The SIJ Group Donates EUR 45,000 for Children at the University Rehabilitation Institute of RS – Soča

(Ljubljana, 8 June 2016) The youngest patients at the University Rehabilitation Institute of RS – Soča (URI Soča) can now use two important new devices. They were purchased using a donation of EUR 45,000 from the SIJ Group. The first device, Innowalk, is a walking practice device for children who are able to walk but whose ability to do so has deteriorated or been impeded due to trauma or disease, as well as for children who are not able to stand and walk independently. The second device, a cough assist machine, is particularly useful for children with the most severe disorders, who are unable to move on their own, spend most of their time lying down or sitting with support, have shallow breathing and are unable to cough effectively.

 The two devices were presented to the URI Soča children's department and tested on a very special day, named Walk Stronger Day. The young patients spent the day improving their skills at a picnic in the children's department garden by spending time together, helping with the food and being physically active. They were joined by Aljaž Pegan, world gymnastics champion, Tina Šutej, the current Slovenian pole vaulting record-holder, Sašo Bertoncelj, currently the best gymnast in Slovenia, the popular chefs Jani Jugovic and Sašo Miljušević, and the employees of the URI Soča children's department and the SIJ Group. Spending time with their special guests, the children in rehabilitation at URI Soča learned how much effort and dedication it takes to achieve success. Together they also tackled some challenges of a more everyday nature that still require plenty of skill and dedication, such as cutting and cleaning food, preparing different dishes, etc.

Chief Physician Hermina Damjan, MD, Head of the URI Soča children's department, said: "Walk Stronger Day will truly give our young patients the right conditions to walk more strongly into the future. The two new devices are extremely important for our department. The state-of-the-art walking practice device, Innowalk, opens up new therapy possibilities. It will give some of the children the opportunity to try to walk for the first time, while others will be able to improve their gait. Patients will improve their flexibility, reduce abnormally-increased muscle tone, learn reciprocal leg movements for walking at a later stage, and experience many other beneficial effects. The cough assist machine is important for lung ventilation for children who spend most of their time lying down or sitting with support. Now that we have one in our department, parents will be able to learn how to use it so they can later use a similar machine at home."

The majority of the funds were used to purchase an Innowalk Pro Small device, which will improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation for children with walking problems. It will be used for walking practice, strengthening muscles and improving the general physical condition of children who are able to walk but whose ability to do so has deteriorated or been impeded due to trauma or disease, as well as children who are not able to stand and walk on their own. Suitable for children from 100 to 140 cm in height, the new device will enable them to strengthen lower limb functions through guided reciprocal movement of legs and simultaneous strengthening of arms. Using the Innowalk Pro Small, the children will be able to use assisted, guided, and repetitive walking in an upright weight-bearing position to prepare for unaided movement and stimulate active movement of the lower and upper limbs. This type of guided movement improves blood circulation in the lower limbs, helps to maintain proper bone structure, promotes an upright posture, activates the muscles of the torso and improves digestion and other functions. The device can be modified relatively quickly and easily to suit each child, making it highly useful in clinical environments. It is suitable for early rehabilitation after trauma or disease and for children with chronic diseases that affect mobility. It can also be used without the arm function where necessary.

Upon presenting the donation,Anton Chernykh , President of the Board of Directors of the SIJ Group, said: "The SIJ Group is dedicated to long-term co-operation with URI Soča; we see this as the best way to enhance the donated funds. Top experts and their young patients already have the dedication to push the boundaries, but the new walking practice device and cough assist machine will move the bar even higher. The children will now be able to progress faster with the help of equipment developed especially for them, enabling them to enhance and improve their movement abilities."

Robert Cugelj, MSc, General Director of URI Soča, said: "At URI Soča we are striving to establish a center of modern technology to make it possible for our rehabilitation medicine experts to give patients the kind of treatment and care that can compare to the most highly developed institutions of this type around the world. We are on the right path and working with donors is an important part. Last year we concluded an agreement for long-term co-operation with the SIJ Group and we are now seeing the results. Their first donation of EUR 50,000 in 2015 was used to purchase an Armeo Spring Pediatric – a robotic device for upper limb movement that the children are using to great effect. This year's donation reaffirms the SIJ Group's trust in our work, for which we are sincerely grateful." 

These important new machines will make it possible for the staff at URI Soča to carry out their mission even more effectively, use new, state-of-the-art methods of effective rehabilitation, and help patients to return home as soon as possible and resume an active life.

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The SIJ Group is the largest Slovenian vertically integrated metallurgist group, ranked among the top market positions in the European and world niche steel markets. The Group comprises five business areas, has 23 affiliated companies in Europe and the USA, and employs some 3,400 people. In 2015 the SIJ Group generated EUR 664.8 million in revenues, an EBITDA of EUR 63.5 million and a net profit of EUR 10.7 million. The share of exports in the revenues structure increased by 1.1 percentage points to 87.3%, ranking the SIJ Group among Slovenia's largest exporters.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

SIJ – Slovenian Steel Group

Dr. Denis Mancevič, Director of Corporate Communications

Phone: +386 1 242 98 44

E-mail: denis.mancevic@sij.si

University Rehabilitation Institute of the Republic of Slovenia – Soča

Robert Cugelj, MSc, General Director

Phone: +386 1 475 81 02

E-mail: robert.cugelj@ir-rs.si

Website: www.ir-rs.si