Svitlana Arndt, General Manager of Arndt Clinic International Company

KUWAIT: Raising a child with cerebral palsy (CP) can take lots of time, effort, empathy and patience. Cerebral palsy is a physical disability that makes it difficult for children to control their muscles and movements. Most children with CP can live long, happy, quality lives, but their care may involve more visits to the doctor, require therapies or medications and perhaps surgery. The good news is that now there are many options for children with cerebral palsy and their parents in terms of medical and surgical treatments, practical help and social care support, as well as a wealth of information resources.

Kuwait Times spoke with Svitlana Arndt, General Manager of Arndt Clinic International Company, to know more about the best treatment and methods for children with CP. Arndt Clinic International Company is skilled to deal with patients with cerebral palsy and other neurological diseases.

KT: Tell us more about Arndt Clinic International Company.

Svitlana: Our company is the official representative of the International Clinic of Rehabilitation in Ukraine. Arndt Clinic International Co maintains close virtual daily contact with management and physicians from the International Clinic of Rehabilitation in Ukraine to arrange swift correspondence and fast processing of necessary medical and other data about each patient. We provide information about the necessity to undergo a rehabilitation course and comprehensive information about the course program, available options of treatment and accommodations, flights, weather, meals etc.

We are offering the perfect treatment in a perfect place at an outstanding price. The cost of a one-day stay for three people in spacious, specially designed triple room with three meals is KD 56. It is a unique rehabilitation center where the parents of the child can stay and provide the needed support during the treatment. We take care of all travel arrangements. Also, our company arranges doctor consultations, medical correspondence, scheduling the time of the treatment, arranging travel insurance, translation services and visa assistance for citizens and expats living in Kuwait. The International Clinic of Rehabilitation is located in one of the most beautiful places of western Ukraine - Truskavets, a very famous place for resorts, sanatoriums, natural springs of mineral water and beautiful mountain scenery.

KT: What is cerebral palsy?

Svitlana: Cerebral palsy is a serious neurological disease, which is complicated but curable. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a physical disability that affects movement and posture - cerebral (of the brain); palsy (lack of muscle control). Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that refers to a group of disorders affecting the person's ability to move.

KT: What kind of rehabilitation do you offer?

Svitlana: The treatment that we offer is a complex of therapeutically treatments that do not require surgery and Botox injections. It was a great opportunity to meet the Ukrainian legendary doctor - Volodymyr Kozyavkin. He is a man with golden hands and a brilliant mind. Professor Volodymyr developed his skill, knowledge and devotion to the extent of creating the new intensive neurophysiologic rehabilitation system called Kozyavkin method. This method has become one of Ukraine's national achievements in medicine because of its great success.

Professor Volodymyr built the unique clinic in Truskavets where more than 70,000 patients have already received help. Kozyavkin's method involves two to four weeks of highly effective and intensive treatment for patients with cerebral palsy.

KT: How does the method Kozyavkin work for each child with CP?

Svitlana: Kozyavkin's method can significantly improve the condition of the patient and in some cases cure it completely. Every child is treated by the individually tailored program. INRS is a multimode rehabilitation system in which the influence of one component is complemented and intensified by the others. Main treatment programs include biomechanical correction of the spine, extremity joint mobilization, reflexotherapy, mobilizing physical exercises, special massage system, rhythmical group exercises, mechanotherapy and apitherapy. Kozyavkin becomes an active participant in the treatment process, making each procedure and achieve results understandable and desirable. The motivation of children and parents receiving this treatment is very high and efficient.

KT: What are the most noticeable improvements you have seen with kids who have CP?

Svitlana: The best result I saw was when a tiny girl with CP after few courses of treatment in International Clinic Rehabilitation started walking and jumping. She grew into a healthy strong child with all physical abilities to join a regular school and showed the best results in the class. Such fabulous transformation happened because of systematic treatment and close cooperation between her family and the medical team.

KT: What advice do you have for parents on providing their input on selecting the right therapy?

Svitlana: I advise the parents to start the treatment at early ages, and not rush for Botox injections and operation, because there are better solutions. Early intervention or early correction is the new approach in treatment of children with CP and other neurological diseases. Doctors of International Clinic for Rehabilitation are providing consultation and treatment for children starting from six months old. Profound knowledge and decades of experience is the best guarantee for receiving high quality care that is calculated by the parents of the patients. Mutual trust of parents and children with doctors and warm emotional environment enhances the positive treatment result.

KT: Can you tell us a little bit about some of your successful cases? And what are the disadvantages and advantages you face in regards to day-to-day activity?

Svitlana: Statistical analysis of the medical records of a group of 12,256 patients, treated by the Dr Kozyavkin's method confirmed high efficiency of this rehabilitation system. Muscle tone normalization was noted in 94 percent of patients, improvement of the head control in supine position was noted in 75 percent of patients, 62 percent patients who were unable to sit before the treatment have learned to sit, 19 percent of patients began to walk without assistance, and 87 percent of patients, after the treatment, were able to open their spastically fisted hand.

KT: What is the biggest challenge for Arndt Clinic?

Svitlana: Many patients from Kuwait have already got a chance to be treated by the professor personally and his team of doctors. It makes me happy when I meet people who have already visited the clinic because their recollections are full of appreciation and satisfaction. Our task is to spread the word about success of Professor Kozyavkin's method and his clinic in Ukraine. Our marketing and public activity will engage every concerned person, public institution, government department and specialized clinic. Our assistance should facilitate the medical trip to ICR in Truskavets and make it comfortable and affordable for the patient of any nationality living in Kuwait. Together, we can all help to heal our children.

By Faten Omar