Depok-Three students of the Physiotherapy Study Program, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI), won Scientific Poster Competition in the XXXII Indonesian Physiotherapy Scientific Meeting (TITAFI) series. The competition was held virtually by the Indonesian Physiotherapy Association (IFI) on April 14, 15, and 17. The winners were announced at the International Conference of the Indonesian Physiotherapy Association, May 21. The three of 2019 students were Clara Khairunnisa (1st place), Inas Amany (4th place), and Sabrina Eka (5th place), after competing with 50 participants from students (Associate degree – Doctoral levels), academics, and physiotherapy practitioners, from all over Indonesia.
It is organized by IFI every year by raising five sub-themes for the poster competition, namely pediatrics, musculoskeletal, sports, cardiopulmonary respiration, neurology, and geriatrics. After making the scientific poster, the participant is required to present the poster.
Clara Khairunissa raised the theme of the exercise program for children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) disorders using Virtual Reality (VR) technology in a scientific poster she made. “I raised this theme because I saw many pediatric patients who feel bored when they have to do routine exercises to balance their bodies, so I looked for interventions that made them not bored. From various literature that I have studied, it is stated that VR technology interventions are effective in helping CP patients not to get bored with their therapy,” said Clara.
She said that the VR is equipped with a Wii Balance Board, which is made unbalanced, and patients are expected to try to balance themselves independently. In addition, for other equipment, there is also an LCD screen that displays games by utilizing gross motor movements such as ducking, squatting, or walking in place.
Inas Amany raised the theme of an appropriate training program for female athletes in athletics to reduce Female Athlete Triad (FAT) syndrome potential. “Periodized High Intesity Leg Resistance Training program for athlete coaches and sports physiotherapists. It can be done based on the periodization of a woman’s menstrual cycle. It can be concluded that high-intensity exercise performed in the first 2 weeks of the menstrual cycle has positive results and does not interfere with hormones. So, the FAT potential can be suppressed. That’s the message that I want to give and put it in a scientific poster,” said Inas.
Next, Sabrina raised the theme of the effectiveness of aquatic therapy for people who experience low back pain. “During this pandemic, many people, especially people of productive age, often experience lower back pain. From various studies, I found that aquatic therapy is very effective in preventing and reducing lower back pain. It can be in the form of strengthening muscles, stretching in the water, and exercises that focus on the back muscles. In addition, water sports tend to be safer to prevent the risk of injury, especially for people who are obese and have joint diseases,” said Sabrina.
Safrin Arifin, SKM., SST. FT., M.Sc., Head of the Physiotherapy Study Program, said that the Physiotherapy Study Program always supports students to dare to compete so that they are motivated to continue to improve their abilities. “In addition to competitions, in scientific meetings like this, students will open their horizons about the development of the physiotherapy world. They will interact with professional experts from all over Indonesia, even abroad. It cannot be obtained in class alone. I am sure that their knowledge and competence are good and sufficient to take part in an event like this because UI Vocational has provided a curriculum of 70% practical and 30% theory,” said Safrin.[:]
