Epidemiological profile of physical therapy outpatients of the Family Health and Rehabilitation Program in Camaragibe, PE

Abstract

The municipality of Camaragibe, PE, pioneered in including physical therapy in the (public, nationwide) Family Health Programme, having implanted the Family Health and Rehabilitation Programme (PPSRF). The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of physical therapy (PT) PPSRF patients. Data were collected, and statistically
analysed, on the 661 patients having received PT care during 2004. Results show predominance of women (64.9%) and of the aged 40 and over. Among women, the most common conditions were osteoarthritis and lesions to tendons and muscles; among men, bone fractures and cerebral vascular accident (CVA). Bone fractures and lesion to tendon and muscles were prevalent among patients under 40, while osteoarthritis and CVA were more common among those above this age. Present findings may enable physical therapists to reorganize their activities in the PPSRF, attending to different age groups, with occupational dysfunctions, external causes, and with chronic diseases, and to promote preventive therapeutic actions, thus
improving people health care.