USE OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF REHABILITATION AMONG PHYSIOTHERAPISTS IN CROATIA

Alternativna medicina primjenjuje različite metode liječenja u svrhu zamjene konvencionalne medicine. U Republici Hrvatskoj postoji Udruženje za prirodnu, energetsku i duhovnu medicinu (HUPED), koje djeluje kao krovna organizacija nekonvencionalne medicine. U zapadnoj Europi i Americi između 20 i 30% stanovništva primjenjuje neki oblik alternativne medicine. U ovom istraživanju provedenom putem Google obrasca, sudjelovalo je 98 ispitanika. Cilj je bio utvrditi koje alternativne metode fizioterapeuti u Republici Hrvatskoj najčešće primjenjuju u svojoj praksi. Pitanja su se temeljila na tome primjenjuju li ispitanici neke od sljedećih alternativnih metoda: miofascijalnu relaksaciju, dry needling, kinesiotaping, cupping, trigger point terapiju ili neku drugu alternativnu metodu. Rezultati su pokazali da fizioterapeuti u RH u najvećem broju primjenjuju kinesiotaping, emmett, miofascijalnu relaksaciju te trigger point terapiju.Alternative medicine is a wide term that includes a number of medical modalities and can be described as a method that applies different procedures instead of conventional ones. In the Republic of Croatia, there is an Association for Natural, Energetic and Spiritual Medicine (HUPED), which has elaborate regulations according to which the certificate of Doctor of Natural Medicine, Doctor of Energy Medicine and Doctor of Spiritual Medicine can be obtained. Between 20 and 30% of the population in Western Europe and America use some form of alternative medicine, and between 70% and 80% of the population are interested in this method of treatment. 98 respondents participated in this research conducted via Google form. The purpose was to determine which alternative methods physiotherapists in the Republic of Croatia most often apply in their practice. The questions were based on whether the respondents apply any of the following alternative methods: myofascial relaxation, dry needling, kinesiotaping, cupping, trigger point therapy or some other alternative method. The results showed that physiotherapists in the Republic of Croatia mostly apply kinesiotaping, emmett, myofascial relaxation and trigger point therapy