Neslihan Yıldızdağı, Physiotherapist

Neslihan Yıldızdağı is a physiotherapist working in pediatric rehabilitation at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in İstanbul, Türkiye, where she is part of the Pediatrics unit. She has more than six years of experience in the field, and her clinical work centers on physiotherapy for children, from the initial rehabilitation assessment through the planning and delivery of an individualized physiotherapy program.

Neslihan Yıldızdağı graduated from Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University Faculty of Health Sciences in 2020. In 2021 she joined Acıbadem Healthcare Services, and she has since seen pediatric patients in İstanbul. Her practice is directed at children who need physiotherapy support, and it combines structured assessment with treatment planning that is adapted to each child’s needs and circumstances.

Clinical focus

The areas of expertise listed on this profile are pediatric rehabilitation, physiotherapy for children, rehabilitation assessment, individualized physiotherapy planning and functional support for children. In practice, this work usually begins with a rehabilitation assessment, in which the child’s current functional abilities, movement patterns and daily-life needs are reviewed together with the family. The findings of this assessment, alongside any reports or imaging already available, form the basis for the physiotherapy plan.

Individualized physiotherapy planning means that goals and exercises are selected for the particular child rather than applied as a fixed program. Neslihan Yıldızdağı adjusts the plan over time as the child’s needs change, and progress is reviewed at intervals. Functional support for children is a central aim of this work: the emphasis is on helping a child take part in everyday activities as independently as possible, within the limits set by the underlying condition. Families are involved in the process, and the physiotherapist explains what can reasonably be expected from a rehabilitation program and how it fits with the care provided by the treating physicians. Physiotherapy is a supportive part of a child’s overall care, and its scope and duration depend on the individual clinical picture.

How Neslihan Yıldızdağı works with international patients

Neslihan Yıldızdağı speaks Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for families who prefer another language. Before a visit, the 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 itself. A first consultation typically covers the child’s history and symptoms, a review of existing imaging and previous treatments, a clinical examination and a discussion of the options for physiotherapy. Video consultation is available for international patients, which allows a family to speak with Neslihan Yıldızdağı before travelling and to discuss whether an in-person assessment is appropriate.