An inspiring day on the way to the profession of a Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Doctor!

On Shadow Day at the Vaivari Technical Aids Centre, 2 students visit. They are Elīna Bērziņa from Riga Āgenskalns State Gymnasium and Damirs Gavrilejs from Riga State Classical Gymnasium. They follow the work of Physical Rehabilitation Medicine Doctor Helga Paga. Doctor Helga tells the young people about her profession. She explains what rehabilitation is as a medical field. She also shows how people receive assistive devices, such as wheelchairs. The young people participate in committees that assess patient functioning. On this day, they see work with electric wheelchairs and traction bicycles. During the committee, specialists select the most suitable assistive device for a person to improve their mobility. Elīna and Damirs try driving a wheelchair themselves. They drive both indoors on smooth floors and along a special track by the centre's building. This helps them understand how a person in a wheelchair feels in daily life, for example, in a store or on the street. It is important to inspire young people to choose rehabilitation professions. For example, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Doctor (rehabilitologist), physiotherapist, occupational therapist, technical orthopedist, psychologist, and others. Rehabilitation is not only a science. It is also a heartfelt job – helping people with functional impairments regain the ability to participate in daily life. This helps people become more independent and confident in themselves. We wish Elīna and Damirs a successful end to the school year. We thank Doctor Helga Paga for her dedicated work. Functioning assessment and the selection of an appropriate technical aid help people overcome difficulties and return to a full life.