Shaila Bhagwat from Pune has been living with Parkinson’s for some years now. But the lockdowns and social distancing in recent times have made her opt for online therapy sessions as well as look forward to interactions on virtual platforms. She shares how she benefitted from both.
When did the online therapy sessions start for you?
I am a member of the B. K. Parikh Support Group which is part of the PDMDS (Parkinson Disease & Movement Disorder Society), Mumbai, and is also a part of PDMDS for Parkinson patients at Deenanath Hospital in Pune. When lockdown was announced, PDMDS started functioning online (Zoom) from end March 2020 from Mumbai. PDMDS has now expanded to 61 centres across India. I am also a part of the Parkinson’s Information and Sharing group which conducts sharing of experiences between members, lectures of doctors as well creative activities.
Read Shaila's previous interview : Doing All I Can To Avoid Being Bedridden
हिंदी में पढ़ें: पार्किंसंस के लिए ऑनलाइन प्लेटफॉर्म और थेरेपी की उपलब्धि एक वरदान
How comfortable were you at the beginning?
I did face some initial teething troubles. But my husband helped in resolving the issues as and when they arose.
Did it take time for you to adjust?
It was difficult at first, and yes, I did take time to adjust. Videos and PDF files were sent for practice which helped..
What according to you were the major differences between physical therapy and online therapy?
Initially I felt the need of physical therapy due to the habit of physical interaction. But very soon I got used to online sessions. The facilitators went slowly at our pace, understanding our difficulties. They were encouraging. Most patients are in their 70s & 80s and they appreciated the challenges, I benefitted a lot from webinars on various topics and even interaction with international participants. The weekly sessions included a variety of topics concerning problems of Parkinson patients.
How did you adjust to the differences?
I got accustomed to the differences over time.
What are the main challenges of online therapy?
Internet problems were an issue as also not being tech-savvy was also an issue. Attending on a smartphone is a challenge as compared to a laptop. Since the therapist has to take safety of PD patients into consideration most sessions are conducted in sitting positions. When balancing exercises are conducted, the presence of a caregiver is insisted upon.
Did you miss the physical sessions during the lockdowns? Why?
Both have their plus and minus points. We don't see all the people in the group and hence miss the interaction. We made up some of it on WhatsApp groups for sharing experiences, tips, birthday greetings, etc. Socialising aspect is missing in online sessions. Commuting time is saved in online sessions so more patients could join in, even from different cities in Maharashtra.
Have you missed your interactions with others in your group? Have the online sessions helped in that respect?
I do miss interaction with other members of the group which could partly be achieved by connecting on WhatsApp and sometimes on the phone.
Please share anecdotes of your online therapy sessions, which might be helpful for others with a similar condition.
I came to know about online dance therapy which I joined in May 21. Many PD patients were part of this therapy as for PD patients it has made a miraculous difference. Following my post Corona infection from December 20 to March 21 which was a very trying period for me, Dance therapy has helped me to recover faster, remain energetic and happy.
I have joined another PD Sharing group which is now online after lockdown recently. They went through trial runs on Zoom in April 20 and now meet online twice a month. Interesting thing is that they celebrate annual day functions, festivals, birthdays and it's a platform to display talent and creativity. For example, Fevicryl Company conducts painting workshops which are beneficial for patients.
My Laughter Club too went online.
The Lockdown period has been a learning experience by itself. It has opened new learning opportunities because of exposure to various virtual platforms to learn and display creativity and talent.
I have not felt isolated because of all these activities and I consider online sessions as a positive outcome of lockdowns.
It is same with my dance group. Before any performance l go offline. Otherwise l do the class online l enjoy both , because on laptop l can see 5 other people, so it feels like a group.
webinars, I learnt Warli painting on YouTube and now I am learning bottle painting. This has helped reduce my tremors.
