ICRC, Rehab Initiative and KMU-IPMR Conduct ERIE Foundational Training for Physiotherapy Students

Peshawar, Pakistan: A three-day training programme on Early Rehabilitation in Emergency (ERIE) – Foundational Training for Physiotherapy Students was organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in collaboration with the Rehab Initiative (RI) and the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IPMR), Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar.

The training focused on strengthening the capacity of physiotherapy students to understand and apply early rehabilitation principles in emergency and acute-care settings.

A dedicated session on the role of Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) in emergency care was led by Mr. Arsalan Rasool, Coordinator of the MS Prosthetics & Orthotics Programme at IPMR, KMU.

It was a significant achievement for IPMR and KMU that Mr. Arsalan Rasool was selected by the ICRC as a trainer for the programme. His expertise in prosthetics and orthotics contributed to strengthening participants’ understanding of how P&O services can be integrated into early rehabilitation following traumatic injuries and other emergency conditions.

P&O in Emergency Rehabilitation

The session provided students with an overview of the role of prosthetists and orthotists in multidisciplinary emergency rehabilitation. Participants were introduced to the importance of early orthotic intervention, positioning, prevention of complications, mobility and functional rehabilitation.

Key topics covered during the session included:

• Introduction to Prosthetics and Orthotics in emergency care
• The role of orthoses and positioning in traumatic brain injury (TBI), peripheral nerve injury (PNI), spinal cord injury (SCI), burns and other relevant emergency conditions
• Prosthetic intervention in emergency care, including early prosthetic rehabilitation and mobility
• Practical considerations for integrating P&O interventions into early rehabilitation
• Hands-on demonstration and fitting of Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs)
• Hands-on demonstration and fitting of Wrist-Hand Orthoses (WHOs)

The practical component allowed students to gain firsthand exposure to orthotic devices and their application in clinical rehabilitation. The demonstrations emphasized the importance of appropriate positioning and timely intervention to support functional recovery and prevent secondary complications.

Strengthening Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation

The inclusion of Prosthetics and Orthotics within ERIE training highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to emergency rehabilitation. Physiotherapists, prosthetists and orthotists, physicians, nurses and other rehabilitation professionals can play complementary roles in helping patients regain function following serious injuries.

Such training initiatives also provide an opportunity for students to understand when and how P&O professionals should be involved in the rehabilitation pathway, particularly in cases where early positioning, contracture prevention, protection of injured structures or mobility assistance is required.

The collaboration between ICRC, Rehab Initiative and KMU-IPMR reflects the growing emphasis on integrating rehabilitation into emergency and acute-care services and strengthening the knowledge and skills of future rehabilitation professionals in Pakistan.

Source: Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IPMR), Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar.