Physiotherapy in gerontological rehabilitation: A literature analysis

Abstract

With an aging population and an increasing demand for specific health care, from the standpoint of Rehabilitation Nursing strategies to deal with potential effects of the aging process that affect mobility should be based on the results of up-to-date research. Physiotherapy is a basic tool for the rehabilitation nurse specialist. However, few studies address the rationale and applicability of such techniques in the context of gerontological rehabilitation. The aim of this theoretical essay was to: (1) describe the associations between posture, gait and functional fitness in older people and physiotherapy interventions, and (2) identify references to interventions by rehabilitation nurses in this domain. We performed a literature review with a search for references published in the last 15 years in all health journals included in the EBSCO HOST electronic database,. The analysis was qualitative; 168 articles were identified, of which 11 met the inclusion criteria. The studies analyzed showed complementary results, describing benefits of physiotherapy for posture, gait and functional fitness in older people. There were no references to rehabilitation nursing interventions. Further research is needed to describe the role of physiotherapy in gerontological rehabilitation and the work of the rehabilitation nurse specialist in this field.