REHAB Autumn School in TNMU

On September 14-18, 2020, the Autumn School within the European Union Erasmus+ Program “Innovative Rehabilitation Education – Introduction of new master degree programs in Ukraine 2018-2021” REHAB was held in I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University. The program of the school involved on-line lectures and workshops by leading European experts in physical therapy from the Latvian Academy of Sports Education (Riga, Latvia), the European Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (EUFAPA), the University of Applied Sciences (Pori, Finland), the Josef Pilsudski Academy of Physical Education (Warsaw, Poland), Lithuanian University of Sports (Kaunas, Lithuania), National University of Physical Education and Sport (Kyiv, Ukraine), Bobersky Lviv State University of Physical Culture (Lviv, Ukraine).

2,394 participants from 43 Ukrainian universities, 7 European universities, 124 public hospitals, 82 private rehabilitation institutions took part in the autumn school; the lectures on topical issues and problems of contemporary European and Ukrainian rehabilitation services as well as physical therapy were presented for the online audience. The program was filled with theoretical aspects of organization, methodological approach, European approaches in physical therapy, as well as trainings and workshops. All participants that is 652 physical therapists and physical rehabilitation doctors, 94 neurologists, 37 pediatricians, 1105 students immersed in interesting and complex world of contemporary rehabilitation medicine and physical therapy for five days. Interesting, topical and meaningful information on recent knowledge and skills that allow improving rehabilitation services was presented to expert community of Ukrainian physical therapists. The moderators and managers of the event were Professor I.R. Mysula and Professor D.V. Popovych.

The REHAB project coordinator Aija Klavina (Latvia) welcomed the conference participants on behalf of the Erasmus+ office and presented the report on “Evidence Based Assessment of Movement Skills in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders”.

The reports “Evidence-based practice in physical therapy” by our partners from Finland Anne Kärki and Maija Kangasperko presented current approaches to the choice of tactics and methods based on their provability; Krzysztof Dudzinski (Poland) in his workshop “Effects of selected lower limb dysfunctions on gait” demonstrated current methods of diagnosis and treatment of gait disorders, Kwok Ng (EUFAPA) focused on methods and programs for remote telemedicine methods, Elaine Toomey expanded on some behavioral responses of patients in the report “Physical activity and exercise adherence: A health behavior change approach”, Vilma Juodzbaliene reported on “Differential Diagnosis in Orthopedic Physical Therapy”, Guna Berzina (Latvia) in a report on “The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and its aspects of practical application in rehabilitation” presented current issues in European physical therapy practice. Ukrainian lecturers M. Romanyshyn, K. Tymruk-Skoropad, A. Zhurskyi, L. Vakulenko, D. Vakulenko expanded on the current state and prospects of development of national rehabilitation services.

At the end of the conference a discussion on further cooperation, sharing of experience between Ukrainian and European partners and alteration of training programs for physical therapists according to European standards. The online mode of the conference allowed involving a huge number of expert community and students into modern specialized information in rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Organizing Committee: Professor I.Mysula, Professor D. Popovych, Assistant Professor Yu. Zavidniuk, I. Kovbasiuk, A. Bohutska