Physiotherapist stresses need for physical activity

In marking the 2017 World Physiotherapy Day, physiotherapists under the aegis of Nigerian Society of Physiotherapists (NSP), Oyo State branch organised a walk and market outreach to Oje market in Ibadan to create awareness on the need for exercises in a bid to remain healthy.

Dr Olumide Dada, in a public lecture at the market, stated that people need to focus more on physical activity as part of their daily activities to ward off about 30 diseases associated with sedentary lifestyle.

Dr Dada said that Nigeria’s level of physical activity was low and accounts for increasing cases of over 30 different diseases of sedentary lifestyle seen in people coming to hospitals.

He said, “people need to focus on physical activity, irrespective of their age. Our focus as physiotherapists is to return people back to their normal functioning life.

“We want people to get involved more in things like brisk walking, jogging, running and simple everyday activities like climbing of staircases instead of the lift, hand washing of clothes rather than machine washing, to increase their level of activity.”

Chairman, NSP, Oyo branch, Mr Felix Odusanya said the World Physiotherapy day is marked annually to enlighten the world about the profession and purpose of activity for their health.

According to him, “we decided to come to Oje market with the awareness campaign to educate people about their health and to carry out some free health screening. It is to be able to tell them of health professionals they should see in order to take care of some of the ailments we detect.”

Mr Odusanya stated that indulging in physical exercises should not be seen as foreign, given that human beings are made to be always moving.

According to him, “The fact that people do not know does not mean that it is not cultural or that it is something that we should do in this environment. Exercise is not foreign, it is meant for everyone but our people do not know. That is why we are here to inform them.”

Earlier, Babaloja of Oje, Chief Kareem Afolayan, had appreciated the group, saying the event would go a long way to positively impart the health of traders in the market.