Where do you come from, and what is your profession?

I am from Europe, Romania, from Cluj-Napoca. I live in Transylvania, the heart of Romania. I am a physiotherapist, and I love my profession.

How is the rehabilitation treatment of spine diseases managed in your country?

In my country, rehabilitation treatment for spinal deformities is generally good, but patients are not always able to attend treatment regularly. It is very important for patients to prevent scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis and to take care of their health and posture. I offer individual exercise sessions as well as packages of 10 sessions, each lasting 45 minutes. Rehabilitation treatment for scoliosis is long-term. Patients need to be committed and understand how important it is to follow the programme consistently in order to prevent worsening of the condition and improve their quality of life.

Scoliosis: how are you treating your scoliosis patients?

I treat patients who are referred by orthopaedic doctors, neurologists, general practitioners, or sports medicine doctors. I recommend that patients bring their radiographs so I can assess and monitor the Cobb angle. I perform an evaluation before starting treatment and then encourage patients to begin either individual sessions or a package of 10 sessions of 45 minutes each. I explain to patients how to practise diaphragmatic breathing and perform Schroth or SEAS exercises correctly. For example, I teach them the proper techniques used in the Schroth method. I also encourage patients to participate in sports they enjoy, such as swimming, volleyball, basketball, golf, or billiards. In the coming months, I plan to specialise in clinical Pilates. I would like to combine Schroth, SEAS, and Pilates exercises to help patients relax, improve their posture, and perform exercises correctly. When appropriate, I may also use paraffin therapy, kinesiotaping, and electrotherapy as supportive treatments for the spine.

What aspects of actual clinical practice would you like to see improved in your country?

I would like to improve my clinical practice by monitoring whether patients perform their exercises correctly at home and remain committed to their programme. I believe this could be very helpful, provided that parents of children and adult patients give their consent. It would allow me to identify exercises that patients may forget or perform incorrectly and provide better support. I want to improve patients’ awareness of posture and exercise technique, both for children and adults. Sometimes patients are not fully committed and do not realise how important it is to maintain good posture and continue their exercises at home. I regularly recommend that patients use a mirror to check their posture and exercise performance. I would also like to place greater emphasis on diaphragmatic breathing and walking exercises for patients with scoliosis.

What do you believe you can learn from this course, and how can you use the new concepts in your regular clinical work?

I believe that after completing this course, I will be able to provide even better care for my patients in clinical practice. I expect to apply what I learn directly in my daily work. I understand that every patient is different and that treatment is long-term. My goal is to help patients relax, reduce pain when necessary, decrease the Cobb angle, improve spinal alignment, and enhance their overall quality of life. I believe this course will help me better understand the biomechanical, structural, and functional aspects of the spine and how to prevent further progression of spinal deformities. I hope to gain comprehensive knowledge about spinal deformities and put it into practice after finishing the course.

How did you find out about ISICO and the Online Scoliosis Master Course?

I discovered this course through social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. After seeing the information about the course, I became interested in registering, and I am now a student here. I enjoy being a student and meeting doctors, speakers, and colleagues through the platform. I am always open to learning and applying what I learn in practice. I like this course because it is comprehensive and, in my opinion, one of the best courses for treating spinal conditions in patients of all ages.