‘I can do anything': 10-year-old Emirati girl able to play again after intensive physiotherapy

Mezyad Healthcare Center helps child with hypermobility find the joy in school and play after six months of treatment to improve her strength and mobility.

Al Ain-UAE. 22 July 2024: The physiotherapy unit at Mezyad Healthcare Center, managed by Ambulatory Healthcare Services (AHS) – a subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest healthcare platform in the Middle East – has successfully treated a 10-year-old Emirati patient, diagnosed with Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (BJHS) and bilateral pes planus (flat feet).

Shamma Al Ketbi’s condition, characterised by muscle weakness and hypermobile joint movements, hindered her ability to walk, play and attend school. After six months of intensive physiotherapy, Shamma's condition steadily improved, regaining muscle strength, reducing joint pain and enhancing stabilised mobility to the extent that she is now able to enjoy her childhood.

“Now I feel strong,” Shamma said with a beaming smile. “I can play with friends at school. I can do anything.”

On the role of healthcare in empowering communities, Dr. Fawaghi Al Naqbi, Chief Medical Officer at AHS, said: “We are grateful for opportunities where we are able to help children like Shamma reach their full potential. Benign joint hypermobility syndrome and bilateral pes planus can be challenging to treat, causing continuous, recurring pain which requires long-term treatment strategies. When BJHS and flat feet occur together, the treatment becomes even more complex. Our team has adopted a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to ensure that Shamma’s condition improved within a shorter timeframe, leading to better quality of life.”

Commenting on the comprehensive, personalised treatment plan, Physiotherapist Santhakumari Kandasamy from Mezyad Healthcare Center said: “Shamma came to us as a patient when she was nine. Her congenital joint disorder had been causing pain and significantly limiting her movement and daily activities. Our goal was to reduce the pain and improve her functional abilities, especially motor capabilities, enabling her to walk upright and play.

The treatment plan for Shamma, comprising a structured physiotherapy protocol, focused on pain-relieving modalities, extremity exercises, gait enhancement and strengthening her muscles and joints with streamlined resistance exercises goals and plans.

“Initially, she was advised to avoid weight-bearing activities exacerbating her pain,” Santhakumari added. “Through consistent exercises and guided therapy sessions, Shamma began to see improvements.”

AHS provides specialised paediatric physiotherapy services at two centers—Al Mushrif in Abu Dhabi and Al Towayya in Al Ain. It also accepts paediatric patients at other centres based on patients’ condition and needs. Meanwhile, physiotherapy services for adults are available at various locations, including Al Zafaranah Diagnostic and Screening Center, Madinat Khalifa Healthcare Center, Al Bahia Healthcare Center, Al Falah Healthcare Center, Madinat Mohamed bin Zayed Healthcare Center, and Baniyas Healthcare Center in Abu Dhabi. In Al Ain, these services are available at Al Yahar Healthcare Center, Al Hili Healthcare Center, Oud Al Touba Diagnostic and Screening Center, Al Hayer Healthcare Center, Mezyad Healthcare Center, and Al Quaa Healthcare Center.

Children's centres offer physiotherapy sessions for various conditions, including nerve injuries, congenital deformities, bone correction, and spinal cord injuries. The centres also handle cases of cerebral palsy and Down’s syndrome using modern equipment and advanced treatment sessions, under the direct supervision of specialised paediatric physiotherapy staff. Adult physiotherapy cases may be due to trauma or chronic pain. Temporary cases typically show improvement after two to three sessions, while chronic cases may require between six to ten sessions.

The AHS portfolio comprises 30 multi-specialty healthcare centres with state-of-the-art outpatient facilities, three dental specialty centres, 18 Disease Prevention and Screening Centers offering visa screening and disease control services in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra Regions, School Health Services at 207 public schools in the Emirate, and five Mobile Clinic Solutions extending accessible healthcare with the latest screening technology across the Emirate, including remote areas.