Specialists Completed Training on Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
In September 2025, Ukrainian professionals took part in a three-day training course titled “Rehabilitation After Spinal Cord Injury: Basic Principles of a Multidisciplinary Approach.” The event brought together physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and healthcare workers from across Ukraine who work with patients recovering from spinal cord injuries.
The program combined theoretical sessions with practical case studies involving a multidisciplinary team. On the first day, participants learned to classify spinal cord injuries using ISNCSCI and ISAFSCI standards, assess patient conditions, and properly position patients to prevent pressure ulcers.
The following days focused on functional assessments, medical aspects of spinal injuries, selection of assistive rehabilitation devices, adaptation to self-care, as well as the principles of accessibility and universal design.
Iryna Voitko, an occupational therapist at the Specialized Medical and Sanitary Unit in Netishyn, who completed the training, shared her impressions:
“The training was extremely valuable. We worked in a multidisciplinary team, learned who is responsible for what, and how to properly assess patients with spinal cord injuries. Although we don’t yet have many such patients in our practice, the knowledge and skills we gained will be incredibly useful in the future. The trainers were highly professional, and the combination of theory and practice helped us understand how to apply these methods in our daily work right away.”
She emphasized the importance of teamwork in rehabilitation:
“When a physical therapist is working on a patient’s verticalization, the occupational therapist can focus on cognitive or daily living adaptations. This way, the patient isn’t overloaded, and we can achieve more benefits in a single session.”
Participants noted that the knowledge they gained will help them plan future rehabilitation strategies for patients with spinal cord injuries and improve team coordination in their daily clinical practice.
This training was part of a broader series of capacity-building activities for multidisciplinary teams held within the framework of the “Moving Forward: Development of Prosthetics and Rehabilitation in Ukraine” project, implemented by the Patients of Ukraine Charity Foundation and the Protez Hub Foundation. Specialists from all over the country, including the Khmelnytskyi region, enhanced their skills in prosthetics and in working with patients with traumatic brain injuries or recovering from strokes.
The training was made possible through the Ukrainian Rapid Response Fund Program, implemented by IREX with the support of the U.S. Department of State.
