Despite of the outbreak of COVID19 pandemic and subsequent uncertainties (in both professional and scientific environment), we are happy to have been able to organize 9th Croatian Congress of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in real life setting and beautiful environment of the Congress Center Amadria Park Šibenik from 07-10th April 2022.
Four plenary sessions, four interactive panels, three workshops, eight satelite symposia and over 300 registered participants give us right to be proud of this important event. Scientific programme covered important of topics within physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM). Rehabilitation of COVID19 patients, Outcomes in rehabilitation, New technologies in PRM and Rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions were topics of main plenary sessions. Interactive panels followed on Friday and Saturday afternoon and their respective titles were: „Quo vadis Cochrane“ (dedicated to activities and projects of Cochrane Rehabilitation), „Rehabilitation of children – challenges and dillemas“, „Rheumatology and rehabilitation side by side“ and „Importance of nutritional support in PRM“. Additional content to our scientific programme were workshops (lasting for 90 minutes) also covering important practical aspects: „Functional tests in pulmonary rehabilitation – spiroergometry“, „Role of Xeomin in the treatment of upper limb spasticity“ and „Radiofrequency, high-intensity laser and high-inductive magnetic field in post-COVID19 rehabilitation“.
A total of 38 abstract were submitted and they were all shown in form of e-posters with 11 of them selected for oral presentations. It is important to highlight the overall quality of submitted abstract which included interesting case reports, questionnaire validation and research.
In spite of varying weather conditions, traditional rehatlon also took place with key message – move to improve.
A panel of distinguished invited speakers contributed to the overall scientific quality of congress. Prof. Aydan Oral (Turkey, UEMS PRM Section and Board General Secretary) who opened our congress with plenary lecture titled „Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine: perspectives on current status and future directions“ and were active in interactive panel „Quo vadis Cochrane“. Prof. Francesca Gimigliano (Italy, President elect of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine) participated in plenary session „Outcomes in rehabilitation“ with lecture titled „Developing ClinFit COVID19: An ISPRM initiative to scale up rehabilitation for COVID19 patients and survivors across the care continuum“ and interactive panel „Quo vadis Cochrane“. Prof. Strahinja Došen (Denmark) had a lecture titled „Research in robotics“. Mag. Klemen Grabljevec (Slovenia, Presiden elect of the European Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine) participated in two plenary sessions: „Outcomes in rehabilitation“ („Goal setting in rehabilitation after acquired brain injury“) and New technologies in physical and rehabilitation medicine“ („Clinical aspects of robotic techology in rehabilitation“).
On behalf of the Scientific and Organizing Committee of the 9th Croatian Congress of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, I would like to thank our distinguished invited speakers and all participants who came to Šibenik and enjoyed both our hospitality and scientific programme.