Practical visit.

Wednesday was very important for me. We went with Marlena and Marysia in to the clinic in Haderslev in Nørregade 38D. It's physiotherapy clinic were work 5 physiotherapists. Main therapist there is Addi Søgaard. She showed us all clinic. Explain how does the physiotherapy work in Denmark. I saw many common things between Polish and Danish system of work in this profession. But there were also differences. I would like to write few words abut both:


Common things
---> clinic looks very similar to Polish clinic
--->similar equipment
--->gymnastic hall very similar to Polish
--->number of therapists
--->Danish and Polish therapists use the same methods like mobilization, McKenzie, Traction, Palpation Examination, massage, isometric relaxation, manual therapy and many many more

Differences:
--->to became physiotherapist in Denmark you have to study 3,5 year, in Poland it takes 5 years and than you became Master of physiotherapy
---> in Poland we use much more of electrotherapy than in Denmark
---> in Denmark if doctor decided - therapist can use his own project of individual therapy for patient, in Poland we still must follow doctor's recommendation
--->here therapist decide how much time he will work with patient (30-40 min), in my country we still have not enough time to work with patient (like 20 min)
--->most of patients must pay for treatment, insurance cover just some part, in Poland most of patients doesn't have to pay for treatment if they use it in hospitals or foundations which have agreement with National Health Fund
--->in Denmark patients come for therapy 2-3 times a week, in Poland it's every day
and therapy takes few weeks



These are more less differences which I saw during the practical day.
I want to describe a little bit more the physiotherapists treatment because it's the most important I think.
The main thing is that patient must feel comfortable and safe in the therapy room. He need to feel that therapist is experienced and he know what to do. I think that Danish as well as Polish therapist take care of that.
1st step - interview with patient
2cond step - therapy, treatment
3rd step - relaxation and conversation with patient
4th step - exercises which patient must do at home

Some of physiotherapists methods:
1. McKenzie Method
A central tenet of the McKenzie Method is that self-healing and self-treatment are important for the patient’s pain relief and rehabilitation. No passive modalities—such as heat, cold, ultrasound, medicine or needles—are used in the treatment.

The long-term goal of the McKenzie Method is to teach patients suffering from neck pain and/or back pain how to treat themselves and manage their own pain for life using exercise and other strategies. Other goals include:

* Reduce pain quickly
* Return to normal functioning in daily activities
* Minimize the risk of recurring pain (avoid painful postures and movements)
* Minimize the number of return visits to the spine specialist
2. Mulligan Concept
Brian Mulligan's concept of mobilisations with movement (MWMS) in the extremities and sustained natural apophyseal glides (SNAGS) in the spine have progressed physical therapist-applied passive physiological movements and accessory techniques in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries.
3. PNF Method
PNF is way of thinking, observing and movement. When we use PNF concept, we become more acceptable, we feel more and we are conscious of that. PNF is simply harmony of knowledge, consciousness and movement.
NAME

Name of concept tells us which part of human body we should use during treatment for improvement of function.

P – Means proprioceptor (receptor which perceives changes in human body), through which the muscular contracting is stimulated (contraction). Main receptors used by PNF treatment are in muscle (muscular spindle and free nervous end), in tendom (Golgi's tendom organ), and in joints (corpuscles of Vater Pacini, Ruffini's corpuscles and free nervous ends). But beside proprioceptors we use also exeteroceptors (receptors which perceive changes in skin, eye, and ear). Proprioceptors and exteroceptors could be differently activated through basic PNF's principles, by contraction or relaxations of muscle/muscles.

N – Means neuromuscular connection and symbolizes motor unit. During the treatment we try to include optimal number of motor units (neuromuscular connections), because only in this way we could make movement light, coordinated, exact, strong,…

F – Facilitation means that the inflow on motor cell in spinal cord is from every direction and so strong, that optimal muscular activity become possible.


Looking at my mother which is physiotherapist, at many physiotherapists which I worked with, I can see that this profession is so important and needed. But it's hard job because you are not only physiotherapist - you are also psychology, doctor and very very often the only person, in front of who people reveal their problems.

Cooking in Samba's rhythm!

Cooking Danish and International food - MONDAY
Lots of fun and pleasure, fingers in cake, caramel in our mouths, stars, flowers and hearts Bramboracki, cheesecake with snowdrops, aromatic kettle of soup, egg...again landed in Spanish omelet, Turkish spices, Hungarian paprika, vanilla and cinnamon, Danish frikadelas...that was our cooking day:)
Potato and Cheese Pierogi



This is a recipe for traditional Potato and Cheese pierogi. Serve with chopped fried bacon and onions.


Potato and Cheese Filling
1 tablespoon grated onion
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups cold mashed potatoes
1 cup cottage cheese (or more)
salt and pepper

Pierogi
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 teaspoons oil
3/4 cup warm water
1. Potato and Cheese Filling: Cook the onion in butter until tender.
2. Combine it with potatoes and cheese.
3. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Vary the proportions and ingredients in this recipe to suit your taste.
5. Mix the flour with the salt in a deep bowl.
6. Add the egg, oil and water to make a medium soft dough.
7. Knead on a floured board until the dough is smooth.
8. Caution: Too much kneading will toughen the dough.
9. Divide the dough into 2 parts.
10. Cover and let stand for at least 10 minutes.
11. Prepare the filling.
12. The filling should be thick enough to hold its shape.
13. Roll the dough quite thin on a floured board.
14. Cut rounds with a large biscuit cutter, or the open end of a glass.
15. Put the round in the palm of your hand.
16. Place a spoonful of filling in it, fold over to form a half circle and press the edges together with the fingers.
17. The edges should be free of filling.
18. Be sure the edges are sealed well to prevent the filling from running out.
19. Place the pierogi on a floured board or tea towel and then cover with another tea towel to prevent them from drying out.
20. COOKING: Drop a few pierogies into a large quantity of rapidly boiling salted water.
21. Do not attempt to cook too many at a time.
22. Stir VERY gently with a wooden spoon to separate them and to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
23. Continue boiling for 3-4 minutes.
24. The cooling period will depend upon the size you made it, the thickness of the dough and the filling.
25. Pierogies will be ready when they are puffed.
26. Remove them with a perforated spoon or skimmer to a colander and drain thoroughly.
27. Place in a deep dish, sprinkle generously with melted butter to prevent them from sticking.
28. Cover and keep them hot until all are cooked.
29. Serve in a large dish without piling or crowding them.
30. Top with melted butter- chopped crisp bacon and/or chopped onions lightly browned in butter.
31. REHEATING: One of the great things about pierogies, is that they can be made in large quantities, refrigerated, frozen and reheated without lost of quality.
32. Many prefer reheated pierogies as compared to freshly boiled ones.
33. To re-heat, you can: 1) pan fry pierogies in butter or bacon fat until they are light in color or, 2) heat the pierogies in the top of a double boiler or in the oven until they are hot and plump or, 3) deep fry them.



SAMBA!



That day was very creative for all of us. We met 2 grate teachers: Linda and Flemming. We started with some drama games to get know each other better. Before I didn't realized that it's so important to feel comfortable in group to be more open and don;t feel shy. We were standing in the circle and play the "shark". We had to choice one person from the circle and change the place with. That way everybody soon or later was in the middle and rest group focus on his person. But the role of shark helped to forget about it and it helps a lots! After that we played many many different games. We enjoyed it very much. But for me the most pleasure was that in the second part of classes we played instruments like drum-beats, cowbells, tambourines, drums and many many more. It was fantastic! I want to thank you Linda and Fleming for so creative day!TAK!

International week


Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey.

This week was one of the best in Denmark. Not juts because of the parties all the time. Not just because international food, conversations until late hours, not because trip to Ribe, not because Eurovision contest… It was the best week for me BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE! I didn’t expect that during one week you can get know each other so much.

MONDAY – we come in to the class room and saw so many people, not just Erasmus students but young people from all Europe. In the beginning we were exchange greetings between students and organizers. I think we all felt so nice and comfortable like at home. The atmosphere was favorable to get know each other closer. After words we went with history teacher to see Haderslev. I’m sure everybody enjoyed it! In the evening we went back to the school and meet in the canteen where Danish prepared for us delicious Danish food like Frikadelas, salad, some sweets. We ate tjavascript:void(0)ogether and after we were singing songs. I enjoyed it so much. It was very good idea to eat together because when people shear meals and spend time like this way it’s so positive for me and sometimes it breaks barriers. It was very important for me. After dinner we went to the pub to drink something. And again we were sitting, talking, making laugh, playing guitar, singing, dancing….. It made me happy! Next day morning was very hard to wake up ;)

TUESDAY- stereotypes! That’s funny to hear from people from foreign countries what do they think about you. And sometimes it’s truth but not always. So it was good experience to confirm or to overthrow them.
In the afternoon we went to Ribe – the oldest town in Denmark. The weather was grate – I think because we were singing the day before. First time I saw that bright sun in here The trip was cool! Specially because our irreplaceable tour guy JETTE! She said to us so many interesting things about Ribe and all places in there. Even when we were in the museum staff who work there were surprised about here knowledge about Vikings. Amazing

WENSDAY was really relaxing for all of us. Music lesson was pleasant and caused us to be creative in doing music. For me it was special day, some thing in my head started to work in different way…

THURSDAY – we could sleep a little bit longer than the others because we didn’t have a school visit But I think that Thursday was the most busy for me. It was a day of Eurovision contest so we had to prepare a song from Poland. We sung ‘Kolorowe jarmarki’ – polish song from 80’s. In the evening we went to Friday’s café to eat pizza together and than the contest has started. All of the countries prepared something funny. Somebody danced, play instruments, sing. We had a grate time together. Congratulations to Hungary – winners! You were the best!

INTERNATIONAL WEEK IS OVER - FRIDAY

… we started from presentations abut whole week, what did we learn, what kind of experience we have, what can we say about different nationalities, what did we like during this week… In that moment I felt so sad… I watched all friends with broken hart, all memories with them, all time which we spend together…I learned so much from them, I learned tolerance, frankness, manners, way of thinking, way of seen world. I felt that there wasn’t any border for young people, that we had so many things in common……..

Some of friends had to leave Haderslev earlier, so we had farewell lunch. Everybody prepared something to eat typical from their country. We could also eat hot-dogs and drink Danish bear outside the college, because principal celebrated his 60s birthday.

Last few hours together. In the evening we went to Christina’s house to have a party together. It was almost 30 people there and it was one of the best parties which I had here in Haderslev. Long talk until 4 in the morning... Unforgettable night!

I want to say THANK YOU ALL for this week. I will remember it till rest of my life!

Esbjerg is the youngest city in Denmark. It is the 5th largest city of Denmark. In the same day when we want to practice, in the afternoon we had some free time to visit the most popular places in Esbjerg. Of course first was the seaside and very popular white statues "MAN MEETS THE SEA". I didn't know that the sculptures portrays the meeting between pure , unspoilt mankind and nature. Man, innocent as form his mother's womb. Man before rising up and beginning to act. That according to Wing Hansen, was where things started to go wrong - when man got "dirt" on his hands. Wiig Hansen has portrayed this encounter by creating a universal sculpture that has the mood of a temple, of an acropolis - a sculpture with a sacred aura to it.

We had some time so we went for a long walk... amazing... It was so quiet...silence in my ears..


After that we went back in to the city. It's beautiful! Just have a look! :)

Practical day in Esbjerg 6 MARCH 2009

On Friday Me Marlena and Marianna went to Esbjerg.




It was our practice day at school for physiotherapists. We woke up very early in the morning because Esbjerg is quite far from Haderslev and travel takes more than 2 hours. When we arrived at the place we have met Susanne and she showed us everything. She was very nice for us, said all details about school and students. Showed us program for students who study physiotherapy. After that we drank coffee and went with Susanne to the classes.

We started with third semester. First they had an lecture and after break they started practical part. Surprising for me was the fact that they had lecture and practices with the same teacher. In Poland usually we have different teacher to practical part and for lecture. I really liked it because after theory they could go to the class and practice and repeat what they just learned.

It was very good. After break we went in to another class with special equipment, sociable, wheelchairs, blankets, rolls, ect. Teacher divided group for 2 parts. First group stayed in the class and another went out.

Teacher explained what they will do. It was exercise that students who stayed in the class room should imagine that they are handicap. Everybody got patch to feel in the same situation as patients. They also should pretend spastic. After that second group come to the class. They had do plan how to move the patient, to sit him down, stand with patient and try to teach him how to peel orange and eat it. But teacher didn't say how to teach patient. I liked that way of teaching, because student must find out and try on many different ways to find solution how to do that.

The point of this exercise was that therapist should keep touching contact with patient and show him through touch what does he want to do – move, or pres, or want him to stand or sit down. Very important is how you will touch your patient because if you will do it fast and suddenly without feeling and intuition spastic can be dipper. And it’s the worst result which therapist doesn’t want. After our trying to fin out the right way, teacher showed it and explain how to do it correctly. I like that way of working with students. Because even if we didn’t know in the beginning how to do it we will remember

it longer and we could feel the situation how the patient can feel. It was fantastic!

After that we did many exercises and used few methods. It was very good practice day!

And if I would like to compare students of physiotherapy in Denmark to Polish students and the way how do they learn – I think it’s very similar. I’m now on sixth semester so it was some kind of reversion or repeat for me. I didn’t learn anything new but anyway it was interesting to see how it’s in Denmark. Erasmus in Denmark make this possible for me!

Art day.

Yesterday was w very good day. I waked up early and finally form so many days I saw sun! There's nothing more powerful than sun in the morning. Together with flatmates we went to school for art classes. We met Dorothe Rizzi teacher of art. She made incredible impression on me. She was nice and the way when she was talking about smth... everybody was so interested and so focus on that. I really enjoyed that classes! In the beginning we drank tea and coffee, introduce each other, talk a little and than we started to create our portraits. First with one line, after we concentrated at one detail than on 2 and in than we created all portrait. And the most beautiful thing for me was the fact, that even if somebody wasn't talented, Dorothe said that it doesn't matter. That we just need to express ourself. Than we started to pain on the mirror. Everybody got 3 colours (blue, red and yellow). Supposedly you can create all kind of colours from this 3 main colours... and some of us really made it!
In my opinion all works were so good. And I think that all of us is talented, but I have to say it - BIG RESPECT FOR MATE!I think he is the best!Just check how looked our pictures:)

Last Friday we went to Aabenraa as I wrote before. Not just only to go to the island and have some adventure. Finally when we got to Fjordskolen we started our school visit. We met very nice people. They treated us so warm. In the beginning we were listening about Fjordskolen, about people who work there – physiotherapy team, about methods, equipment which they use. Than one of physiotherapist showed us school, swimming pool for handicap children, lots of differed kinds of rooms for individual therapy, gymnastic halls, class rooms. It was so important for us to see all this things and compare it to Poland. We didn’t spend there many time but we are hope that we will see more on our practice weeks. All staff in Fjordskolen said as that they are looking forward to see us! It makes us happy and satisfied. We can’t wait to go there and learn from Danish physiotherapy team!!!!