THERAPY-Magazin
Portrait: “Fortschritt” Physiotherapy Clinic
Physiotherapist Özge Demirezen shares how her Erlangen-based clinic combines robotics, interdisciplinary collaboration, and personalised care to transform neurological rehab—one step at a time.
Redaktion
THERAPY Magazin
With each other. For each other. Stronger together. Physiotherapist and clinic owner Özge Demirezen in conversation.
In May 2016, Özge Demirezen opened the doors of the “Fortschritt” (Progress) physiotherapy clinic in Erlangen, Germany. Sometimes you need to take a detour, she says. Demirezen first successfully completed a three-year nursing training course and then went on to complete physiotherapy training. She has always had an interest in the field of neurology, and is still passionate about it today. Her goal was to establish a large, modern clinic with plenty of space and the best that modern therapy has to offer. That dream has come true. Today, she and her team of 13 treat the entire spectrum of neurological diseases in their 400 m2 clinic. They all place an emphasis on active dialogue with patients, relatives, carers and colleagues from other disciplines. The clinic works with the latest therapy equipment to successfully close the gap between inpatient and outpatient aftercare. In our interview, Demirezen details how her clinic is structured and demonstrates, using the example of robotics-assisted gait therapy, that by setting the right goals, and with the right level of therapy and patient motivation, ambitious objectives can be achieved even in aftercare when the right amount of steps are taken.
Interviewer: Neurology is a kind of “hobbyhorse” for the “Fortschritt” physiotherapy clinic. What does the interactive process between neurological patients, the interdisciplinary team and caregivers look like in practice?
Özge Demirezen: We work closely together and discuss ideas in depth. Relatives play a very important role here, and we show them, among other things, what they can do at home to complement the therapy. Because there are 24 hours in a day and it is very important for neurological patients to use them as effectively as possible.
Interviewer: One of the slogans on your website translates to: “Stronger together in our 400 m2 clinic”. How is the clinic structured?
Özge Demirezen: Our clinic is fully digitalised and barrier-free. We have a special focus on equipment-assisted therapy.
Interviewer: Why did you choose the THERA-Trainer lyra for gait rehabilitation?
Özge Demirezen: For me, the quick set-up especially was an argument for choosing the THERA-Trainer lyra. We have a limited amount of time during therapy sessions and we want to use it as effectively as possible, which the quick set-up allows. We also achieve a significantly higher number of step repetitions with the gait trainer, which we would otherwise not be able to achieve in such a short time.
Redaktion: How is the patient experience during equipment-assisted gait training?
Özge Demirezen: The feedback from our patients is consistently positive. Walking in particular is of central importance for almost all neurological patients. With robot-assisted therapy, we can work effectively on these goals and usually achieve positive results in a short time. This may sound emotional, but I actually have a patient in mind who came here in a wheelchair some time ago and could neither stand nor walk at the beginning. Today he can walk up the stairs independently again.
Özge Demirezen: We work closely together and discuss ideas in depth. Relatives play a very important role here, and we show them, among other things, what they can do at home to complement the therapy. Because there are 24 hours in a day and it is very important for neurological patients to use them as effectively as possible.
Interviewer: One of the slogans on your website translates to: “Stronger together in our 400 m2 clinic”. How is the clinic structured?
Özge Demirezen: Our clinic is fully digitalised and barrier-free. We have a special focus on equipment-assisted therapy.
Interviewer: Why did you choose the THERA-Trainer lyra for gait rehabilitation?
Özge Demirezen: For me, the quick set-up especially was an argument for choosing the THERA-Trainer lyra. We have a limited amount of time during therapy sessions and we want to use it as effectively as possible, which the quick set-up allows. We also achieve a significantly higher number of step repetitions with the gait trainer, which we would otherwise not be able to achieve in such a short time.
Redaktion: How is the patient experience during equipment-assisted gait training?
Özge Demirezen: The feedback from our patients is consistently positive. Walking in particular is of central importance for almost all neurological patients. With robot-assisted therapy, we can work effectively on these goals and usually achieve positive results in a short time. This may sound emotional, but I actually have a patient in mind who came here in a wheelchair some time ago and could neither stand nor walk at the beginning. Today he can walk up the stairs independently again.
This may sound emotional, but I actually have a patient in mind who came here in a wheelchair some time ago and could neither stand nor walk at the beginning. Today he can walk up the stairs independently again.
Interviewer: What role do traditional treatment concepts play alongside modern evidence-based approaches in your clinic?
Özge Demirezen: I think the concepts work very well together. Not against each other, but really with each other. Of course, everyone is fairly convinced of their own treatment approach. But I think we are really succeeding in combining traditional treatment approaches with the possibilities available to us today, such as robotics. They not only co-exist but mesh together.
Interviewer: Care structures are often criticised for providing too little outpatient aftercare to neurological patients in terms of the frequency and intensity of therapy. What is your take on this? What benefits does the treatment concept at “Fortschritt” offer patients in aftercare?
Özge Demirezen: I certainly agree. First of all, doctors often don’t know how much they are allowed to prescribe and are not even aware that they can also prescribe several therapies to patients to increase intensity. This means we spend a lot of time raising awareness in our day-to-day. There needs to be a constant dialogue between doctors, relatives and patients in order to set appropriate goals for therapy and to create a treatment plan based on this. A lack of interconnection and unclear objectives often lead to initial failure. It must of course also be made clear that it’s not possible to work consistently on a goal with one physiotherapy appointment a week. Especially in terms of walking, a much higher frequency is usually required. To prove our effectiveness, we document every piece of progress in the clinic as a matter of course, so our name says it all (laughs). And we are naturally very efficient in what we do, given the scarcity of resources. With the THERA-Trainer lyra, for example, we achieve much more intensive therapy in the same amount of time compared to conventional gait training. It’s one of the most hard-working therapists we have! It allows us to increase intensity and save on human resources at the same time.
Özge Demirezen: I think the concepts work very well together. Not against each other, but really with each other. Of course, everyone is fairly convinced of their own treatment approach. But I think we are really succeeding in combining traditional treatment approaches with the possibilities available to us today, such as robotics. They not only co-exist but mesh together.
Interviewer: Care structures are often criticised for providing too little outpatient aftercare to neurological patients in terms of the frequency and intensity of therapy. What is your take on this? What benefits does the treatment concept at “Fortschritt” offer patients in aftercare?
Özge Demirezen: I certainly agree. First of all, doctors often don’t know how much they are allowed to prescribe and are not even aware that they can also prescribe several therapies to patients to increase intensity. This means we spend a lot of time raising awareness in our day-to-day. There needs to be a constant dialogue between doctors, relatives and patients in order to set appropriate goals for therapy and to create a treatment plan based on this. A lack of interconnection and unclear objectives often lead to initial failure. It must of course also be made clear that it’s not possible to work consistently on a goal with one physiotherapy appointment a week. Especially in terms of walking, a much higher frequency is usually required. To prove our effectiveness, we document every piece of progress in the clinic as a matter of course, so our name says it all (laughs). And we are naturally very efficient in what we do, given the scarcity of resources. With the THERA-Trainer lyra, for example, we achieve much more intensive therapy in the same amount of time compared to conventional gait training. It’s one of the most hard-working therapists we have! It allows us to increase intensity and save on human resources at the same time.
To prove our effectiveness, we document every piece of progress in the clinic as a matter of course, so our name says it all.
Interviewer: What role does training at home play beyond this?
Özge Demirezen: So especially for the goals of standing and walking, there is a possibility that patients may receive a therapy device for home use. A THERA-Trainer tigo for movement training or a THERA-Trainer balo for balance training can be prescribed by the doctor. Our patients then use the devices at home during their therapy-free time. This allows them to continue working on their goals during and especially after intensive therapy in the clinic. This is a very important pillar in ensuring sustainable results from the therapy.
Interviewer: It is often claimed that regaining abilities, such as the ability to walk, is hardly possible after the subacute phase following stroke and the transition to outpatient aftercare. Is this view confirmed in practice?
Özge Demirezen: No, it’s not. The keyword here is neuroplasticity. We manage to achieve a lot of repetitions in a very short time, for example in walking. And some of the outcomes are incredible. We have had a patient who suffered a stroke 12 years ago and is still breaking records. Motivation plays a decisive role here. And this is usually reinforced even further by the use of robotics. So I am really happy and grateful that we have such possibilities in physiotherapy today. We love and live for our profession at “Fortschritt” physiotherapy clinic. And we are happy that we can offer our patients so much thanks to these possibilities.
Redaktion: Thank you very much.
Özge Demirezen: My pleasure!
Özge Demirezen: So especially for the goals of standing and walking, there is a possibility that patients may receive a therapy device for home use. A THERA-Trainer tigo for movement training or a THERA-Trainer balo for balance training can be prescribed by the doctor. Our patients then use the devices at home during their therapy-free time. This allows them to continue working on their goals during and especially after intensive therapy in the clinic. This is a very important pillar in ensuring sustainable results from the therapy.
Interviewer: It is often claimed that regaining abilities, such as the ability to walk, is hardly possible after the subacute phase following stroke and the transition to outpatient aftercare. Is this view confirmed in practice?
Özge Demirezen: No, it’s not. The keyword here is neuroplasticity. We manage to achieve a lot of repetitions in a very short time, for example in walking. And some of the outcomes are incredible. We have had a patient who suffered a stroke 12 years ago and is still breaking records. Motivation plays a decisive role here. And this is usually reinforced even further by the use of robotics. So I am really happy and grateful that we have such possibilities in physiotherapy today. We love and live for our profession at “Fortschritt” physiotherapy clinic. And we are happy that we can offer our patients so much thanks to these possibilities.
Redaktion: Thank you very much.
Özge Demirezen: My pleasure!
Personal fulfilment in a profession you love and live for is one of the greatest gifts ever. My wonderful and capable team completes me and shares this philosophy. Stronger together for our patients.
Özge Demirezen
Ambulante Rehabilitation
balo
Cycling
Fachkreise
Gait
lyra
Standing & Balancing
Therapy & Practice
THERAPY 2023-II
THERAPY Magazine
tigo
Redaktion
THERAPY Magazin
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