Dubai Bone and Joint Center celebrates International Physiotherapy Day

Physiotherapy involves a range of treatments, including manipulation, massage, exercise, electrotherapy and hydrotherapy.

In particular, physiotherapists concentrate on problems that affect muscles, bones, the heart, circulation and lungs.

Buhari has a special interest in promoting function with complex disorder cases and is highly experienced in handling cases such as adult neurological physiotherapy, pre and post operative rehabilitation (spine & total joints replacement), and sports specific rehabilitation.

Before joining DBAJ, Buhari worked as chief physiotherapist of a Dubai hospital and as regional trainer for a multinational company based in Helsinki, Finland.

"Arthritis is a long term condition that causes painful and stiff joints. Physiotherapy can help to keep the joints mobile and strengthen the surrounding muscles," explained Buhari.

In the past, the primary treatment for arthritis was pain medication.

In recent years, however, physiotherapy to treat arthritis has proven to be very beneficial.

"There are many different ways for physiotherapy to treat arthritis. One involves applications of hot or cold compresses on the affective areas. Another is soft tissue mobilization. Sometimes, the swelling in the joints gets so inflamed that it ends up nearly crippling the joints; this particularly happens in the hands. Manual (soft tissue) mobilization can alleviate the swelling and cause the joints (knee, hip, hands) to become useful once again," further said Buhari.

According to the Emirates Arthritis Foundation, arthritis affects at least 20% of the world's population and is the leading cause of disability.

In UAE the average age of patients to be at around 43. And, at least 45% of sufferers have deformities and disabilities.

DBAJ CEO Suzanne Al Houby comments: "We are delighted to celebrate two milestones today, the International Physiotherapy Day and the launch of our Physiotherapy Department. We are confident that Mr. Buhari and future physiotherapists will continue our reputation of delivering high quality medicine, comparable to Western standards, providing the latest innovative treatments as well as evidence-based medicine according to international protocols."