Betül Toygar, MD

Betül Toygar, MD is a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation specialist at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in İstanbul. She practices within the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation unit, with subspecialty interests in spine health, the treatment of lymphedema and neuromuscular diseases. Dr. Toygar has more than 37 years in medicine and has spent her career in physical therapy and rehabilitation settings, including hospital clinics, private clinics and university institutions.

She graduated from Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine in 1989. Between 1994 and 1999 she undertook specialty training at the Göztepe Training and Research Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, completing her specialization in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at İstanbul Göztepe Training and Research Hospital in 1998. She then worked as a specialist doctor and service supervisor at Kızılay Altıntepe Physical Therapy Clinic (1999–2001), as a specialist doctor at Private Göztepe Echomar Hospital Physical Therapy Clinic (2002–2009) and at Private Medipol University Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic (2009–2010), and at Özel Maltepe University from 2010 to 2016. Her later positions include Acıbadem Ataşehir Medical Center (2017–2022) and Acıbadem Kadıköy Hospital (2022). Dr. Toygar is a member of the Turkish Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Association, the Türkiye Osteoporoz Association and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist Physicians Association. Her published work, appearing in the Maltepe Medical Journal, the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology and the Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, addresses topics such as osteoporosis treatment, vertebral fracture due to osteomalacia after pregnancy, back pain related to tuberculosis spondylitis, mirror therapy for complex regional pain syndrome, functional outcomes in spinal cord injury and the treatment of fibromyalgia.

Clinical focus

Dr. Toygar assesses and treats a range of musculoskeletal and spine-related conditions. Her areas of expertise include lumbar disc herniation, cervical disc herniation and neck straightening, as well as frozen shoulder syndrome, myalgia, sports injuries and knee injuries. Rehabilitation planning in these conditions generally takes into account the patient’s symptoms, functional limitations and previous treatments.

She also treats lymphedema and provides care for patients with neuromuscular diseases and restless legs syndrome. For these conditions, the aim of physical medicine and rehabilitation is to address symptoms and support day-to-day function, with treatment adapted to the individual clinical picture.

How Dr. Toygar works with international patients

Dr. Toygar consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. The hospital’s international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, such as MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound reports, laboratory and pathology 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. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their situation before traveling.