Dia Mundial da Fisioterapia - WCPT Press release
WCPT Press release
30 August 2016
For immediate release
World Physical Therapy Day press release:
Physical therapists help add life to years
Physical therapists can
help older people to be independent, improving quality of life and
reducing health care costs. This is the message from thousands of
physical therapists across the world as they prepare to take part in
World Physical Therapy Day on 8th September 2016.
Every year, World Physical
Therapy Day allows individual physical therapists and WCPT member
organisations to celebrate their contribution to global health. This
year's event builds on the success of 2015, when thousands of physical
therapists used the #worldptday hashtag on Twitter to unite events
across the world.
This World Physical Therapy Day uses the theme “Add life to years”
and the hashtag #addlifetoyears, following the World Health
Organisation's World Report on Ageing and Health which says that
“maintenance of functional ability has the highest importance” for older
people.
The World Confederation for Physical Therapy played a significant
role in the consultations for the new WHO ageing and health strategy.
“World Physical Therapy Day is the first opportunity since the adoption
of the report for physical therapists to show how important the
profession is in ensuring healthy and active older people,” says WCPT
President Emma Stokes.
“The evidence of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of physical
therapy for older adults is incontrovertible. World Physical Therapy
Day, with its focus on adding life to years, gives physical therapists a
great platform to communicate this message to older people, the wider
community and health care policy and decision-makers.”
By 2050 the global population will include two billion people aged 60
or over, and 400 million aged 80 or over. Physical therapists have a
key role in helping people with long-term conditions achieve their
goals, fulfil their potential and participate fully in society.
“Every day frontline physical therapists are transforming lives
through the application of their clinical skills and experience. This is
particularly so when working with older people whose health needs
increase as they age”, says WCPT Chief Executive Officer Jonathon
Kruger.
“Enabling older people to maintain their independence and continue to
participate in society is a key skill of physical therapists around the
world. In the coming years these skills will be more in demand and the
global profession is willing and able to meet that challenge.”
This press release is available as a PDF download.
Background information
About physical therapy
Physical therapists (known in many countries as physiotherapists)
are experts in developing and maintaining people’s ability to move and
function throughout their lives. With an advanced understanding of how
the body moves and what keeps it from moving well, they promote
wellness, mobility and independence. They treat and prevent many
problems caused by pain, illness, disability and disease, sport and work
related injuries, ageing and inactivity.
Physical therapists are educated over several years, giving them a
full knowledge of the body’s systems and the skills to treat a wide
range of problems. This education is usually university-based, at a
level that allows physical therapists to practise independently.
Continuing education ensures that they keep up to date with the latest
advances in research and practice. Many physical therapists are engaged
in research themselves.
Campaign resources
WCPT has pulled together a collection of additional resources on
ageing including research supporting the role of physical therapy in
promoting quality of life in older people and information for the
public:
http://www.wcpt.org/wptday-resources.
About World Physical Therapy Day
World Physical Therapy Day falls on 8th September every year, and
is an opportunity for physical therapists from all over the world to
raise awareness about their crucial role in keeping people well, mobile
and independent. The day was established by WCPT in 1996, and marks the
date on which WCPT was founded in 1951. More details and toolkit at:
http://www.wcpt.org/wptday.
About the World Confederation for Physical Therapy
WCPT is the profession’s global body representing over 350,000
physical therapists/physiotherapists from member organisations in 114
countries. More information:
http://www.wcpt.org.
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