Community Empowerment Through SMART Physio

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Physio Smart

The Physiotherapy Study Program at ‘Aisyiyah University (Unisa) Yogyakarta has just completed an internship program that has a significant impact on the community at the Sanden Health Center, Bantul. The five-week internship program involved 7th semester students and focused on community empowerment through innovative physiotherapy approaches. The withdrawal of internship students was held on Friday, January 10, 2025, marking the success of the collaboration between Unisa Yogyakarta, Sanden Health Center, and the surrounding community.

SMART Physio: Physiotherapy-Based Community Empowerment Innovation

This internship program gave birth to an innovative branding called Fisio SMART (Physiotherapy Through Community Empowerment Strategy). This branding represents the strong commitment of Unisa Yogyakarta students and educators in improving community health through sustainable collaboration and empowerment. Fisio SMART emphasizes the importance of the community’s active role in maintaining their health and quality of life.

During their internship, Unisa Physiotherapy students worked closely with various parties, including cadres of stroke monitors from the community, doctors, and physiotherapists from Sanden Health Center. This cross-sector collaboration is key to the success of the program. The main focus of the program is the monitoring and treatment of common health conditions in the community, such as stroke, diabetes, and hypertension. In addition, students are also actively involved in community empowerment activities, with the main targets being the elderly and children with disabilities.

This internship received direct guidance from two professional physiotherapists from Sanden Health Center, Novika Kurniawati and Maryati. Their presence and guidance ensured that the activities were run according to professional standards and provided optimal benefits to the community. The collaborative approach has proven effective in creating a positive impact on the health and well-being of the Sanden community.

Bani, one of the student interns, said that this experience provided valuable learning. They not only learned technically about physiotherapy, but also understood the importance of community empowerment in the context of the physiotherapy community.

“We learned how to actively involve the community in maintaining and improving the quality of their health,” he said.

The Head of the Physiotherapy Study Program at Unisa Yogyakarta, Hilmi Zadah Faidullah, S.St., M.Si., expressed his hope that this internship program could be an inspiration and model for other regions.

“We hope that the Unisa Physiotherapy Study Program can continue to contribute to improving health and community empowerment, not only in Sanden, but also throughout the province of Yogyakarta Special Region,” said Hilmi.

The end of this internship program is expected to be the beginning of the implementation of the SMART Physio model in various regions. This model is expected to strengthen the synergy between physiotherapy and community empowerment, creating a healthier and more independent society. This program proves that collaboration between educational institutions, health facilities, and communities can produce a significant positive impact on mutual health and well-being.

Tags: aisyiyah, banggamenjadiunisa, beunisa, fisioterapi, unisayogya