Depok-In order to increase the capacity and quality of Human Resources (HR) and welcome the rise of Indonesia’s golden generation in 2045, quality education is needed that is ready to face global challenges. The Universitas Indonesia (UI) through the Vocational Education Program has made an effort to synergize vocational education with industry. One way that can be done is by inviting practitioners who are qualified in their fields to share knowledge and experiences as was done with Owner Oz Physio who also Founder Exercise Research Team (EXERT), Rijal, S.Ft., Physio., M. Biomed., M.Sc.
Rijal discussed the use of kinesio taping in the case of patients with rounded shoulder posture. Rounded shoulder posture (RSP) is a change in posture in the shoulder caused by pain or sitting for a long time because it is not in accordance with the center of gravity (COG).
According to him, exercise is one of the physiotherapy programs that is proven to improve rounded shoulder posture optimally, especially to reduce the degree of the shoulder forward. On the other hand, the exercise does not improve functional ability, so kinesio taping is one of the tools that physiotherapists can use to improve rounded shoulder posture with a combination of other physiotherapy modalities such as stretching and manual therapy.
(Photo: Rijal describes physiotherapy interventions that can be performed on patients with rounded shoulder posture cases)
“Physiotherapy interventions to improve rounded shoulder posture will be more effective if you combine manual therapy in the form of massage which functions to improve blood circulation, then stretching to stretch the muscles that experience shortening, and kinesio taping to maintain a more stable posture,” said Rijal.
Furthermore, he said that on the human shoulder there is a group of tendons that connect the upper arm bone (humerus), shoulder blade (scapula), and collarbone (clavicle) or commonly called the rotator cuff tendon. “The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles, namely the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis which have the main function of stabilizing and supporting the movement of the shoulder joint by lifting the arm up, and turning the shoulder inward and outward,” he said.
In the installation of kinesio taping, Rijal said that the method of use must be in accordance with the location of the rotator cuff muscles. He explained that kinesio taping functions as a stabilizer, so its use is not allowed to limit the movement of the scapula and the motion of the cervical vertebrae, thoracal, and lumbar.
The UI Vocational Director appreciated the collaboration with the practitioner lecturer. “The knowledge provided by industrial lecturers in certain fields is an advantage for our students to know the conditions in the field and how to overcome them,” said the Director of the UI Vocational Education Program, Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D., in an industrial talk entitled “Comprehensive Approach for Rounded Shoulder Posture based on Evidence Based Practice” which was held last June.
In a welcoming speech during a lecture that brought guest lecturers from the industrial world by the UI Vocational Physiotherapy Study Program, Padang expressed his hope that UI Vocational graduates would be ready to enter the industrial world after studying. “Education about health is an issue that needs to be considered and understood by the community. We also have a Vocation Wellness Center as a health center in the fields of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy as well as a teaching factory for students in studying and handling patient cases such as the rounded shoulder posture case,” he said.
(Photo: Hospitalities at the Vocation Wellness Center (VWC))
The Vocation Wellness Center was established in February 2022 with services intended for UI residents and the general public. Health services provided at VWC include speech therapy, acupuncture, sensory integration, baby massage, snoezelen/relaxation therapy, and other therapeutic services.
