Savonia University of Applied Sciences, school of health care, physiotherapy degree programme and University of Prishtina Faculty of Medicine, Physiotherapy Branch started the deeper cooperation beginning of this year. One planned activity was to celebrate World Physiotherapy Day together with a joint meeting. The day was 8.9.2023.

The focus for this year’s World PT Day was arthritis, with an in-depth look at some forms of inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis. This follows on from the theme for 2022, which focused on osteoarthritis. After many online meetings, the final programme for the day was finalized. It was our pleasure that Vice dean for Academic Affairs of Faculty of Medicine Prof. Ass. Dr. Valon N. Krasniqi from University of Prishtina and Anne Huovinen Head of Social and Health Care from Savonia-UAS were opening our joint meeting. The programme included short lectures by both students and teachers.

First Prof. Ass. Merita Qorolli, Head of the Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina kept lecture “Physiotherapy assessment in Rheumatoid Arthritis”

Prof. Ass. Merita Qorolli, after being presented, described the country where she lives and works, Republic of Kosovo, and the University from which she comes, University of Prishtina’ Hasan Prishtina”. We are informed that Republic of Kosovo has the Chamber of Physiotherapists of Kosovo, which is a member of World Physiotherapy. Also, Physiotherapy Branch within Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina is a member of European Network of Physiotherapy Education (ENPHE).

The continuation of the presentation is closely related to the topic of the World Physiotherapy Day, as it has covered the physiotherapy assessment in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Considering that RA is an autoimmune, progressive, chronic, destructive disease leading to functional disability and impaired quality of life, it is highly important to complete a proper examination for physiotherapists to get the scope of the disease and determine a proper physical therapy intervention. To undergo the proper assessment, physiotherapists have to be familiar with the characteristics of AR, which are summarized in the presentation, also capturing classification criteria and main clinical measures that describe all RA signs and symptoms.

Principal lecturer Marja Äijö from Savonia-UAS kept a lecturer Osteoarthritis and rehabilitation with older adults. In her lecture, she described the ageing population and the high prevalence of risk factors in the older adults that predispose them to joint wear and tear for example obesity. Aging itself is one risk factor of osteoarthritis. I addition she described the prevalence of osteoarthritis in globally and in Finland. The main point of the presentation was highlighted what and how physiotherapists can contribute to the functional ability and health of older adults with osteoarthritis. The national and global recommendation guided the work. In the future it is increasingly important to plan older adults home-based rehabilitation plan. This can increase numbers of active days and activities during the day among older adults. Daily activity and physical exercise support older adults with osteoarthritis quality of life.

First student’s presentation: Fitim Sadiku: “Research Protocol: Systematic Review on the Effect of Lifestyle on Ankylosing Spondylitis”

Student presentations started with Fitim Sadiku, a master’s student of Physiotherapy at the University of Prishtina. He presented a research protocol that is being carried out at the Evidence Synthesis Group, a research center located in Kosovo. This study is a systematic review that will analyze the effect of lifestyle on Ankylosing Spondylitis. It’s known that lifestyle has an extraordinary influence on our daily life and especially on our health condition.

Different lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol use, obesity and physical inactivity can have a great impact on the progression of the disease of Ankylosing Spondylitis. Studies that have analyzed the impact of lifestyle on various inflammatory arthritis indicate an impact on the prognosis of rheumatic diseases and radiographic progress in the affected joints. To summarize, the purpose of the presentation was to present this research protocol that will analyze the impact of these lifestyle factors on the disease activity, treatment response and disability in Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Second student’s presentation: Rilind Shala: “Low Back Pain: Current State of the Evidence”

In his lecture, he described the complex problem of Low Back Pain. The presentation described the general principles of low back pain diagnosis and treatment. The whole presentation was based on the latest evidence on low back pain. At first, Rilind presented how guidelines for low back pain differ widely from the treatments that have been used until now. The main guidelines were from the American College of Physicians, and the American Society of Pain. Rilind explained how different guidelines show us the way on how to improve care for back pain, and how to implement best care practices in the clinical practice.

The guidelines differ in some aspects, but the main lesson from this is that all things that revolve around the treatment should be evidence-based, and should be based on the latest research available. Another part of the lecture was on how to search for the latest evidence, where PEDro, NICE, and other databases were used for this presentation. The presentation offered different perspectives on low back pain, and posture, and the key message was that we should be cautious of any treatment that does not have a strong base to be hold on to.

Third student’s presentation: Leena Hartikainen: “Pulmonary Physiotherapy in Primary Health Care”

She described her theses work related to the Pulmonary Physiotherapy in Primary Health Care. In many cases, and specially among older people, physiotherapy customers suffer from multi-morbidity and multi-disability. In Finland, acute pulmonary rehabilitation and pulmonary physiotherapy with neurological patients works quite well. However pulmonary physiotherapy with chronic pulmonary diseases needs development work.

Outpatient physiotherapy happens in larger hospitals, where are pulmonary clinics. But more development work is needed to offer quality rehabilitation other rehabilitation units for the outpatients. In this development-based theses work pulmonary rehabilitation is comprehensive intervention and during the development work new guidelines, protocols and interventions will be created and test.

Summary

This was the first meeting and the first collaboration between the University of Prishtina, Faculty of Medicine, Physiotherapy Branch and Savonia-University of Applied Sciences, school of health care, physiotherapy degree programme, marking the World Physiotherapy Day by sharing information through presentations related to the World Physiotherapy Day topic. We will work hard to develop other collaborations in terms of projects, conferences, research, etc.

Authors:

Merita Qorolli PhD, Professor (Assistant) at Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina” Hasan Prishtina”
Marja Äijö, PhD, Principal lecturer of gerontology and rehabilitation, Savonia University of Applied Sciences