Aims: Chikungunya virus is an arthropod-borne Alphavirus primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The disease exhibited by high grade fever and in the resolving time characterized by arthralgia. Though potential chemical mediators exaggerate the symptoms, a combination of direct tissue and cell damage caused by viral replication and indirect immune activation responses in the target tissues causes surrounding muscle atrophy, pain and disability in daily activities. Therefore, physiotherapy treatment plays an important role among recovering patients.
Methods: A pre-test and post-test study design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy treatment to reduce pain and minimize disability level among patients with chikungunya arthralgia. Among the 10 participants, the mean (±SD) age was 38±9 and 3(30%) were males and 7(70%) were females. Among the 10 participants, 3 complained of pain in lower back and knee joint, 3 complained of pain in lower back and ankle joint and 4 had pain in neck and shoulder region.
Results: General pain intensity at rest was found (p < 0.04) effective after application of dose based physiotherapy treatment. Besides, disability level was also analyzed and results found that after application of physiotherapy treatment statistically significant (p < 0.01) level of disability was minimized and patient improved their functional status and level of independence. In the individual eight sections of health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), significant outcome found was found such as arising (p = 0.040), eating (p = 0.008), hygiene (p = 0.016), grip (p = 0.034) except dressing (p > 0.05), walking (p > 0.05) and activities (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: There is limited trial on the efficacy of physiotherapy management of recovering chikungunya patients. However, this study have drawn a guideline for the management of pain and disability following chikungunya.