UNAIR NEWS – Three Faculty of Vocational Studies (FV) students from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) initiated an innovative physical exercise program for Parkinson’s disease patients. They are Luthfi Arifudin Putra, D3 Physiotherapy (Class of 2018); Naufal Adila, D4 Physiotherapy (Class of 2018); and Jauharol Faiqoh, D4 Physiotherapy (Class of 2018).
The innovation is called “Nordic Walking Recreational Exercise Community.” The concept is unique by combining physical exercise and recreation.
One of the team members, Jauharol Faiqoh or Faiq, said that the healing program was the first in Indonesia. “We intend to create an easy and inexpensive exercise program in the form of a recreational community for people with Parkinson’s disease in Indonesia. In Indonesia, there are not any exercises like this yet. This is the first,” she said.
The program, said Faiq, was carried out in groups outside the room. Its main benefit is to slow down the condition severity of people with Parkinson’s disease.
Furthermore, based on her team’s scientific studies, the exercise program also improved their quality of life. “It is for many people with Parkinson’s disease. Continuing their training in the open, so the atmosphere is not tense such as in solitary exercise in an enclosed place. From there, hopefully, this program will not only heal physically but also improve the psychological condition of people with Parkinson’s disease,” she said.
According to Faiq, Parkinson’s disease has not received much public attention. Through this innovation, Faiq and her team highlighted the high prevalence of people with Parkinson’s disease in Indonesia, especially concerning the severe problems experienced by people with Parkinson’s disease.
The innovation initiated by Faiq and her team members reportedly won an award in the 2021 Indonesian Physiotherapy Student Scientific Week Competition (PIMAF IMFI).
Faiq and her team managed to get through a strict selection process in that national competition, competing with 16 teams from various universities in Indonesia.
For this achievement, Faiq hoped that Physiotherapy is known better in Indonesia. Besides, it is also a motivation for UNAIR Physiotherapy Study Program students to work harder and make more achievements. (*)
Author: Erika Eight Novanty
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
