Demet Orhan, Physiotherapist

Demet Orhan is a physiotherapist working in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in İstanbul, Türkiye. She has more than 15 years of experience in medicine and works with adults who have musculoskeletal conditions and neurological conditions, providing physiotherapy and rehabilitation directed at movement, function and pain.

Her training began at Zeynep Kamil Health Vocational High School, from which she graduated in 2011. She then studied at Haliç University Faculty of Health Sciences, graduating in 2017. In 2022 she joined Acıbadem Healthcare Services, and she currently sees patients in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation unit of the hospital in İstanbul.

Clinical focus

Demet Orhan’s work covers two broad groups of patients. The first is people with musculoskeletal conditions, for whom she provides physiotherapy and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. This work is typically built around a physical assessment of movement, strength and function, followed by a program of exercises and physiotherapy techniques that is adjusted as the patient progresses. The second group is people with neurological conditions, for whom she provides neurological rehabilitation. In this setting, the aim is to support the patient’s functional abilities and independence through structured, repeated practice and guidance, in coordination with the treating physicians.

Across both groups, her areas of expertise also include mobility rehabilitation and pain rehabilitation. Mobility rehabilitation addresses difficulties with walking, balance, transfers and everyday movement, while pain rehabilitation uses physiotherapy approaches to help patients manage persistent pain and gradually return to daily activities. The specific content and duration of a rehabilitation program depend on the individual diagnosis, the patient’s general condition and the goals agreed with the patient, and results vary from person to person.

How Demet Orhan works with international patients

Demet Orhan speaks Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. Before a visit, the Acibadem 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 rehabilitation options that may be suitable. Video consultation is available for international patients, which allows a patient to discuss their situation with Demet Orhan before deciding whether to travel; a physical assessment in person is usually needed before a rehabilitation program is planned in detail.