This year’s World Congress of Physical Therapy was held in Japan and brought together more than 5,000 participants—physical therapists, teachers, and scientists—from more than 100 countries around the world. It is a global platform for presenting the latest scientific research, clinical practices, and innovations in the field of physical therapy. It enables specialists from different countries to establish cooperation, learn from each other, and implement the best approaches in their healthcare systems.
The participation of Ukrainian experts in the event, in particular as speakers, made it possible to highlight challenges and share experiences and practices developed in the context of a full-scale invasion.
Kateryna Tymruk, Strategic Advisor on Rehabilitation Professional Development, presented the experience of developing rehabilitation in intensive care units, including a comprehensive training program for physical therapists in ICUs, which was launched in 2023 by Patients of Ukraine as part of the “War Trauma Rehabilitation” initiative in cooperation with Coventry University and the All-Ukrainian Association of Physical Therapists, with the support of the Swiss Embassy in Ukraine. The program combined online learning, practical training, simulation training, and international exchange of experience.
This project demonstrated that even in the extremely difficult conditions of war, it is possible to rapidly develop professional skills, implement systemic changes, and form a new culture in the Ukrainian rehabilitation system. The delegation placed particular emphasis on the importance of early rehabilitation, accessibility of care, and the development of modern training for specialists working with patients in critical condition.
It should be noted that the comprehensive training program for physical therapists at the VIT was the first step in implementing the plan for the development of rehabilitation in intensive care units, planned jointly with experts Agnieszka Lewko and Rachael Moses.
The Ukrainian experience has attracted great interest among international colleagues, as Ukraine is not only actively implementing new approaches, but also demonstrating how the healthcare system should show resilience, rapid adaptation, and development in wartime conditions.
