Importance of physiotherapists in aviation

Turkey's first flight physiotherapist Specialist Cumali Altundağ attended the event organized by the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation of Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Health Sciences. He gave information to the students about job opportunities in this field, international professional practices and graduate opportunities.

The event titled "The Role of Physiotherapists in Aviation", held online in the conference hall of CIU Çevik Uraz Center, was moderated by Assist. Prof. Dr. Hülya Özbeşer, the  Chairperson of the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, and by Lecturer Batuhan Dericioğlu.

At the seminar, Altundağ pointed out that this field is still very new and that they are in the process of establishing an institute or academy related to the field, and added, "This field will be highly in demand by physiotherapists in the future."

Underlining that the medical personnel most needed by pilots and other crew members are physiotherapists, Altundağ also gave information  about what kind of tasks aviation physiotherapists would be expected to perform.

In his speech, Altundağ also mentioned the difficulties experienced by pilots, the field of aviation, space and flight physiotherapy, the negative effects of the "G" force, the difference between a fighter pilot and a commercial airline pilot, and last but not least the musculoskeletal problems experienced by the cabin crew.

Altundağ also mentioned the research conducted by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on the role of flight physiotherapists in international aviation and said, "NATO has made it mandatory for the treatment of neck, waist and back pain related to flights to be provided by Aviation Specialist Physiotherapists (ASP - Flight Physiotherapists)."

Altundağ shared information about the methods to be applied by flight physiotherapists during this treatment process which are namely, spinal manipulation or mobilization, soft tissue relaxation techniques, needle procedures although not used in Turkey, electrotherapy, exercises, cervical traction, functional control (pre- and post-flight muscle and ROM values).

Speaking about the organizations that provide training in the field of aviation in Turkey, Altundağ said, “In Turkey, physicians and psychologists can specialize in aviation medicine by receiving postgraduate education. However, although the profession that aviation personnel need most in medical matters is physiotherapists, there is still no department or institute that provides postgraduate education in this field.”