Melek Ateş, Physiotherapist

Melek Ateş is a physiotherapist working in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation unit at Acibadem Bodrum Hospital in Muğla. Her clinical work centers on supporting patients through rehabilitation and functional recovery, with an emphasis on individualized physical therapy for people living with pain and limitations in mobility.

She completed her education at Dumlupınar University School of Health Sciences between 2000 and 2004. Her professional career began at YÜCELEN HOSPITAL, where she worked from 2004 to 2006. From 2006 to 2015 she practiced at UNİVERSAL HOSPITAL, before joining Acıbadem Healthcare Services in 2015. She currently provides physiotherapy within the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation unit in Bodrum, working alongside the unit’s physicians as part of each patient’s care plan.

Clinical focus

Melek Ateş’s areas of expertise include pain rehabilitation and mobility impairment rehabilitation. In pain rehabilitation, physiotherapy is used as one component of a broader plan, with exercise, manual techniques and activity guidance selected according to the source of the pain and the patient’s tolerance. In mobility impairment rehabilitation, the aim is to address restrictions in movement, strength, balance or endurance that interfere with everyday tasks, with progress reviewed at regular intervals and the program adjusted as the patient’s condition changes.

Functional independence training is a further focus of her work. This involves practicing the movements and daily activities that matter most to the individual, such as transfers, walking or self-care, so that patients can regain as much independence as their condition allows. All of these approaches are delivered as individualized physical therapy: an initial assessment identifies the patient’s specific limitations and goals, and the program is built around those findings rather than a standard protocol. Where appropriate, patients and family members are shown exercises that can be continued at home to support the work done in the clinic.

How Melek Ateş works with international patients

Melek Ateş speaks Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who prefer another language. 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, arranges appointments and organizes the hospital visit. A first consultation within the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation unit 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 who wish to discuss their situation before traveling, although a physical assessment is generally needed before a rehabilitation program is finalized. The rehabilitation plan is then tailored to the individual and revisited over the course of treatment as the patient’s needs evolve.