New Rehabilitation Initiative for Veterans in Kyiv

A project has been launched in the capital aimed at the physical rehabilitation of veterans requiring assistance after injuries and illnesses. This was announced yesterday, September 30, during a panel discussion at the Second Kyiv Veterans Forum by the Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration, Olena Hovorova.

«With the support of the Department of Youth and Sports of the Kyiv City State Administration and the «Kyiv Military Hub», the fitness club network «SportLand» and «Fitness Continent» is providing free rehabilitative assistance to our defenders who have suffered injuries, undergone surgeries, or have disabilities. We aim to facilitate their social and psychological adaptation and help them return to civilian life after the war», – noted Olena Hovorova.

According to her, fitness and physical activity not only maintain physical shape but also aid psychological recovery, help overcome internal barriers of post-traumatic stress disorder, and restore emotional balance, stability, and confidence.

Currently, such services are offered by 5 clubs: in Darnytsia, Lviv, Obolon, Voskresenka, and Troieshchyna. Under various loyalty programs, 73 defenders are already utilizing these services. In total, the network provides 150 free club cards (30 for each club).

Each club selects 2 partner trainers who have specialized education and at least two years of experience as personal trainers. They undergo advanced training courses in rehabilitation at the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine.

The rehabilitation trainer (project coordinator) assesses the overall condition and fitness level of the veteran, helps select safe and maximally effective training sessions. Specifically, through functional testing, they determine the capacity and overall conditioning of the cardiovascular system, identify muscle imbalances across different muscle groups, assess overall flexibility, strength, and endurance of the body. They also create an individual training program of appropriate complexity, among other things.