# Neurological rehabilitation, Blended Intensive program in Lamia, Greece

> A summary of the third international Blended Intensive Program (BIP) for neurological rehabilitation held in Lamia, Greece, involving collaboration between Finnish, Czech, and Greek universities.

## Overview of the Program
This was the third time that a joint Blended Intensive Program (BIP) for neurological rehabilitation was conducted, featuring a virtual meeting on March 19 and an intensive week from March 31 to April 4, 2025. Three universities collaborated in the planning and implementation of the course: Savonia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), Charles University (Czech Republic), and the University of Thessaly (Greece). Together, they developed a 3 ECTS course in English, including the goals, content, and learning assignments.

The program brought together 31 students and 10 academic staff members, fostering academic exchange and the advancement of scientific knowledge. The virtual meeting on March 19, 2025, served to introduce the course, facilitate networking, and assign learning tasks prior to the intensive week in Lamia.

## Academic Lectures and Interdisciplinary Learning
The first day featured lectures from distinguished teaching staff:
*   **Marja Äijö:** “Aging and Neurological Diseases: The Need for Rehabilitation,” highlighting the global aging population and the rising incidence of neurological diseases.
*   **Prof. PhDr. Kamila Řasová:** Principles of neurorehabilitation and the effectiveness of rehabilitation.
*   **Mgr. Markéta Pavlíková:** The ICF concept in neurological diseases.

## Laboratory and Clinical Visits
The second day included presentations from the department’s laboratories and a visit to the Day Care and Residential Centre for Persons with Disabilities in Lamia. These sessions provided students with an overview of measurement methods used in research and rehabilitation.

During the third and fourth days, participants visited three specialized centers:
*   **Animus Rehabilitation Center (Larissa):** Lectures by therapists and tours of modern rehabilitation facilities.
*   **Day Care Center “Smile and Hope” (Trikala):** Interactive activities with children in honor of World Autism Awareness Day.
*   **ELEPAP (Volos):** Presentations on contemporary rehabilitation approaches for children with disabilities and interactive sessions.

## Conclusion and Impact
The week concluded with final student presentations on significant neurological conditions. The BIP experience enhanced scientific understanding, promoted intercultural collaboration, and fostered interpersonal bonds. This program serves as an effective alternative to long-term exchanges and strengthens scientific cooperation in the field of Neurological Physiotherapy.

## Authors
*   **Dr. Marja Äijö, PhD:** Principal lecturer of gerontology and rehabilitation, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Finland
*   **Dr. Kamila Řasová, Ph.D.:** Associative professor of Physiotherapy, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Czech Republic
*   **Dr. Thomas Besios:** Assistant Professor, Department School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Greece