“Many people think that rehabilitation aids are simple devices. In reality, they are a process: choosing the right one, teaching how to use it, and adapting it to a person’s life. These details affect the patient’s mobility and independence,” says Petro Smaglyi, a physical therapist at Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Clinical Hospital.
Since basic medical education does not pay enough attention to the topic of assistive devices, such training is a necessary resource for the development of local specialists and for improving the quality of rehabilitation. Therefore, the War Trauma Rehabilitation initiative continues to work to make assistance even more accessible and specialists even more confident.
Due to the increase in the number of complex combat injuries, combined injuries, and the growing need for assistive devices, it is important not only to provide services but also to help specialists develop continuously. We create opportunities for training, professional development, and the exchange of experience. After all, quality rehabilitation begins with those who provide it.
The trainers shared their knowledge and experience with 25 participants in the training course “Rehabilitation Aids — A Multidisciplinary Approach,” which brought together specialists from the Kyiv, Zakarpattia, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions who are ready to improve their skills to support patients with the most complex injuries. The event took place on June 16-17 at Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Clinical Hospital.
Rehabilitation aids (RA) are not just “a stick or a chair.” They must be correctly selected, adapted to the patient’s needs, safe to use, and evaluated for effectiveness — these were the key components taught during the practical course.
The program included:
● types and characteristics of rehabilitation aids;
● techniques for selection, adjustment, and testing;
● techniques for moving patients;
● practical training in the use of RA and overcoming obstacles;
● features of using self-care aids;
● requirements for the operation of an assistive technology office;
● analysis of clinical cases.
Particular attention was paid to working with patients with multiple injuries, such as spinal cord injury, amputation, and vision loss. Such complex cases are now commonly encountered in practice.
