Physiotherapy Training Axed: Hamelin School Closure

by Wilhelm Purk

According to a ministry spokeswoman, the training in Hameln was part of a temporary school trial that is now ending. The aim is to test physiotherapy training in public schools. The past four years have been evaluated. It turned out that it involved a lot of organizational effort and that the training course was difficult to reconcile with the general school structure.

There is a lot of lack of understanding in the Hameln Pyrmont district

District Administrator Dirk Adomat cannot understand the ministry’s decision. The Hameln-Pyrmont district is one of the oldest in Lower Saxony in terms of its population structure. There is particularly high demand for physiotherapy here. It is also important that the training takes place on site in rural areas. Because if young people were trained in big cities, they would leave and never return. Adomat is also disappointed with the ministry’s justification. This is too short and opaque.

Indignation in the Elisabeth Selbert School

The news caused a shock in the school, says headmaster Ole Lenz. Tears were shed in the classroom. There are teachers who have also started a master’s degree to teach physiotherapy. Two physiotherapy courses have been completed at the school so far. All 30 participants found work in various local physio practices. Headmaster Lenz also sees no organizational problems. They had no problems setting up the courses. Ole Lenz has a little hope for another conversation with the ministry in mid-January.

Many people have back, shoulder, hip and knee problems. But often the prescribed physiotherapy does not help.

5 Min

Who does physiotherapy help? And why is it so rarely prescribed? Prof. Dr. med. Christian Kopkow answers questions in the studio.

Joint problems can be successfully treated with physiotherapy. But the therapy is prescribed far too rarely.