PGI Chandigarh Marks World Physiotherapy Day with Healthy Ageing Theme

On the occasion of world physiotherapy day 8^th September, 2025, PPA (PGI PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSOCIATION) AND IAP (INDIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSIOTHERAPY) Chandigarh Branch jointly organizing an event in Gymnasium of Physiotherapy, New OPD Block PGIMER Chandigarh. The events will be supervised by Chief Physiotherapist Dr Pradeep Sarkar, PGIMER, Chandigarh. From 1996, 8 September was designated as World PT Day.

• Theme for World Physiotherapy Day  2025 –”Healthy Ageing”
• India ageing, elderly 20% (present-10.5%) of population by 2050 (United Nations Population Fund and the International Institute for Population Sciences)
• Tamil Nadu is the first state who made a State Policy on Senior Citizens, 2022, to encourage public and private investments for older people.

On this occasion 3 different sessions will be delivered.

1. First lecture: EMPOWERING PHYSIOTHERAPY THROUGH NCAHP (NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR ALLIED AND HELATH CARE PROFESSION): PATHWAYS FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND HEALTHCARE INTEGRATION BY DR MONICA CHHABRA, SUPERINTENDENT PHYSIOTHERAPIST, PGIMER, Chandigarh.
2. Second Lecture: shoulder pain in geriatric population by Dr AJIT KUMAR (PT), SRNIOR PHYSIOTHERAPIST, PGIMER Chandigarh.
3. Third Lecture: understanding PARKINSON DISEASE BY DR SHIV PRIYA (PT),PHYSIOTHERAPIST,PGIMER Chandigarh.

SHOULDER PAIN IN GERIATRIC POPULATION

• Shoulder joint pain is 3^rd most common (Headache, Backache) in medical disorder.
• Women >men 
• Up to  34 % people of age more than 65 years experience  daily shoulder pain
• higher income countries have  higher prevalence of shoulder pain than lower income countries
• Shoulder pain increases with ageing.

Risk factor of shoulder pain

• Obesity/ decrease activity
• Depression/stress/social isolation
• Diabetes, Thyroid disease, Parkinson disease
• Medications ( statins-myopathy, prolong use of corticoids- tendon weak)
• osteoporosis

Severity of Shoulder Dysfunction in Older population

• In Decreasing order-

   Rotator cuff tendinitis >rupture > impingement >frozen shoulder > acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, >rheumatoid disease >Milwaukee shoulder (i.e., hydroxyapatite crystals related arthropathy)

Rotator cuff tear

• Most common rotator cuff tear- supraspinatus tendon
• >60 years -RC tear one in every four adults

>80 years-RC tear as high as 50%

General principles for prescribing exercises:

• Exercises not provoke the pain
• Less than 4 (VAS) can be tolerated but pain subside within 12 hours
• Scapular position correct during exercises
• Simple exercises then complex exercise
• Slow to fast exercises
• Number of exercises limited to 4 in starting
• Active exercises should be primary treatment approach
• Regular reassessment of Shoulder
• Individualized plan for each patient