The Physiotherapy Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, conducted a community service activity titled “Physiotherapy Community Service Program with Otago Exercise and Leg Muscle Strength Screening for the Elderly at the Abdie Huffadz Amal Bakti Foundation in Makassar City” on Saturday, September 13th, at 6:30 a.m. WITA. Thirty-three seniors attended.
The event began with a group exercise session for the elderly, followed by an opening remarks by the Head of the Physiotherapy Undergraduate Program (Andi Besse Ahsaniyah, S.Ft, Physio, M.Kes), who is also the Chair of the Committee for the Internal Community Service Grant Winners of the Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University; Physiotherapy Lecturer Ita Rini, S.Ft, Physio, M.Kes; and the Foundation Chair, H. Muh. Anwar, S.Ft, M.M., who expressed their appreciation and support for the activity.
The elderly group participated in leg muscle strength screening, balance checks, and vital sign measurements. Next, the team from the Physiotherapy Undergraduate Program provided education and a tutorial on the Otago Exercise, an evidence-based exercise proven effective in improving muscle strength and balance and preventing falls in the elderly.
The activity concluded with a re-evaluation of the participants’ muscle strength and balance to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. This activity received positive feedback from participants. One elderly participant shared, “I feel more refreshed after participating in the exercise and learned about movements that improve balance. I hope we can do this more often.”
Through this program, the Unhas Physiotherapy Undergraduate Program affirms its commitment to continuously contributing to improving the quality of life of the community, particularly the elderly, and to strengthening the role of physiotherapists in promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services in accordance with physiotherapy scientific standards.
