Priekule hospital reopens physical therapy room with new equipment

Priekule Hospital has reopened its physical therapy room with new equipment and a trained specialist, allowing residents of South Kurzeme to receive rehabilitation after injuries and operations closer to home, LSM reported, citing TV Kurzeme.

Nurse Ineta Zvagule will provide treatment at the renovated room. She also works as a nurse at Mežupe Primary School and expanded her professional knowledge earlier this year by studying physical therapy in greater depth.

“It is very good. Of course, I still have a lot to learn, understand and study about the equipment,” Zvagule said. She added that patients should not expect a single visit to solve their problems. “They need to come several times and work on it themselves,” she said.

The room had previously used equipment that no longer met the required standards. The hospital had to choose between closing the room and purchasing new equipment. The funding was used to buy a vacuum electrotherapy machine, as well as equipment for lymphatic drainage, magnetotherapy and ultrasound therapy.

“These procedures can help with pain, reduce swelling, and treat postoperative wounds, ulcers and many other conditions,” said Tatjana Ešenvalde, head of Priekule Hospital.

The service is now more accessible to residents within a radius of about 40 kilometres. In many cases, they will no longer need to travel to Liepāja for physical therapy procedures, which are available only for a fee.

“People travelled to Liepāja. For example, it is 18 kilometres from Vaiņode to us, and another 40 kilometres to Liepāja. People would much rather come here locally,” Ešenvalde said.

Not all patients can regularly travel to larger cities, while recovery may require as many as five procedures a week. The Physical Medicine Association says that such rooms are therefore needed in municipalities, closer to residents. It also stresses that physical therapy procedures must be carried out under the supervision of a certified medical professional.

“In recent years, interest in physical therapy methods and treatment options has grown. This is linked to the arrival of many new modern medical devices on the market. However, it must be remembered that devices alone do not treat patients or ensure high-quality treatment,” the association said.