Prof. Dr. Tuba Ümit Gafuroğlu

Prof. Dr. Tuba Ümit Gafuroğlu is a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Acibadem Ankara Hospital in Ankara, where she practices within the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation unit. Her work centers on the non-surgical assessment and management of musculoskeletal, rheumatologic and neurological conditions that affect movement, function and daily activity. With more than 37 years in medicine, she brings long-standing clinical experience to the care of patients with both acute and chronic conditions.

Dr. Gafuroğlu completed her medical education at Gazi University in 1989. She then trained in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, completing her specialty training in 1994. She holds the academic title of professor. In her current role, she evaluates patients referred for pain, reduced mobility and functional limitations, and develops individualized rehabilitation plans based on clinical examination and, where indicated, electrodiagnostic testing.

Clinical focus

Dr. Gafuroğlu’s areas of clinical interest cover a broad range of conditions treated in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Spinal disorders form a significant part of her practice, including chronic low back pain and neck pain and cervical radiculopathy, in which nerve root irritation may cause pain, numbness or weakness radiating into the arm. She also assesses and manages degenerative and inflammatory joint disease, including osteoarthritis of the knee and the ongoing management of rheumatoid arthritis, with the aim of preserving joint function and reducing pain. Shoulder problems such as shoulder impingement and frozen shoulder, which can limit range of motion over extended periods, are a further focus of her work.

Her practice also includes post-stroke rehabilitation, which aims to support recovery of movement, balance and independence following a stroke, as well as the evaluation and treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome and osteoporosis assessment. Therapeutic exercise prescription is a central element of her approach, with exercise programs adapted to each patient’s diagnosis, functional level and goals. For patients with suspected nerve or muscle disorders, she performs electromyography and nerve conduction studies to help characterize the nature and extent of neuromuscular involvement and to guide further management.

How Dr. Gafuroğlu works with international patients

Dr. Gafuroğlu sees international patients at Acibadem Ankara Hospital. The Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, such as MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound reports, laboratory results, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments and the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and symptoms, a review of existing imaging and previous treatments, a clinical examination and a discussion of the available options, which may include therapeutic exercise, other rehabilitation measures or further diagnostic testing such as electromyography and nerve conduction studies. Interpreters can be arranged when needed, so that patients can describe their symptoms and discuss the proposed plan in a language they are comfortable with.