School of Health and Welfare assists in continuing education for Ukrainian prosthetists and orthotics
Mohammad Sobuh, assistant professor and prosthetist/orthotist, demonstrates alternative designs of arm prostheses. Behind the camera is Ukrainian film crew Anna Borysova and Anna Vialova.
The need for prostheses and other assistive technology is reaching crisis point in war-torn Ukraine. When Nerrolyn Ramstrand, professor of prosthetics and orthotics at the School of Health and Welfare at Jönköping University, was asked to assist in training Ukrainian prosthetist/orthotists, she did not hesitate. Colleagues at the school agreed and a Ukrainian film crew is currently on site at JU to record the digital lectures.
It is the Ukrainian charity Protez hub who has initiated the project, and have organised for a two-person film crew to be on site in Jönköping. The recorded lectures will be made available to currently practicing prosthetist/orthotists in Ukraine and will help improve their knowlege and skills.
After the outbreak of the war, there is a shortage of clinicians, and many patients need assistance. The situation is further complicated by the fact that medical staff cannot be on the front line, meaning that the injured cannot receive the help they need to avoid amputation.
“My colleagues and I never hesitated when we were asked to offer our expertise. We want to help as many patients as possible maximise their function and get back to their daily life,” says Nerrolyn Ramstrand.
The lectures cover topics such as ethics, rehabilitation, prosthetic legs and arms, and orthotics for children and adults. Contributors are Nerrolyn Ramstrand, Mohammad Sobuh, Rickard Bergman, Duarte Quaresma, Eva Edström and Michael Ceder from the Department of Rehabilitation at the School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University.
Prosthetics and orthotics
Prosthetist/orthotists work with assistive devices that are fitting to the outside of the body to replace or support a part of the body that is missing or not functioning properly. They use technology to improve the quality of life of people with functional variations such as amputations, paralysis, or deformities and work closely with the client to provide the best possible function.
The School of Health and Welfare at Jönköping University is the only institution in Sweden to offer the Prosthetics and Orthotics Bachelor programme, which leads to a licence to practice. It is the only Nordic programme accredited by the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics. Since 2018, the programme has been offered in English and accepts students from all over the world. Currently, about 100 students from around 10 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia are studying in the programme.
