Peculiarities of rehabilitation of patients with musculoskeletal disorders: what has changed during the war in Ukraine

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate changes in the structure of musculoskeletal injuries in patients during the war in Ukraine and to determine the organizational and methodological features of the rehabilitation of patients with these injuries according to the conclusions of rehabilitation specialists.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in 2022-2024, 102 rehabilitation specialists participated in it. Scientific methods: analysis of sources of scientific information, questionnaires, statistical methods. The survey of rehabilitation specialists was conducted using the author’s questionnaire, which contains 27 questions divided into 3 blocks.

Results: It was established that during the war years, significant changes occurred in the structure of appeals from patients with musculoskeletal diseases. The share of appeals for help for limb amputations increased to 23.6%, for injuries to joints, muscles and tendons – to 37.3%, for habitual dislocation of the patella – to 6.8%. Physiotherapists are convinced that the quality of rehabilitation services can be improved by using the latest equipment (35.3%), systematic advanced training of specialists (26.5%), expanding access to equipment (21.6%), and introducing the latest physiotherapy methods (13.7%).

Conclusions: Based on the conducted research, a system of exercise therapy tools for certain diseases of the musculoskeletal system and the sequence of their application were determined, and practical recommendations were developed for the rehabilitation of the population with musculoskeletal disorders, taking into account changes in their structure and the opinions of rehabilitation specialists who have experience working during the war in Ukraine.