Towards physiotherapy week, Nahas Nahas, physiotherapist and coordinator of rehabilitation and mobility devices at Meuhedet Northern District, tells the story of a patient who suffered from severe dizziness that affected all aspects of her life and how tailored treatment restored her confidence, independence, and the ability to return to her routine. Her story demonstrates how physical therapy is much more than pain management: it is a significant tool for maintaining function and quality of life at any age.
When dizziness changes life
The patient came to Najas after a period of suffering from vertigo. What started as dizziness gradually became a significant limitation: she stopped driving alone, had difficulty working, reduced her trips out of the house, and even gave up daily activities that were part of her routine.
The treatment focused on restoring the balance system, practicing movement and walking, and gradually dealing with situations that triggered the dizziness. The goal was not only to reduce the symptoms, but to restore her ability to live her life.
The moment when everything changes: Back to driving and grandchildren
One of the most exciting moments in the process came when the patient said she was able to drive herself to work for the first time in a long time. She then took her grandchildren to a playground, a seemingly simple action, but one she hadn't dared to do for months.
Nahas explains: "The goal was not just to see an improvement in balance measures, but to understand what she wants to do again in her life. The treatment should connect to things that are important to the person themselves."
Physical therapy: much more than back pain and injuries
Despite the familiar image of treating back pain or sports injuries, physical therapy deals with movement, function, and the ability to perform daily activities. It assists in rehabilitation after surgery and injury, treating pain, improving strength and mobility, treating dizziness and balance problems, and preventing falls, especially in older age.
The treatment is tailored to the individual:
- A young man who wants to get back to running
- A person after surgery who wants to return to functioning at home
- An adult who wants to maintain stability
- A patient who has difficulty climbing stairs or is afraid of falling
When the body affects life – and avoidance makes it worse
Nahas explains that often the difficulty does not begin with a sudden event, but with a slow deterioration: recurring pain, loss of strength, difficulty walking or feeling stable. People tend to adapt, avoid activity, ask for help, give up things they loved.
"When a person loses confidence in their body, they begin to avoid movement. But the avoidance itself can lead to a decrease in ability and increase fear. A significant part of rehabilitation is restoring a person's confidence in their body."
Personalized care – with technology that helps measure and progress
The field of physical therapy continues to evolve: balance measurement systems, wearable devices, apps, and digital tools make it possible to measure function and track progress. However, Nahas emphasizes that technology is a tool, not a replacement for the therapist: "We look less at a one-size-fits-all treatment and more at the person in front of us and the things they want to do again."
Don't wait for hardship to limit your life.
The main message for Physiotherapy Week: persistent pain, loss of balance, difficulty moving, falls, or giving up activities are signs that should be checked and not ignored.
The goal of physiotherapy is not only to treat the body, but to bring the person back to life: to walk without fear, to return to work, to exercise, to leave the house, to spend time with the family.
Ultimately – it is about returning to life itself.
The most significant moments are not necessarily medical indicators, but rather the changes in everyday life: a person who returns to walking confidently, a patient who returns to driving, an elderly person who manages to climb stairs, or a grandmother who returns to playing with her grandchildren.
These are the moments when physical therapy turns from practice to a return to life.
😍"Congratulations" to the "physiotherapist" for his important work in "rehabilitation"!
But, the name "Nahas"?😂
I was happy to read the article about Nahas. As a gifted physiotherapist and as a public figure without a blind spot, he is a wonderful example. He is not the only one in Meuhedet and it is good that it reaches the public eye in the north.