quality of life (BJD online).The WHO continues to urge individuals, governments, and nongovernment organisations to collaborate on innovative models of sustainable health care that address these concerns at governmental, philanthropic, and grass-root levels (BJD online).
Health services in lower-income countries are often not freely available or easily accessible. The needs may be even greater for people living in poverty in rural or remote communities and for those with minimal education and employment options.
The problems may be compounded by many people living in poor communities relying on heavy, repetitive physical labour as part of their employment. This includes occupations such as farmers and factory workers that can also involve children and older people the elderly as workers. In these communities, there is usually minimal access to affordable and culturally suitable health care for pain relief.
There is growing evidence for the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of tactile therapies in delivering simple and safe musculoskeletal care (Vickers and Zollman, 1999; Vindigni, Polus & Edgecombe, 2009; Vindigni, Polus & van Rotterdam, 2011). There is also a need to formally re-introduce such practices in a regulated manner linked to national health priorities and governing authorities such as health departments (BJD online; Bodeker, 2008).
The Biomechanical Therapy program, collaboratively developed by YAKKUM (Pusat Rehabilitasi) in Indonesia and the Hippocrates Institute is an example of a musculoskeletal training program for community healthworkers that has successfully developed and delivered an effective, cost-effective and sustainable program to manage painful, disabling conditions, promote mobility and improve the quality of life of people living in poor Indonesian communities.
The Biomechanical Therapy component of the Digital Health Hub Rehabilitation Project aims to augment the existing BT (Kinesio Program) which has been successfully delivered in Indonesia over the past five years. In particular providing a range of audio-visual learning and teaching materials to complement existing approaches to teaching.
Apart from helping to flexibly increase the reach and benefits of BT (Kinesiotherapy) to other Indonesian communities in need, is the goal to collaboratively establish, deliver and support community health workers in other Asia-Pacific countries including Timor-Leste and Cambodia.
The aim is to develop online and face-face training material in Biomechanical Therapy
The current project includes a further two levels of Biomechanical Therapy at more advanced levels.
- Level 1 - is an introduction to Biomechanical Therapy and includes basic anatomy & physiology and basic principles of managing musculoskeletal conditions.
- Level 2 - Builds upon this foundation and includes the application of soft tissue therapy techniques.
- Level 3 - In this level, the Biomechanical Therapy course provides greater depth in the diagnosis and management of common, uncomplicated musculoskeletal conditions.
- Level 4 - In this more advanced Level, students acquire knowledge and skills in more diverse and complex diagnosis and management procedures.
