Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Turkish hospitals serves as a vital center for providing advanced medical services to patients facing challenges in movement and daily functions due to congenital or acquired muscle issues, and disorders of the nervous and skeletal systems. The department covers a wide range of conditions such as neurological diseases, bone problems, hernias, paralysis, trauma, pain, calcification, post-surgical complications, and many other medical conditions.

The specialized team in this department provides comprehensive services that include accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and preventive care for patients in need of rehabilitation. The approach to physical therapy and rehabilitation is highly effective, emphasizing personalized care and dedicated attention to the needs of each individual.

The goal of treatment in this context is to eliminate the disorders resulting from various diseases and injuries, thereby enhancing the patient's quality of life. The therapy also aims to increase the patient's ability to move independently, offering facilitation for this, as well as alleviating pain and improving overall health.

The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Turkish hospitals relies on the latest technologies and advancements in the field of treatment and rehabilitation. Specialized physiotherapists and rehabilitation doctors employ modern techniques to overcome mobility limitations and the negative effects that may arise after injuries, whether due to diseases or stress from sports activities.

What is Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Turkish Hospitals?

Physical therapy and rehabilitation are medical sciences that rely on a multidisciplinary approach, interacting with other branches of medicine to improve and eliminate disabilities that affect an individual's life and quality of life, effectively reintegrating the patient into their social life. The optimal treatment option is selected for each patient who visits the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department, whether they are an inpatient or outpatient, with consideration for the individual’s specific condition.

Various methods and technological techniques are used, such as thermal applications known as thermotherapy, cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, phototherapy, mechanotherapy, and pharmacotherapy, to identify and eliminate functional limitations resulting from permanent injuries that cause movement restrictions.

In addition to musculoskeletal disorders, rehabilitation is applied for orthopedic cases after surgical interventions, disorders arising after a stroke, facial paralysis, neurological rehabilitation after nerve damage, and pediatric rehabilitation for conditions occurring at birth. Rehabilitation is also provided after hand surgery for nerve cuts, fractures, and similar issues, as well as for movement disorders caused by burns, all managed by physical therapists.

What Does Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Turkish Hospitals Entail?

The Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department focuses on alleviating pain and inflammation in patients, ensuring proper blood circulation, reducing the need for medication, and addressing issues caused by postural disorders. The doctors in the department create customized programs for each patient, tailoring and implementing the treatment according to their specific condition.

Patients suffering from osteoporosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, cervical and lumbar disc herniation, trigger finger, SMA syndrome, as well as those who have undergone lymph node removal due to lymphedema, received radiation therapy, or had a mastectomy due to breast cancer, benefit from comprehensive support through physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Various techniques, such as joint and soft tissue injections, PRP applications, neural therapy, mesotherapy, and dry needling pain therapy, are employed to overcome conditions that restrict movement and help patients return to their normal lives. Other treatments covered by the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department include:

• Increasing mobility in patients with complete or partial paralysis to ensure coordination and strengthen muscle groups.
• Enhancing the quality of life for patients with spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy.
• Joint cartilage rehabilitation and treatment of muscles, bone fractures, and other sports injuries.
• Improving patient mobility through physical therapy methods following the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
• Rehabilitation for patients with osteoporosis and degenerative joint diseases.
• Treating patients with spinal curvature, known as scoliosis.
• Overcoming mobility restrictions due to fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome to improve the patient's quality of life.
• Post-operative rehabilitation following microsurgery for hand injuries.
• Assisting patients in quickly resuming their daily activities before and after lumbar disc and uterine hernia surgeries.
• Treating neck headaches.
• Managing nerve compression in the arms and legs.
• Alleviating muscle spasms and addressing musculoskeletal issues in the neck, back, waist, and other areas using manual therapy, effectively and painlessly.

What Are the Practices of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Turkish Hospitals?

The duration of physical therapy and rehabilitation practices applied in sessions varies depending on the patient’s current condition. All FTR (Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation) applications are performed by specialized doctors and physiotherapists within the scope of modern medical science. The commonly used physical therapy methods are listed below:

• Exercise Therapy: This therapeutic method strengthens areas where muscles and tissues are weak compared to other parts of the body through physical activity, thereby reinforcing the musculoskeletal system. It is used to relieve pain caused by poor posture. Additionally, breathing exercises that increase lymphatic flow are also applied.

• Electrotherapy: This is a form of treatment conducted to eliminate pain and muscle weakness using low and high electrical currents. By applying electrical currents at different frequencies to the affected area, edema is reduced, circulation is increased, and body functions are improved.

• Phototherapy: This type of treatment involves the application of laser and ultraviolet rays to specific areas.

• Hydrotherapy: In this water treatment method, patients are treated using hot water baths, contrast baths, seawater therapy, hot springs, and whirlpool baths.

• Manual Therapy: This is a physical therapy technique performed manually without any medication, devices, or equipment. This type of therapy is applied to address issues such as muscle spasms, tension, and pain in various parts of the body, providing quick recovery.

• Mechanical Therapy: This physical therapy technique involves applying lumbar and neck traction movements as well as compression and manipulation using various tools.

• Thermotherapy: Defined as the application of superficial or deep heat to the affected area, this method includes treatments using hot packs, high-frequency electrical currents (also known as microwaves), high-frequency sound (ultrasound therapy), infrared rays, sunlight, and paraffin baths.

• Cryotherapy: This type of physical therapy uses cold water packs, ice bags, sprays, liquid nitrogen, and cold compresses applied to the painful area. This method, known as freezing, is applied to acute conditions to accelerate cellular activity, improve connective tissue (which is the tissue formed after surgery), and increase circulation.

Who is a Physical Therapist and Rehabilitation Specialist?

Physical therapists and rehabilitation specialists, abbreviated as FTR, undergo 6 years of medical training in medical school, followed by 4 years of training in physical medicine and rehabilitation for their specialization. They take on the role of experts in examination rooms, physical therapy and exercise facilities, where they care for patients in outpatient clinics, wards, and intensive care units using advanced technology. They handle the diagnosis and treatment of various musculoskeletal conditions and collaborate with other medical specialties in a multidisciplinary approach, contributing to the care of patients from these fields.

They help restore the daily lives of patients suffering from issues such as joint pain, limited mobility, muscle weakness, and balance and gait disorders. On the other hand, a physiotherapist is an individual who has completed a 4-year university education in physical therapy and rehabilitation. They implement treatment programs designed by physical therapists to improve physical limitations resulting from diseases, injuries, and aging, and they are considered certified health professionals.