The first transnational meeting of “Clinical Key for Electrical Stimulation in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (CK4Stim)” was held on 8th-9th of June 2022 in Denizli, Türkiye. CK4Stim is a 30 months KA220-VET - Cooperation partnerships in vocational education and training project supported by Turkish National Agency, on the electrical stimulation approach of physiotherapy and rehabilitation science.
The project is being carried under coordination of Pamukkale University (PAU) with the partnership of Hatay Mustafa Kemal University (HMKU - Türkiye), Başkent University (BU - Türkiye), Süleyman Demirel University (SDU - Türkiye), University of Craiova (UCV - Romania), Šiauliai State University of Applied Sciences (ŠVK - Lithuania), and Tartu Health Care College (THCC - Estonia).
Electrical Stimulation Approach in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Science and Education
Electrical stimulation (ES) approach has been commonly used for neuromodulation, strengthening, pain, and somatosensorial management in physiotherapy and rehabilitation disciplines for many years. The specific functional objectives and capability of target structures are the primary criteria for the choice of stimulus parameters. Unit pulses are characterized by current, polarity, width, intensity, frequency, amplitude (volts or amperes), duration (pulse width), shape (rectangular, triangular, sinusoidal), transcutaneous or invasive application, and stimulation site (the nerve, muscle). The methodologies and applications concerning these parameters are mainly focused on the functional and bodily treatment and assessment objectives.
Physiotherapists take 3- or 4-years of education in a bachelor’s degree. Electrotherapy is one of the main courses of physiotherapy and rehabilitation education. ES approach has an important role in MSc and PhD education also. In general, ES approaches have been used frequently in physiotherapy and rehabilitation of patients from any age groups regardless of having different health problems (e.g. neurologic, orthopedic, muscular, sensorial, cognitive, and etc.) or not.
Lack of Standardization in Electrical Stimulation Approaches
Although ES approaches are commonly used in physiotherapy and rehabilitation, the mechanisms of action are still not well known and there is no standardization even in definitions, such as ES, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS), somatosensorial electrical stimulation...etc. Because of different denominations and treatment protocols (frequency, intensity, etc…) high-quality evidence has not been gained yet. However, in general, the application procedures are mainly not standardized but have great potential for use in clinical practice for diagnosis, in progress monitoring of patients, in guidance for further rehabilitation therapy depending on the capabilities affected, and allowing rehabilitation where the active motion is forbidden or could not be initiated, etc. Besides the limited evidence of ES approaches in literature, a common language for ES approach in physiotherapy and rehabilitation education and practice is needed in European dimension and all over the world.
CK4Stim Project
Project aims to motivate the use of innovative practices among university students, academic staff, clinical, and researcher physiotherapists in order to increase the competencies of academics and students with in-place training. This project is being carried in accordance with the European Union's strategy of developing cooperation, increasing quality, and encouraging learning and vocational activities of physiotherapists, researchers, and students (both undergraduate and graduate level) with the aspect of vocational education and training, and life-long learning.
Project Objectives:
The CK4Stim project’s main objective is to collect existing training contents of ES approaches in assessment and treatment, and adapt these contents to the specific rehabilitation requirements of physiotherapists in European dimension. Hence, the development of specific job skills that are needed will be supported with continuing vocational education and training by digital education for excellence.
In order to evolve the specialist in physiotherapy and rehabilitation with the necessary knowledge on ES approach, providing a greater awareness on applied protocols of the functional rehabilitation, enhancing their professional skills, and improving the quality of service offered to patients are also within the objectives of the project. These aspects will contribute to the acquisition of skills and key knowledge in European professional training in physiotherapy and rehabilitation by supporting development of professional networks across Europe.
Sharing best practices and promoting the use of new and standardized ES protocols and technologies, and supporting the professional development of physiotherapists (as lecturer, trainer, mentor or other staff) can be realized with the internationalization strategy.
This project aims to address a need for shared training that has been detected in the target audience that steers the course and can be solved efficiently by sharing and transferring of best practices and selected materials in teaching to the European dimension for excellence.
Academics and researchers from different European Universities (PAU, HMKU, SDU, BU, UCV, ŠVK, and THCC) are in cooperation as partners, with the aspect of bringing positive and long-lasting effects on the participating Universities and national physiotherapist associations.
It is expected that the planned course program (which is expected to have 5 modules) will help while improving the quality of the physiotherapy and rehabilitation education programs through implementing high quality digital education materials.
The target group of the CK4Stim project is all project stakeholders including the project team members, university teachers and students, clinical physiotherapists and mentors, high school students and teachers, public and private institutions, associations, individuals and general society. The objectives of the CK4Stim are classified depend on target groups of the project as follows:
For Academicians and University Students (BSc and especially MSc and PhD)
● To create an innovative curriculum, open education resources (OERs), clinical application photos, a lecture guidebook.
● To encourage the application of ES approaches’ courses and outputs.
● To guide them to prioritize ES approach in their academic career planning.
● To increase the scientific competencies with modules and guidebook.
For Clinical Physiotherapist and Mentors
● To create a clinical needs report, a value chain extending from theoretical knowledge to clinical application.
● Life-long learning to increase vocational and job skills.
● To raise vocational awareness that standardized ES approach application is an issue that needs urgent action
● To obtain awareness about ES approaches
For Project Partner
● To increase digital skills for education and training
● Developing new projects
Project Results:
● An innovative curriculum
● Open education resources
● A lecture guidebook
CK4Stim Activities
Transnational Meetings: 5 transnational meetings will be held respectively in Romania, Lithuania, Estonia, Türkiye (Ankara and Hatay).
Information meetings: Physiotherapists from the public and private sector, and academic will be invited.
International conference: CK4Stim has an international conference which will be held by SDU in Isparta/TÜRKİYE. This event will be organized to present all the outcomes of the project.
Social and vocational awareness activities: 6 awareness activities will be carried out as multiplier events. Additionally, 1 short term student activity will be done in Estonia (THCC).
Project Partners:
Pamukkale University, TÜRKİYE
Ahmet KUTLUHAN, MD.Prof.
Nilufer CETISLI-KORKMAZ, PT.PhD.Prof. (Project Coordinator)
Fatih CETISLI, PhD.C.Eng.Prof.
Arzum ISITAN, M.Eng.PhD.Assoc.Prof.
Furkan BILEK,PT.PhD. Assist.Prof. (as Observer Post-Doc PhD)
Fatma Nur ALCIN, PT.MSc. (as Observer PhD Student)
Betul SOYLEMEZ, PT.MSc. (as Observer PhD Student)
University of Craiova, ROMANIA
Ligia RUSU, MD.Prof.
Eva ILIE, PT.PhD.Assist.Prof.
Mihai RUSU, Assist.Prof.
Baskent University, TÜRKİYE
Zeliha Ozlem YURUK, PT.PhD.Prof.
Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, TÜRKİYE
Esra DOGRU-HUZMELI, PT.PhD.Assoc.Prof.
Suleyman Demirel University, TÜRKİYE
Mehmet DURAY, PT.PhD.Assist.Prof.
Šiauliai State University of Applied Sciences, LITHUANIA
Vaida ALEKNAVICIUTE- ABLONSKE, PT.PhD.Lecturer
Dovydas GEDRIMAS, PT.MSc.Lecturer
Tartu Health Care College, ESTONIA
Kirkke REISBERG, PT.MSc.Lecturer
Associated Partners (in alphabetic order)
Estonian Association of Physiotherapists
Lithuanian Physiotherapy Association
Order of Physiotherapists in Romania
Turkish Physiotherapy Association
Contacts
You can follow and access the project outputs and news via our website:
For all kinds of questions and information
CK4Stim Project e-mail: ck4stim.2022@gmail.com
CK4Stim Project Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CK4Stim-109320221807989/
CK4Stim Project Twitter page: https://twitter.com/ck4stim
CK4Stim Project Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/ck4stim
