Physiotherapeutic Management of People Living with HIV/AIDS

The Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus that causes HIV infection, and over time, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV infection (simply called HIV at its early stage and AIDS at its later stage) is a very prevalent global disease condition affecting about 36.7 million people, both young and old. Sadly, HIV/AIDS affects almost all the systems in the body (particularly the neurological and musculoskeletal systems), which may result into physical disability. Physiotherapists are known to play important roles in the management of physical disability. In this paper, the authors provide information on the clinical and epidemiological features of HIV/AIDS, as well as the treatment modalities for the neurological and musculoskeletal problems experienced by people living with HIV/AIDS.