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KCE reports vol. 40 APPENDICES Physiotherapy 139
Gait disorders in elderly people
Overall, 266 physiotherapists out of the 367 respondents have treated, in the week preceding the receipt of
the questionnaire, at least one elderly patient with gait disorders (see Table 4.6). Distribution of patients age,
proportion of males and females, repartition of the delays between the first walking difficulties and the
beginning of the treatment by the physiotherapist, and distribution of treatment modalities are presented in
Figure 4.7. Gait disorders in elderly people present a peak of prevalence around 80-84 years. As shown in
Table 4.6, the patients mean age was 81 ± 7 years (range: 62 100 years). A higher prevalence of females was
observed presumably due to their higher life expectancy. In most cases, the delay between the first patient s
walking difficulties and the beginning of his/her treatment by the physiotherapist is over 1 month.
The most frequent treatment modalities applied by Belgian ambulatory physiotherapists to treat elderly
patients with gait disorders were, from the most prevalent to the least: muscle strengthening (91 ± 03%),
balance rehabilitation (90 ± 04%), mobilizations (83 ± 05%), education of the patient (information, advices) (71
± 05%), proprioceptive rehabilitation (67 ± 06%), coordination exercises (59 ± 06%), and home exercises (52
± 06%). The following treatment modalities were also common but to a lesser extent: transfer exercises (46 ±
06%), stretching (31 ± 06%), pick-up techniques (30 ± 06%), and aerobic exercises (30 ± 06%). One treatment
modality not included in the pre-established list of the questionnaire was considered as it was mentioned by at
least 10 physiotherapists (see Appendix 4.C). It concerns massage techniques.
Bronchiolitis in infants and children
Overall, 90 physiotherapists out of the 367 respondents have treated, in the week preceding the receipt of the
questionnaire, at least one infant/child with bronchiolitis (see Table 4.6). Distribution of patients age,
proportion of males and females, repartition of the delays the beginning of the complaint and the beginning of
the treatment by the physiotherapist, and distribution of treatment modalities are presented in Figure 4.8.
Bronchiolitis in infants and children presents a peak of prevalence during the two first years of life. As shown in
Table 4.6, the patients mean age was 2 ± 3 years (range: 0 13 years). The prevalence of males was slightly
higher than the prevalence of females. In most cases, no delay was observed between the beginning of the
infant/child s complaint and the beginning of his/her treatment by the physiotherapist.