Innovative and effective ways to care the leprosy affected patients for the Prevention of Impairment and Disability, have always been the priority for the Physiotherapy Department.  Uniform protocols and guidelines are followed by the staff in the early detection, patient education, prevention and management of disability, thereby contributing to the holistic care of the leprosy affected.

Early Detection of Nerve Function Impairment:

Over 1630 nerve function assessments have helped in identifying and grading the impairments and in further referral for appropriate management.

Appropriate therapeutic modalities like exercises, plasters, splints and other aids and appliances are provided to improve the leprosy affected patients’ activities of daily living.

Patient Education:

Focus Group Discussions, participatory and individual self-care sessions have enabled the patients in identifying the reasons and challenges of their impairments and disabilities.

The cooking classes and periodical recreational activities have helped in enhancing the emotional, social and physical well being of the leprosy affected patients coming to the hospital.

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Physiotherapy modalities are widely used in managing impairments due to Neurological and Orthpaedic conditions.

The following modalities are available in the physiotherapy clinic of the hospital.

  • Short-wave Diathermy
  • Ultrasound
  • Traction – Cervical & Lumbar
  • Interferential therapy
  • Infra red therapy

The staffs are focused on imparting the clients on life-style modification skills and on providing adaptations/modifications for creating an inclusive home and workplace environment.

The splints and the other offloading device custom designed at the department attract clients from across the country

“Leprosy Orientation for therapists” is conducted for UG and PG Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy college students from across the country.

“Now I can assess and manage a patient having hand impairments with confidence. Please conduct more of these trainings……” – A trainee at the Hand therapy workshop, 2015

IN THE DEPARTMENT:

Dr. Sathish Kumar Paul. BPT, M.Tech,PhD
Head of Department

Mr. Paul Rajkumar. P., BOT., MSc (Ergonomics)
Occupational Therapist

Mr. Raghu.,
Hand Physiotherapy Specialist

Mr. Sridhar., MSW
Social Worker

Mrs. Sasikala, BPT
Physiotherapist

Mr. Saran Kumar, M.Sc
Psychologist

Mr. Pandia Raj
Helper
Funded Projects:

  • Tactile Sensory Feedback System to Predict and Prevent Peak Plantar Pressures,2019-2020, Grant Amount – $ 21,387, Funded by: American Leprosy Missions (ALM)
  • “Mobile Technology (M-Health) – A Novel Approach to facilitate and Motivate Self-Care among Leprosy Affected”, (2017-2019) is currently being undertaken. Funding Amount – €35,902

    Funding Agency: Leprosy Research Initiative (LRI)
  • “Design customized offloading devices to promote healing of plantar ulcers”, (2018-2020) has been approved and will start from 2018.

    Funding Amount –€ 37,671
    Funding Agency: Leprosy Research Initiative (LRI)

PUBLICATIONS:

  • Sathish Paul, David Prakash Kumar, B. Siva; Material analysis for therapeutic insoles — A short report; Leprosy Review; 2021; 92; 1; 75-81; DOI: 10.47276/lr.92.1.75
  • M. Sathish Paul, B. Siva; Peak plantar pressure analysis using customized tactile sensory feedback system — A short report; Leprosy Review; 2021; 92; 1; 82-87; DOI: 10.47276/lr.92.1.82
  • Parth Shah, Siddaram Mahajan, Sharmila Nageswaran, Sathish Kumar Paul, Mannam Ebenezer, “Non – Contact Ulcer Area, Calculation System for Neuropathic Foot Ulcer”, Foot and Ankle Surgery (Impact Factor: 1.348), August 10, 2017, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fas.2017.07.1125
  • Sathish Paul, Rekha Vijayakumar, Lazar Mathew, and Sudesh Sivarasu “Finite element model–based evaluation of tissue stress variations to fabricate corrective orthosis in feet with neutral subtalar joint”Prosthet Orthot Int 0309364616631344, first published on March 15, 2016 as doi:10.1177/0309364616631344
  • Sathish Kumar Paul, Rekha Vijayakumar, Sudesh Sivarasu“Customized Insole fabrication for foot deformities in Leprosy patients” Journal of Medical Devices (Impact Factor: 0.67). 06/2014; 8(2):020950. DOI:10.1115/1.4027065 
  • Hugh Cross, Firmansyah Ariff, Kerstin Beise, Wim Brandsma, Josepg Ngozi Chukwu, Jannine Ebenso, Maria Aparecida, De Faria Grossi, Herman-Joseph Kawuma, Lina Lehman, Suresh Mani, Sathish Kumar Paul, Angelika Piefer, Wim Van Brakel, Jinlan Li“A Delphi exercise to refine the WHO three-point Disability Grading system for leprosy, and to develop guidelines to promote greater accuracy and reliability of WHO Disability recording” Leprosy review (Impact Factor: 0.86). 02/2014; 85(1):18-28.

MANUSCRIPTS ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION:

  • “Use of Mobile Technology in Leprosy Management” – Leprosy Review

CHAPTER IN BOOKS ON DISABILITY IN LEPROSY (UNDER PREPARATION):

  • Chapter on“Physical Rehabilitation” for the International Text Book on Leprosy published by the American Leprosy Missions
  • Contributions on Developing and standardizing training module for Physiotherapists on Leprosy for the Central Leprosy Division
  • Rashtrapati Bhavan – Innovation Festival – 2017 :
    The work done by Dr. Sathish Kumar Paul at Karigiri on “Sensory Feed Back System to Predict Peak Palmar & Plantar pressures to Prevent Early Impairments” was selected to be one of the 14 innovations that was presented at the “Innovation Festival” at the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential House) – 2017
  • Young Scientist Award – 2016:
    Young Scientist Award at the 19th International Leprosy Congress – 2016 for the work done by Dr. Sathish Kumar Paul on “Community Intervention Program for Leprosy affected patients in Post Integration Era”
  • “Customized orthotic fabrication using 3 D reconstruction CT images”
    Selected as one of the top 50 Innovations of India by the Department of Science & Technology-Lockheed Martin Indian Innovation Growth Program for the year 2015.
    You tube link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnA20HmClE8
  • “Sensory Feed Back System in the Prevention of Peak Palmar and Plantar Pressures”,
    Selected as one of the top 50 Innovations of India by the Department of Science & Technology-Lockheed Martin Indian Innovation Growth Program for the year 2016.
    You tube link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=50knc8w8d8k

Patient treated at the Physiotherapy Department – 2018:“Thank you so much for the care that you all provide…I travel about 400 kilometers to come to your department”………

Trainee at the Hand therapy workshop – 2017:“Now I can assess and manage a patient having hand impairments with confidence..Please conduct more of these trainings”……

Email: physiotherapy@karigiri.org

Phone:  91 416 2274 223/227/ 229 Ext – 2271

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The Schieffelin Institute of Health – Research & Leprosy Centre (SIH-R & LC),
Karigiri, (via Katpadi) – 632106, Vellore District,
Tamil Nadu, India.

Phone: 0416-2274-223

Mobile: 9442274224

Web: www.leprosyhealth.org