Physical Therapy Hall

UPDATED: The project has raised the necessary funds. The simulator was brought from Germany and is already actively used in rehabilitation. The physical therapy hall operates on a permanent basis. Project report at the link.

Project initiator — Sergey Rashchenko. Sergey has been rehabilitating his son after a brain injury for three years.

We are creating a hall where any person who needs physical therapy can receive qualified help.

This type of therapy is needed by patients after brain injuries, strokes, patients with cerebral palsy and congenital brain and physical activity disorders. Due to an accident, stroke or injury, anyone can become such a patient. All these people need daily work. They need simple but very important exercises performed together with a specialist and under the supervision of an experienced doctor. Many of our patients are young people, their future depends on how quickly they start therapy.

In Odessa, a city of one million, there are currently no specialized physical therapy halls for children over 14 and adults, but there are many patients! Most of them are forced to exercise at home. Training in a cramped apartment is often impossible. This requires a comfortable, properly equipped hall. Special simulators are needed, which most of our patients cannot afford, and they are often simply not available in Ukraine. The rehabilitation process is often long and different equipment is needed at different stages of recovery. An experienced instructor who will help perform exercises and a doctor who will determine the necessary exercise program are also needed. We want to create a place that will give such people hope and opportunity to recover. Where they can monitor each other's progress and be inspired to new achievements.

One of the most necessary simulators is Motomed. This simulator allows quality work on muscles and joints of arms and legs. It automatically rotates pedals according to a set program and reduces pressure if it detects muscle spasm or the patient starts pedaling independently. For quality joint work, hundreds of flexions per day are needed. Motomed allows this work with minimal assistant participation. Very importantly, the simulator allows working without moving from a wheelchair or sitting on a chair comfortable for the patient.

Project team:

Tatyana Livandovskaya — permanent assistant and helper to Sergey, project administrator.

Ivan Boichuk — physical therapy instructor specialist. Ivan has been rehabilitating patients after strokes, injuries, etc. for 7 years.

Sergey Gorishchak — highest category doctor, neurosurgeon, candidate of medical sciences. He worked in a specialized rehabilitation clinic for several years and understands early rehabilitation very well. Medical consultant of the project.

Evgeny Krylov — neurologist. Specializes in brain stimulation by micropolarization method. Medical consultant of the project.