Physical therapists
Healthy air in the medical and paramedical offices of physiotherapists
The physical therapist, commonly known as a masseur-physiotherapist, is a physician specializing in motor and functional rehabilitation. He has the ability to provide massages and "medical gymnastics" to relieve the patient. The physical therapist also intervenes in the fields of sports (fitness, massage, relaxation) and well-being (balneotherapy and hydrotherapy). He also intervenes in the rehabilitation of people who have undergone surgery, suffer from paralysis, neurological disorders and respiratory diseases.
The physiotherapist has 3 main areas of expertise which are :
- therapeutic,
- aesthetic,
- comfort.
In his medical office, the physiotherapist is particularly vulnerable to the exposure of contaminants. The air purifier is a device which, thanks to its multilayer HEPA 13 or 14 and activated carbon filters, significantly reduces the concentration of germs and airborne pollutants.
2 main reasons are listed to identify the specific risks in physiotherapy offices:
- The risks of contamination between a patient and the physiotherapist are mainly linked to the proximity of the bodies during the manipulations as well as to the physical efforts which amplify the breath.
- Often, patients of physiotherapists perform their exercises together in the same room, creating the ideal conditions for contamination between patients and practitioner: several people in the same space, performing physical efforts that amplify the breath.
1) Risks of cross-transmission in the medical and paramedical offices of physiotherapists
In medical environment, fine airborne particles (bacteria, viruses, spores, fungi, pollens and acarina) are partly responsible for indoor pollution. When humans speak, cough or sneeze, they release nasopharyngeal droplets into the air.
Cross-transmission occurs through direct contact (hands) or indirect contact (object, material soiled by an intermediary).
Although the practitioner ventilates his room continuously, the numerous aerosols can remain suspended in the air and travel up to ten meters.
Because the practitioner receives a large number of patients in his office, even if he ventilates the room after each visit and disinfects his massage table and sports equipment, there is a risk of cross transmission between the physiotherapist and his patient.
Also, patients in the waiting room are also at risk of infecting each other if they are carriers of viruses.
3) How effective is the air purifier?
The High Council of Public Health has been recommending 2021 the use of "mobile air purification units in the control of SARS-COV-2 in confined spaces" (Source: HSCP).
It is strongly recommended to equippe the offices with air purifiers equipped with H13 or H14 medical grade HEPA filters. These filter up to 99.995% of fine particles from the air. The filters of AIR ET SANTE air purifiers also include activated carbon to adsorb Volatile Organic Compounds (cleaning products, harmful odors).
Moreover, these devices offer options, which can be activated according to the needs of the physiotherapist, such as photocatalysis and ionization, allowing for additional action to eliminate chemical or microbiological components.
The air purifier is a device whose use is strongly recommended in :
