Division of Physiotherapy
In 1947, the country’s first physical rehabilitation was introduced at Siriraj Hospital. Professor Fuang Satsa-nguan, the head of Orthopaedic Surgery Department, began to use tools and physiotherapy practice to treat patients. He invented simple tools or applied the existing equipment for such activities, such as heat from reading lamp, massage, walking rehabilitation using parallel bars, and walking-assistant equipment. Later, more tools and equipment were acquired, doctors and nurses were trained to be physiotherapist to support the growing scope of work. In 1963, Professor Fuang Satsa-nguan and Princess Prem (Ngarmchit) Purachatra in cooperation with WHO and World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT) jointly established a physiotherapy school at the Siriraj Hospital. The first batch of physiotherapy students were recruited in 1965 from medical students Chulalongkorn University and Faculty of Medical Science. The selected students joined the third year of the school and when finished, they obtained a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy and can become professional physiotherapists. At present, the school was upgraded to the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University, offering undergraduate, graduate and PhD courses as well as short physical therapy courses.
Service
- Provide physical therapy for orthopaedic inpatients and outpatients. Its team members comprises specialists in different specialty area as follows:
- Adult reconstructive surgery
- Spine
- Spinal cord injury
- Sports medicine
- Hand
- Paediatric
Academic service
- Guest speakers on preparation of patients and family for hip and knee replacement surgery at the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, four times a year
- Host a symposium on “Update n Physical Therapy for Orthopaedic Condition” to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery from 12-13 June 2014 at the Adityadhornkitikhun Meeting Room, Sayamin Building, 7th Floor, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital
Studies and research
- Clinical instructors to supervise the training of 34 year 3 and year 4 physical therapy students from public and private universities
- Research on “A Randomized Control Study of Siriraj Home Exercises Protocol for Primary Knee Osteoarthritis Patients versus Usual Orthopedic Outpatient Consultation in Primary Knee Osteoarthritis Patients” which is under data collection stage
