Physiotherapy: Neurology & Physiotherapy Unit

Our Team      Photogallery

Specialized Center of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine

Neurology Physiotherapy and Physiotherapy Unit

Brief characteristic of the department of rehabilitation and sports medicine

The Specialized Center of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine focuses on physical therapy for adults and children. We treat patients suffering from various diseases and conditions such as vertebrogenic disorders, neurological diseases, patients after surgeries, injuries of locomotive system, spine surgeries, as well as, patients with internal diseases.

Yearly, we hospitalize more than 630 patients and provide treatment for approximately 4.350 out-patients within our department. In other departments we rehabilitate roughly 13.500 patients.

Our physiotherapists work within 6 specialized centers in the University Hospital in Motol. Those centers are the Specialized Center of Cardiovascular Surgery, the Specialized Center of Neurology, the Specialized Center of Orthopedics, the Specialized Center of Pulmonology, the Spinal Cord Unit and of course the Specialized Center of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine. 

How will your detailed schedule look like? What type of procedures, methods or treatment can you observe? Check what can you see by shadowing every member of the mentoring team.

Is this specialty placement ideal for you?

  • If you are interested in physical therapy, neurology and sports medicine, apply for this placement. You will witness the preparation of patients before surgery, the post-operative care as well as the therapy of adult and children suffering from injuries, internal, neurological and other diseases. Another part is our regular work at outpatient department of Physiotherapy Unit where we work closely and regularly with our patients on their physical progress. We will show you various methods of physical therapy as well as its application on specific neurological cases.
  • This specialty is ideal for you, if you aspire to become a physiotherapist, or doctor focused on neurology. At this type of placement you will gain a valuable insight into these fields and see the patients dealing with the health problems in this area.

Lets' take a closer look at the specialties…

Some of our physiotherapists are working in our Specialized Center of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine in the Physiotherapy Unit. Majority of our physiotherapists, however, works permanently in other specialized centers, because their assistance is indispensable. For that reason we closely cooperate with 6 specialized centers within the University Hospital in Motol. Among those specialized centers is the Specialized Center of Neurology.

Neurological physical therapy at the Specialized Center of Neurology is a program specializing on patients with trauma, diseases or disorders of the nervous system. Our goal is to reduce symptoms, and improve the well-being of the patient. We try to satisfy the needs of every single patient in our neurological physical therapy program. The success of the physiotherapy however, doesn't only depend on the doctor, but also on the patient and their family.

Other prerequisite necessary for success is a variation of aids and devices. From orthotic aids, splints or MOTOmeds, to complex instruments designed with the principle of biofeedback.

In the Physiotherapy Unit we focus on direct manipulation of muscles, joints and other parts of the body affected by an injury or chronic illness. Individual regimens depend on various factors including type of injury or condition, patient’s age and other. Physiotherapy is either used to address the injury itself or to help patient compensate for the loss of use. Our main goal is to ease our patients' pain and allow them to enjoy their lives.

Who do we take care of?

Neurological physical therapy session may last anywhere from 45 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the severity of patient's condition.

At Physiotherapy Unit at the Specialized Center of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine we treat in-patients and out-patients with various issues. The path of therapy is long and it requires a lot of effort on patient's and doctor's side. The therapy schedule has to be adjusted accordingly every session to ensure patients' satisfaction. Contrary to the general believe therapy is not only about physical improvements, but psychological treatment is also an element necessary for successful therapy. Out-patient therapy usually lasts 45 minutes twice a week, while the hospitalized patients require more lengthy sessions up to 1 and a half hours.

Our methods and procedures

During the therapy in the Specialized Center of Neurology we use following methods and procedures:

When we perform therapies in the Physiotherapy Unit a variety of methods and procedures has to be applied:

  • Reflex locomotion method
  • Dynamic neuromuscular stabilization
  • Soft tissue mobilization
  • Stretching
  • Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching
  • Bobath concept

How does the usual schedule lool like?

  • Our mentoring team works on a regular schedule without any fluctuations. Work here is therefore ideal for people who like fixed working hours. We focus on both inpatient and outpatient care, the minimum of 25 hours in the hospital is guaranteed.

If you are not sure whether this choice is suitable for you, don't hesitate to contact us. We will discuss your experience and motivation and come up with the best solution for you.

Our Team


Photo Jan Šibík

Mgr. Eva Kavanová

Cardiovascular Surgery Physiotherapist

Physiotherapist


During my initial practice, I went through many departments. Even though it might seem a little strange, actually, my current goal is not to specialize in one field. I think that when I have more experience, I will pursue a specialty further. For now, I have chosen to work in cardiac surgery and outpatient care, as I want to be really versatile. This field is a perfect choice for now, as it offers a broad spectrum of different forms of rehabilitation. The University Hospital in Motol provides great work opportunities. So don’t worry, I am certain that becoming a part of our team will prove to be a valuable experience for you!

Why did I become healthcare professional?

I'm naturally an empathetic person and I like helping people. In high school, I enjoyed biology and mathematics the most of all subjects. At first, I thought that I could be a doctor, but during my first year of university studies, I realized that it was not the best choice for me. So, I started to think about a similar field, and I decided to study physiotherapy. Although at first I had no clear idea what rehabilitation or physiotherapy actually were, I do not regret my decision; I enjoy my job. Therefore, I can say without a doubt that this program is an amazing opportunity for you, and it will without a shadow of doubt prove valuable for your future choices.

You will accompany me to the ICU, where you will meet the patients with acute conditions after planned or unplanned heart surgeries. In the kinesiology lab, you will observe analysis and therapy devices, and, during electrotherapy, you´ll see the application of physical therapy in real life. Every day is unique.

What do I love the most about my specialty?

I am always in the action, and no two days are the same. I can help people, which makes me thoroughly happy. I appreciate seeing that my therapy makes sense and helps the patient. I work with interesting people and diagnoses, and it never feels routine. I can always consult doctors and other colleagues about my case. I also like to work with the therapeutic devices that we have at our disposal in our hospital.

What can you see by shadowing our team?

You will accompany me to the ICU, where you will meet the patients with acute conditions after planned or unplanned heart surgeries. We perform rehabilitation starting from when the patient arrives in the ICU and continuing through their standard hospitalization. Afterward, the patient goes home or to a spa. I will also show you the outpatient clinics, where you will see subsequent rehabilitation. In the kinesiology lab, you will observe analysis and therapy devices, and, during electrotherapy, you´ll see the application of physical therapy in real life. Every day is unique. I work in the Cardiac Surgery ICU and the Department of Cardiac Surgery together with two of my colleagues, and we change shifts as needed. During the day, I take care of outpatients with various diagnoses. I usually treat two to three outpatients per day. I also work in electrotherapy once every five to six weeks, so you might witness magnetic therapy and different forms of electrotherapy.
Apart from being a healthcare professional…
In my free time, I like to practice yoga and walk around Prague. I love seeing new places, and there are truly a lot to be found in Prague. During my holidays, I love traveling, hiking, skiing, swimming, and biking.

My motto…

Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.

Photo Jan Šibík

Mgr. Sylva Pintarová

Spinal Unit Physiotherapist

Physiotherapist


For me, physiotherapy is an honest profession which combines theory, the practical application of that theory, and the need to help others. It is necessary to apply and combine medical knowledge with manual dexterity as well as verbal and nonverbal communication. I believe that a good therapist should, above all, be empathetic and possess certain psychological abilities. They should be able to follow their intuition while trying to understand other people. I honestly believe that physiotherapy is an art and greatly relies on the creativity of its performer.

Why did I become a healthcare professional?

Biology and physics were among my favorite subjects in grammar school, and I was always interested in the human body, movement, and sports. Based on these facts and preferences, I decided to study physiotherapy. However, I didn’t know exactly what to expect when it came to my studies and the profession itself. My idea of the profession was very distorted at the beginning of my studies in university. It wasn’t until a few years later, when I started discovering all of the mysteries of physiotherapy that I understood how long and difficult the path to becoming a physiotherapist is.

In the departments of University Hospital in Motol where I work, you will not see us saving lives, but you will have the opportunity to look deeper into the lives of handicapped people. You will be able to see how we try to improve the quality of their lives with the help of our multi-disciplinary team. You will have the opportunity to look into the rehabilitation approach that we use in order to help our patients regain independence and self-sufficiency. I consider University Hospital in Motol to be one of the best facilities in our country and a place where you can see high quality rehabilitation in an international setting.

What do I love the most about my specialty?

The beauty of my job lies in the fact that it has a purpose. The profession is very useful and is necessary to improve our patients’ quality of life. Seeing the faces of our satisfied patients brings me great joy. My colleagues are also part of the reason why I love my job so much because they inspire me, drive me forward, and motivate me to self-improve and try to become better at my profession. Working with seriously injured people has made me more aware and appreciative of my life. I am intensely aware that nothing in life comes free. This profession has made me appreciate what I have, who I am, who I am with, and where I live. I appreciate my family, friends, and health, and I am ultimately happier as a result.

What can you see by shadowing our team?

My typical day heavily depends on where I operate. In the Inpatient Rehabilitation Department, you will be able to observe long-term therapy on a small number of people with a wide range of diagnoses. At the Spinal Unit, I will introduce you to subacute care for people who suffer from spinal cord infringement. Most of the patients are transferred here from the Emergency Department for Adults after their vital functions have stabilized. In the Outpatient Rehabilitation Department, you will be able to observe some patients that have problems with their musculoskeletal apparatuses, though the majority of these patients are self-sufficient. With these patients, the objective for rehabilitation is to identify the cause of the problem and show them how to perform self-therapy at home.

Apart from being a healthcare professional…

I thoroughly enjoy spending time with my partner and my friends. I love to spend my time in nature, such as in the forests, the mountains, and sunny places. I adore sports of all kinds – winter or summer, collective or individual. My boyfriend and I also enjoy travelling - hiking in the Himalayas was an outstanding experience for me, as was a three-week walk through national parks in Scandinavia. Furthermore, I like to read historic novels and fantasies, and I like Billy Wilder movies. I regularly visit the International Documentary Film Festival, and I attend summer movie camps. Lately, I have been learning photography and trying to improve my cooking and baking. When I have any time left over, I try to improve my German skills.

My motto…

Everything bad is good for something.
Everything is relative.

Photo Jan Šibík

Mgr. Nikola Volejníková

Neurology Physiotherapist

Physiotherapist


This specialty basically found me. My bachelor’s thesis was focused on cerebral stroke, and then, when I came to the University Hospital in Motol, there was a vacant position in the neurology department. Thanks to the adaptation process, whereby a new employee is gradually acquainted with other departments, I realized that there wasn’t anywhere else in the hospital where I wanted to work. Therefore, after completing my master's program, I quickly applied to the neurology department. The brain is a great mystery, and that is what makes neurology so interesting to me.

Why did I become a healthcare professional?

Although I am not a sportsman, I have always had a positive attitude about sports. After secondary school, I began to study philology, but I did not find myself happy in this field because it took too much reading and theoretical work. That's why I chose physiotherapy. Instead of the medical faculty, I chose the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports. The entire field was largely practical, which, in conjunction with mandatory sports disciplines and a large number of optional choices of sports subjects, made it the right choice for me.

Experience in a clinical field is very important to all future healthcare professionals, so do not hesitate to come. I'm already looking forward to meeting you!

What do I love the most about my specialty?

The best part of my profession is that I can be useful and beneficial. The most amazing feeling is when a patient says that they feel relieved. Consequently, I am happier when I see the results of those patients who are relieved and make progress or whose health problems disappear for good. At work, I also have an opportunity to enrich each individual therapy by using various aids and devices from orthotic aids, splints, and MOTOmeds to complex instruments designed around the principle of biofeedback. It is a diversification not only for me, but also for the patients, for whom a change in therapy is often perceived as a step forward, thus increasing their motivation.

What can you see by shadowing our team?

You will get an overall view of the physiotherapist´s work in a neurology department with all the trimmings. You will become familiar with the routine of the entire department and all the obligations of physiotherapists. The range of patients generally varies, though it depends on the current group. In the intensive care unit, you will meet patients with acute conditions who are often still in a coma or dependent on breathing support. We perform rehabilitation as well. In standard wards, lucid patients are usually hospitalized, but their cooperation may be limited by aphasia or a cognitive deficit. My daily schedule is very different depending on the types of patients we take care of. Our outpatients require much less time than the inpatients in severe condition.

Apart from being a healthcare professional…

I love to spend my leisure time with my loved ones or with friends, whether actively or passively. In winter, I prefer downhill skiing, which takes a large part of my annual leave. Among other sports, I enjoy mostly swimming and in-line skating, but my favorite experience is surfing, which, unfortunately, is impossible in the Czech Republic. In the winter, I love the mountains, and I enjoy the sea in the summer (actually the mountains, too ?). I love taking trips and hiking, but from time to time I might also spend all day in bed. In addition to these, I like reading, eating, and cooking.

My motto…

“Happiness is only real when shared.” - Christopher McCandless

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LOVE WHAT YOU DO WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT