Tenerife Hospital Highlights Vital Role of Physiotherapy in Comprehensive Patient Care
Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital in Tenerife provides nearly 95,000 physiotherapy treatments annually, emphasizing personalized care and patient empowerment to improve long-term recovery and independence.
Physiotherapy has become a vital part of the public healthcare system, as shown by recent data from the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital in Tenerife. With nearly 95,000 treatments provided each year, the hospital’s approach has shifted toward comprehensive care—focusing not just on recovery after an injury, but on helping patients maintain their independence in the long term.
The hospital’s physiotherapy team consists of 64 specialists working across twelve specialized units. This allows them to treat a wide range of conditions, from pediatric care to complex issues like lymphedema and pelvic floor dysfunction. The majority of their work—80%—is focused on trauma-related injuries, while the remaining 20% involves neurological conditions, such as stroke recovery and care for patients who have undergone amputations.
The strength of the service lies in its personalized treatment plans. After a thorough initial assessment of a patient's strength, fitness, and range of motion, therapists create a plan that combines manual techniques, electrotherapy, and, most importantly, therapeutic exercise. By involving patients directly in these exercises, the team empowers them to take an active role in their own recovery.
In neurology, this work is essential. Since eight out of ten stroke patients experience motor deficits, physiotherapists play a crucial role in helping them regain their balance, walking ability, and motor control. Meanwhile, in the trauma department, the goal is to prevent the negative effects of long-term bed rest and help patients regain mobility as quickly as possible after surgery.
The hospital also extends its care beyond the clinic by educating families. By teaching patients and their loved ones how to manage mobility and self-care at home, the team ensures that recovery continues outside the hospital, which helps prevent complications caused by inactivity. On World Physical Therapy Day, the hospital emphasizes that physiotherapy is an essential part of multidisciplinary care, helping to improve health outcomes and quality of life for patients of all ages.