The interview

Ibrahim Agung, Indonesia

What are your studies?

I learned many things about scoliosis, even from the onset of scoliosis and the relationship between scoliosis and other conditions such as leg length discrepancies. I learned the whole concept of scoliosis assessment, not only the spine itself but also another assessment and the function of that examination or test. I learned the whole rehabilitation conservative treatment of scoliosis, including braces, from the oldest to the most recent braces, and specific exercises, including SEAS.
And all of this knowledge is the recent knowledge about scoliosis; it is not only about some treatments, some braces, and some assessments, but I studied all of it and the differences in every concept, then the conclusion of the rehabilitation of scoliosis treatment. Thank you very much for all of our great teachers who open our eyes, expanding my experience, and sharpen my perception in order to see, assess, and treat a scoliosis patient.

Which is your profession?

I am a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, and a musculoskeletal consultant (subspecialty) who is concerned with spinal problems, including spinal deformities such as scoliosis and spinal pain. I work in a national referral hospital in Indonesia, named RS dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, hence, we have many complicated patients that cannot be treated in a non referral hospital. I am also a lecturer at the University of Indonesia. Since I started the master course, I really realise that we, I mean Indonesians, need to learn from ISICO to have the same perception and vision about scoliosis treatment that can be applied in our country and our hospital.

How did you come to know ISICO?

My teacher, Dr.Luh Karunia Wahyuni, Sp.KFR(K), she also joined this master class, asked me to join in this course, and I followed her and found many information about ISICO, on the website and social media (Instagram). I think i also need to share information about ISICO, with our colleagues so they will know the information about ISICO and the online course that is really suitable for foreigners.

Why did you register for the Isico online course PPSCT?

I think it would be the best opportunity for me to learn directly from great names like Prof.Stefano Negrini, Dr. Fabio Zaina, Dr.Sabrina Donzelli, or the great physiotherapist Michele Romano, and since ISICO has published hundreds of articles in journals, I was inspired to learn more. It was also an amazing experience that we have the chance to come to visit ISICO, to follow and see directly what I have learned from the course.

What makes this course different from other education courses?

I think the most important is the evidence, the whole concept, and the explanation of learning that explains the whole concept and knowledge about scoliosis in the recent era. It was not only explaining one or some concept, one or some braces, or one or some exercise, but it was the complete range. of it, and in the end, we as physicians, just decide which treatment, which brace will be suitable for our patient, including the considerations of our OP team and the skill and technique of our physiotherapist.
The last, all of the lectures are also supported by articles and references, and most of the articles are published by the teaching staff itself, so wonderful, they are really mastering this topic, collecting data, and finally publishing the results, it's not only theory.

Are you satisfied with what you have learned?

Absolutely yes, and maybe if there is a new or revisited concept, assessment, or newest conservative treatment that will be explained in a future course, then I will join for sure.

If you had to recommend it, what would you say?

Even if you think that you are good enough in treating scoliosis patient, you need to join this course to confirm that your concept, your exercise, and your asessment are correct. Then mastering your scoliosis treatment, with the real master of scoliosis, in ISICO. I have shared this with many colleagues in my country, Indonesia, but i think you in your country also have some problems with scoliosis that you can find the answer to by following this course.

Write some lines about your visit to the ISICO clinic in Milano.

I took the chance to visit the ISICO clinic in Milano, and it was amazing, I met directly and even joined their clinic, with Prof. Stefano Negrini, Dr. Fabio Zaina, Dr.Monia Lusini, Dr.Francesco Negrini, and the great physiotherapist who shared with me about the SEAS concept, PT Michele Romano. I learned many things, about their approach to scoliosis patients, not only the patient but also their family (parents), how they assess patients, take data/measurements that I had never checked before, and conclude and explain to patients about their scoliosis condition. I also went to the orthotist's workshop to see a brace assessment and production. I saw that they made the brace excellent, the shape the function, and I joked, ‘this is Italian made’. It was a great experience, and maybe I will ask to come back to visit ISICO another time.