20-23 June 2011 Amsterdam Issue 1: Tuesday 21st June 2011

WCPT CONGRESS NEWS

Supported by platinum sponsors Hur, MBT and Meeùs

Time momentarily stood still yesterday as Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands officially opened the 2011 WCPT Congress – 41 years after she opened the last such event to be held in Amsterdam.

She inaugurated the congress by symbolically watering a tulip which magically blossomed into a flower of knowledge.

In a colourful opening ceremony that revolved around the themes of sharing knowledge,

inspiring each other and having fun, performers and dancers gave spectacular demonstrations of the beauty and power of human movement.

Keynote speaker Lorimer Moseley, Professor of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of South Australia, said that this was his third WCPT Congress. “I remember that the previous two were characterised most of all by enjoying ourselves,” he said.

Congress opens with a royal seal of approval

WCPT would like to thank the following platinum sponsors of World Physical Therapy 2011: INSIDE THIS ISSUE3 Ten tips for a great congress

6 Amsterdam guide

8 Are sporting events a missed opportunity?

10 PTs as exercise experts

At the opening ceremony, acrobatics act La Vizio performed a stunning demonstration of the power, balance and beauty of the human form.

Four days, 140 sessions, and five thousand people to meet. The 2011 WCPT Congress lies ahead. Delegates, speakers and exhibitors are geared up for the biggest world event in physical therapy this century.

Since the first WCPT Congress held in London in 1953, there have been 15 congresses held by WCPT all over the globe. This is one of the biggest in the confederation’s history.

An essential part of the

smooth-running of the congress are the 180 volunteers.

Most of them are KNGF members and Dutch physical therapy students but some have come from Nigeria, France, Ghana and Poland. Volunteers are there to answer delegates’ questions about the congress and about Amsterdam.

So as soon as you arrive, get to know them, get to know lots of other delegates, and have a great congress!

Welcome to a historic event

Princess Margriet of the Netherlands arriving the last time she opened a WCPT Congress in Amsterdam, in 1970 (left) and arriving at the RAI centre yesterday, accompanied by WCPT President Marilyn Moffat.

(continued on page 2)

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WCPT Congress News

WCPT CONGRESS NEWS

Supported by platinum sponsors Hur, MBT and Meeus

Editor and writer: Simon Crompton (www.simoncrompton.com)

Printed by: Penfields Business Centers (www.penfields.eu)

Produced specially for World Physical Therapy 2011

WCPT Congress News, reporting on and previewing congress events, is available on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of congress. Printed issues are distributed to delegates.

An online edition is posted daily on the WCPT website at www.wcpt.org

If you have any news or suggestions for articles please contact Simon Crompton at news@wcpt.org

Physical therapists arrive from every corner of the globeFrom Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, physical therapists are arriving at World Physical Therapy 2011 from every corner of the globe. With 5,000 delegates registered and many more expected to register on site, the Amsterdam RAI today is truly the point where the world of physical therapy meets.

There are visitors from countries where the profession is small – French Polynesia, Iraq, Libya, Madagascar, Montenegro, Panama, South Korea, Swaziland, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates,

Jamaica, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Macau and Papua New Guinea.

And there is an impressive representation from countries where the profession is well established, with 200 physical therapists travelling from the other side of the world in Australia and New Zealand.

Brazil, Canada, Japan, the UK and the US all have over 200 delegates, and hundreds of physical therapists from the hosts, the Netherlands, are expected to attend.

The struggle continues, says PresidentSome physical therapists have to fight to get even the most basic of services to patients/clients, said Marilyn Moffat, WCPT President, at the opening ceremony.

“The profession is still struggling for recognition in many parts of the world,” she said. “There is still an immense amount to do.”

She said that the growing human and financial tolls of non-communicable or lifestyle-related

diseases – such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – are global concerns.

“There needs to be wider acknowledgement of the contribution that physical therapists can make, and are making, to keeping populations healthy and reducing health costs.”

“We all share the same commitment to making the lives of

those we serve better.”Marilyn Moffat welcomed

delegates, pointing out that around 1,800 of those attending over the next three days have been to a WCPT Congress before. “They know what a wonderful experience it is,” she said. “Another 3,000 of you have noted the exciting programme offerings, have heard of the networking opportunities, and are here for the first time.”

(continued from page 1)“It’s an amazing opportunity to

get all these people who are similar in one place,” he said.

Professor Moseley said that an ability to enjoy, emphathise, and work hard were all characteristic of physical therapists. But he encouraged the profession to consider whether it needed to needed to look more at the sensory inputs that could affect patients’ perception of pain and other sensations – and not just physical inputs.

“Everything we do has the capacity to modulate neural representations in the brain,” he said. “We need to engage the sensory system.”

He encouraged physical therapists to understand more about the brain, and not to think “that the physical in physical therapy ends at the foramen magnum.”

Bas Eenhoorn welcomed delegates on behalf of the congress’s host organisation, the Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy (KNGF).

“It is a great moment for us to be hosts here,” said Dr Eenhoom, who is President of the KNGF. He said that physical therapy needed a stronger position in healthcare, and that events such as this helped “open windows and let the world see what we do for people.”

“There is a lot for us to do to prove our added value healthcare for people,” he said. “We need to show that we can do a lot to improve the quality of life for so, so many people.”

“It’s a great honour that after 40 years that we are able to be your hosts again,” he said.

Princess Margriet symbolically waters the tulip to make knowledge grow, during the congress opening ceremony.

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Issue 1: Tuesday 21st June 2011

Ten tips for a great congressYou’re sure to have a great congress, but there are one two things to know which might help you find your feet quicker and help you get the most out of your visit.

1. Know your way around Take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the layout of the Amsterdam RAI – you’ll find a floor plan on page 218 of the congress programme. RAI Live – screens positioned around the centre – will show you your location, events, halls, rooms and routes.

2. Ask volunteersThere are over 180 of them, all instantly recognisable by their orange (of course) t-shirts. They’re there to help you, so do ask them questions. Even if they don’t know the answer, they’ll know someone who does.

3. Don’t be daunted. There’s a huge amount going on at World Physical Therapy 2011,

but it’s not difficult to pinpoint the things you really want to do and see with a little bit of preparation. So make sure you have a good look at the programme (www.wcpt.org/congress/programme).

4. Use the Interactive plannerOnce you’ve found the interactive congress planner (www.wcpt.org/node/40473) you’ll come back to it again and again. You can search the programme for key words or speakers, according to your interests, and identify the full range of sessions that may be relevant to you.

5. Open up your mindThere’s so much going on at the congress that it would be a shame just to concentrate on a specific clinical area. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to join with colleagues from around the world, and consider professional issues that affect you all. There are plenty of discussion panels and

networking sessions that are relevant to everyone, whatever your work specialty.

6. Talk to peoplePast delegates have told us that they value what happens between sessions as much as the formal sessions themselves. A WCPT congress is a unique opportunity to get new perspectives, form new networks and make new friends from across the world. Everyone’s in the same boat, so no one’s going to think you’re silly starting a conversation out of the blue.

7. Visit Dutch VillageThe Dutch Village, located at a central point in the RAI, is a central meeting point with a typical Dutch ambience, offering opportunities to relax, have a cup of coffee and browse the internet.

8. Keep in shapeThere is a space for exercise within the exhibition in Hall 3,

where you can take part in pilates, yoga and tai chi classes during breaks. Details will be on a timetable posted outside the exercise area.

9. Don’t despair If the session you wanted to go to turns out to be full when you get there, there are always plenty of other sessions at the same time – some of the best sessions are those you arrive at unexpectedly! There will be PowerPoint presentations available via the WCPT website of most sessions after congress has ended, so you can always catch up later.

10. Remember congress doesn’t end on 23rd JuneThere are dozens of ways you can continue the momentum built up in Amsterdam. Stay in touch with people and catch up with all the updates and follow-up to congress by visiting the WCPT website www.wcpt.org

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WCPT Congress News

The national physical therapy associations that make up WCPT have agreed to try and make an annual grant to the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro).

This is an initiative of the Centre for Evidence-Based Physiotherapy at The George Institute for Global Health in Sydney, Australia.

Delegates at the WCPT General Meeting, held in Amsterdam before the start of the WCPT Congress, spoke of how valuable the database was in furthering physical therapy education, research and practice around the world.

But the Australian Physiotherapy Association, proposing the motion, said its future was threatened because of lack of funding. The meeting agreed to a motion strongly recommending that all WCPT member organisations establish an annual grant to PEDro.

Delegates also agreed to a motion from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) in the

United Kingdom that WCPT should encourage the rights of people with disabilities to practise as physical therapists around the world.

“There are added strengths to having people with diabilities in our profession,” said CSP Chair Ann Green. “They can offer a positive example to patients.”

The General Meeting also

agreed to reviewing WCPT’s articles of association, and further strengthening WCPT’s information collecting and distribution role.

WCPT President Marilyn Moffat said: “As individuals acting alone, we run the risk of being powerless, but as a collective we we have the strength to be a force in the positioning of physical therapy services worldwide.”

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1. Korsten K., Mornieux G., Walter N., & Gollhofer A., 2008. Gibt es Alternativen zum Sensomotorischen Training? Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin und Sporttraumatologie, 56 (4), 150-155. 2. Ramstrand N., Thuesen A.H., Nielsen D.B., & Rusaw D., 2010. Effects of an unstable shoe construction on balance in women aged over 50 years. Clinical Biomechanics 25 (5), 455-460. 3. Kälin, X. The MBT as a Therapeutic Device to treat Ankle Joint Instabilities. Sports Medicine conference in Preparation for 2010 of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine. 3-7 June 2009, Vancouver, Canada. Podium Presentation. 4. Landry S., Nigg B.M., & Tecante K., 2010. Standing in an unstable shoe increases postural sway and muscle activity of selected smaller extrinsic foot muscles. Gait & Posture 32 (2), 215–219.

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Record numbersA record number of delegations attended the WCPT General Meeting, with PT organisations from 96 countries represented.

The number of WCPT member organisations is now 106, with the physical therapy associations from the following countries officially admitted to membership at the General Meeting: Argentina, Macau, Mauritius, Pakistan, Paraguay, Ukraine, Belgium, Oman and Slovakia.

The Japanese Physical Therapy Association (JPTA) gave a formal vote of thanks to the international physical therapy community for its support after the Japanese earthquake, tsunami and nuclear radiation leak. Speaking at the WCPT General Meeting, the association’s delegate reported that 2,500 Japanese physical therapists have been evicted from their homes. The JPTA continues to provide them with support while organising rehabilitation for survivors of the disasters.

Voting delegates at the WCPT General Meeting in the Amsterdam Novotel

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Issue 1: Tuesday 21st June 2011

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The final programme for this year’s WCPT Congress is the end result of a four-year process, devised to make the content of World Physical Therapy 2011 as authoritative and finely tuned to the needs of physical therapists around the world as possible.

It began soon after the WCPT Congress in Vancouver, Canada, ended four years ago, when Ann Moore from the UK was appointed to guide the shaping of the scientific programme, and WCPT devised a survey to find out what issues concerned physical therapists most. The survey drew responses from more than 1,000 physical therapists around the world. They said that what interested them were the challenges of an ageing society, the implications of physical inactivity, new roles for physical therapists, health promotion, the International Classification of Functioning and Health, and all areas of clinical practice.

These provided the

International Scientific Committee for the congress, which Ann Moore chaired, with a structural basis for planning around five core tracks: global health, professional issues, professional practice, education and research methodology.

“The key to organising the Congress programme has been trying to stay close to the here and now of what physical therapists do, and what they want to achieve,” says WCPT’s Tracy Bury, who worked closely with the International Scientific Committee on organising the programme, and has consulted widely with physical therapists across the world.

“We’ve really tried to respond to feedback from past delegates, and put our finger on what it is that will appeal to new delegates,” she says. It seems to have worked. With more than 4,500 people already registed, a large proportion are first time visitors.

Many of the important professional themes are reflected in the programme’s focused

symposia (thematically linked research-focused presentations by an international group of presenters). There are 18 of them, selected from 69 proposals. “The volume of high quality proposals we received has meant that we’ve been able to select the best speakers, addressing topics that physical therapists all over the world want - and need - to know more about,” says Ann Moore.

But it isn’t just in congresses “showpiece” sessions where the

huge volume of papers submitted has had a positive effect. The total number of abstracts received for platform and poster sessions was 2,885 – a 30% increase on the number submitted for the WCPT Congress in 2007. There were submissions from 70 countries.

“The programme is very much about meeting the needs of practising physical therapists as well as researchers and educators, managers and policy makers,” says Ann Moore. “We’re very hopeful that the programme will prove the best yet.”

She says what’s really enthused her about her task of putting together the congress programme is that she knows the events can make such a difference. She speaks from personal knowledge. She’s attended four of them.

“I think it’s the sense of warmth, the ease of networking, that makes them so special. There’s that sense of the profession standing shoulder to shoulder.”

Four years of planning ends here

Ann Moore

6

WCPT Congress News

Amsterdam isn’t just a venue for the congress: it’s a bustling city knee-deep in history, culture and entertainment.

So it would be madness to spend all your time in a conference centre or hotel room. You’ll find plenty of tourist information around, and at the Amsterdam Tourism and Convention Board website (www.www.iamsterdam.com). But here are some WCPT picks of the things you should definitely do.

Visit the house of Anne FrankThe Anne Frank House on Prinsengracht canal is a museum dedicated to the Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank, who hid from Nazi persecution with her family in hidden rooms. The museum shows the hiding place, an exhibition on the life of Anne Frank, and highlights all forms of persecution and discrimination. Nearby is the Westerkerk, one Amsterdam’s most famous churches.

Stroll round Dam SquareDam Square is the historical centre of Amsterdam – one of the most well-known locations in the city. On the west end of the square is the Royal Palace, which served as the city hall from 1655 until its conversion to a royal residence in 1808. Beside it are the 15th-century Gothic Nieuwe Kerk

and the Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. Opposite is the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, where the congress party night will be held.

See a windmillYou don’t have to leave Amsterdam to see one of the Netherlands’ historic windmills – there are eight in the city, or on its

outskirts. They were developed for corn milling, land drainage, saw milling and other industrial purposes, and helped shape the country. The Molen van Sloten mill, situated on Akersluis 10 is a 19th century mill open daily between 10am and 4pm. You can enjoy a guided tour and trace the history of the mill or the life of Rembrandt.

Browse the markets for presentsThe Albert Cujip Market is arguably the best-known and busiest outdoor market in Europe. It attracts thousands of visitors every day, and is especially popular on Saturdays. There are over 300 stalls and goods range from fresh produce to clothes, with prices among the cheapest in Amsterdam. The market is located in the Pijp district, surrounded by many pleasant cafes and small shops. There are a number of regular markets in Amsterdam. including the floating Flower Market in Koningsplein.

Ten things you have to do...

Every year, hundreds of physical therapists around the world publicise the work they’re doing to prevent and treat illness and disability.

Many of them choose to do so on 8th September – the date on which the World Confederation for Physical Therapy was founded in 1951, and which has been designated World Physical Therapy Day.

WCPT produces a range of information, support and publicity materials to help physical therapists around the world organise activities and campaigns. If you want to get involved, you can find information at www.wcpt.org/wptday

Choosing flowers in one of Amsterdam’s many markets.

The World Confederation for Physical Therapy is the sole international voice for physical therapy, representing more than 250,000 physical therapists worldwide through more than 100 member organisations.

WCPT is committed to forwarding the physical therapy profession and its contribution to global health. It encourages high standards of physical therapy research, education and practice.

You can find out about the wide range of resources, information and services it provides on its website www.wcpt.org

Where the world of physical therapy meets

www.wcpt.org

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Issue 1: Tuesday 21st June 2011

Take to the waterAmsterdam’s splendid canals were declared a UNESCO monument in 2010, and there are plenty to see everywhere – around 164 of them, built for defence and transport in the 17th century. Seeing Amsterdam from the water gives a unique perspective.There are around 200 waterborne vessels offering trips and entertainment, around a fifth of them now electrically powered, clean and silent. Most of the bigger tourboat companies can be found around Central Station or in the entertainment centre of Leidseplein.

See a Van GoghThe Van Gogh Museum, on Museumplein, contains the largest collection of works by Vincent Van Gogh in the world. It features over 200 paintings, including the famous “Sunflowers” (see picture below) and many drawings and letters. The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, and until 10pm on Fridays.

Get on your bikeCycling is a very Dutch, very effective, way of getting around Amsterdam to see the sights, and it’s made easier by the cycle lanes that network the city. Bikes may be rented via the RAI housing website (www.rai.nl/hotelservice) or through companies such as Mac Bike (www.macbike.nl) Rent-A-Bike (www.bikes.nl) and the Yellow Bike company (www.yellowbike.nl).

Pop into a cafeCafes and bars are central to the Dutch way of life, open first thing in the morning and not shut until late.

There’s a vast variety, and locals will tell you their favourites. Twee Zwaantjes has oom-pah-pah singalongs, you can taste liqueurs in Wynand Fockink, while Kamer 401 is for the young and hip music-lover. Or you could head for buzzing Rembrandtplein. where there are dozens of cafes to choose from.

Marvel at the MastersWhile in Amsterdam, you have a rare opportunity to see works by two of the greatest Old Masters - Rembrandt and Vermeer. The Rijksmuseum at Jan Luijkenstraat 1 (www.rijksmuseum.nl) has works by both. It is currently being restored, so most of its masterpieces have now been put together in its Philips Wing.

Exercise in the parkThe Vondelpark is the largest green space in Amsterdam, bustling with life in the summer time and the perfect place for a picnic, walk or jog. There are activities such as football and cycling, a cinema, and music, dance and children’s events at the open-air theatre.

Rian Veldhuizen, Chief Executive of The Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy (KNGF)“One of my favourite places to bring friends and relations when they are in the Netherlands for the first time is The Begijnhof (www.begi-jnhofamsterdam.nl/home-en). This is one of the oldest inner courts in the city of Amsterdam, surrounded by historic buildings, mostly private dwellings, centre on it. As the name suggests, it was originally a Béguinage – a place of silence for a women’s religious movement since the 14th century. You can visit the Bergijnhof from 8am to 5pm and enjoy this quiet in the middle of Amsterdam.”

“More dynamic is the Amsterdam Museum (http://en.amsterdammuseum.nl. The rich collection of works of art and archaeological finds, alongside modern multimedia displays, make the past seem real.”

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8

WCPT Congress News

Within the congress is a mini-city of knowledge that every delegate can explore. This is the poster presentation section, located within exhibition halls two and three, and it has its own streets, signposts and traffic of people.

In all, there will be 1675 poster presentations on show - the high number a reflection of the volume of high quality research and service innovation reports submitted to the congress.

Since there is only space for around 600 to be shown at any one time, these will be rotated over the three days of the congress – so make sure you check in the programme which ones are displayed on which days.

Each day’s poster displays have been streamed into topics, which complement the platform sessions on the same day. “We’ve tried to deliberately integrate the themes for all the sessions, so that people with a specific interest who can come for only one day won’t be disappointed,” says Tracy Bury,

WCPT’s Director of Professional Policy.

Posters with similar subjects will be grouped together, along aisles with signs indicating topics. There will be boards showing “street maps” and how to navigate the hundreds of posters.

Delegates can also attend 11 poster discussion presentations, covering over 60 poster papers, where presenting authors present key points from their work and discuss them with the audience. As with the platform presentations, there will be awards at the closing ceremony on the Thursday of congress for the best poster presentations.

“One of the most motivational aspects of the WCPT Congress is the large number of cutting-edge research and professional development projects that are presented,” says Ann Moore, Chair of the congress International Scientific Committee. “We have the opportunity to view hundreds of posters and speak to their

authors first hand. Looking deeply at these poster presentations gives us wider knowledge of the findings and outcomes of the projects and increases the potential for similar initiatives to occur in other parts of the world.”

In recognition of how important posters are to the congress programme, they will be made available via the WCPT website after the congress. Further details will be provided to delegates after the event.

The mini-city of knowledge

The poster presentation area in Vancouver, during the 2007 WCPT Congress. In Amsterdam, each day’s displays will be streamed into topics.

Why major sporting events could be a missed opportunity for PTAre physical therapists missing out on an opportunity to educate the public about the role of the profession in fitness? Major sporting events such as the Olympic Games can be better used to benefit the profession and public health, panelists at a discussion panel will propose.

Today’s session (RAI Emerald Room, 10.45), chaired by Laetitia Dekker-Bakker, President of the International Federation of Sports Physiotherapy, will outline the role of physical therapists in major sporting events, ask how the profession can use them to promote health, prevent injury, and convey key messages to the public about the profession.

One of the speakers will be Ella Yeung, Associate Professor at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has worked with various national sports teams including the China women’s hockey team at the 2008

Olympic Games in Beijing, and has been appointed to the Sports Medicine Specialist team to the China Olympic Team for the London 2012 Olympics.

The contribution of physical therapists is already being recognised, she says. “With the contribution by the Hong Kong Physiotherapists at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the value of sports physiotherapy service was recognised by China National Athletic Officials and society at large, both in Hong Kong and mainland China.”

“Apart from receiving an award from the Hong Kong Government to recognise our contribution, we have also received research funding and donations to support research and service development in sports rehabilitation.”

With physical therapists now becoming so widely involved in major sporting events, she believes there are now great opportunities to project the image

of profession, and in particular raise awareness of its integral role in the prevention and treatment of sports injuries.

“This congress panel session is important, because physical therapists who are involved in

major sports events will be sharing a platform,” she says. “Sport becomes an important part in society because it captures the attention of the public. It is an opportunity to put the PT profession in the spotlight.”

Ella Yeung

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Issue 1: Tuesday 21st June 2011

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More than 180 companies are displaying products and equipment at this year’s congress exhibition – making it the largest international physical therapy trade show in the world.

Delegates have the opportunity to try out cutting-edge equipment and take part in dozens of activities and demonstrations as they walk around the exhibition.

There are 30% more exhibitors than the previous WCPT Congress in Vancouver. Many come from Europe, but there are also companies from Brazil, the United States, South Africa, India, Australia, Canada, Japan, Israel and New Zealand.

Stuart Attwood, WCPT Exhibition and Sponsorship Manager, explains that exhibitors have been attracted by the European location and the

international standing of WCPT congresses.

“I’ve been impressed by the number of companies that want to build innovative stands with lots of hands-on interaction for delegates,” he says. “That speaks volumes on how much value exhibitors are putting on this event and the people who will attend it.”

“There are lots of demonstrations, with experienced professionals and developers on hand to teach people how to use the products.”

Among the exhibitors are manufacturers/distributors of electrotherapy equipment, teaching aids, supports, cushioning, tapes, assessment equipment, software, seating, hydrotherapy equipment, plinths, massage equipment, orthotics and prosthetics.

There are also stands from publishers, voluntary organisations and national physical therapy associations.

Delegates have the opportunity to try out or purchase products that are not yet widely available, or are only normally available in some regions of the world. “This is a real one-stop arena for physical therapy equipment,” says Stuart Attwood.

The WCPT stand is number E5 in Hall 2, opposite the main entrance to the exhibition area. Delegates can find out more about the work and initiatives of WCPT and how to become involved in World Physical Therapy Day.

WCPT regions and subgroups will also form part of the WCPT stand with staff and representatives on hand to answer questions about specific projects.

Trade exhibition is a hands-on experience for delegates

Some strange onlookers as the WCPT Congress trade exhibition is set up at the Amsterdam RAI on Monday.

10

WCPT Congress News

Physical therapists’ role as exercise prescribers in a new age of diseaseSedentary lifestyles are leading to completely new patterns of global disease and disability. So how does physical therapy respond to this? A range of sessions over the first two days of congress will address this question, and look at the value of exercise prescription to promote health in the face of a global trend towards obesity and chronic diseases associated with unhealthy lifestyles.

This morning, a focused symposium on global physical activity transitions will look at the way that lifestyle behaviours are changing, the implications for health, and the therapeutic opportunities that arise.

The session (8.30, RAI Auditorium) is being convened by Mark Tremblay, Director of the

Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research at the University of Ottawa in Canada, who will talk about physical activity changes in middle and low income countries, with particular reference to the emerging problems of childhood obesity and inactivity in Kenya.

“Delegates interested in learning about lifestyle physical activity transitions that are occurring around the world should attend this session,” he says. “We will discuss the evidence supporting trends towards less physical activity and more sedentarism, the implications and complexities of this transition, and how physical therapists can be proactive to prevent, manage and treat such behaviour transitions.”

Then on Tuesday afternoon, a discussion panel chaired by WCPT President Marilyn Moffat will ask whether evidence-based exercise prescription is a fundamental physical therapy skill which is under-employed. One of the panel members is Duncan Reid, Head of Rehabilitation and Occupation Studies at Auckland University of Technology, who will propose that physical therapy is more active in delivering exercise rehabilitation to return people back to health.

“They should be prescribing exercise to healthy populations and those with specific disease or injury,” he says. Reid, who has been chief physiotherapist to the New Zealand Olympics team, is particularly interested in returning injured elite sportsmen and women to competition, and also

the overlap between physical therapists and personal trainers in the areas of strengthening and conditioning.

“I think there’s a sense that this is an area that is poorly managed, and that other non-physio groups are moving more and more into the injury rehabilitation area.”

But he will also be talking about the broader potential of exercise in managing chronic disease. “I will use the osteoarthritic knee as an example. We need to stay involved over many years to reduce the amount of deterioration in these conditions.”

The theme continues on Wednesday, with a discussion panel on “Promoting health, preventing disability”, assessing the role of physical therapists in

broad-based health promotion programmes. It will be chaired by Anders Raustorp from Sweden, who represented WCPT at a recent World Health Organization meeting on childhood obesity.

Speakers include Nicola Hunter from the UK, Jennifer Bottomley from the USA, Andrea Backovic Jurican from Slovenia, Donna Bainbridge from the USA and Dele Amosun from South Africa.

There are a range of other sessions concerning prescribing physical activity to prevent and treat disease throughout the congress. Go to the interactive congress planner at www.wcpt.org/node/40473, click on search, and type in “physical activity” or another related search term.

A physical therapist from Taiwan providing a fitness and lifestyle assessment during World Physical Therapy Day

Mark Tremblay, convenor of the session on global physical activity changes. “We will discuss the evidence supporting trends towards more sedentarism.”

26

WCPT is promoting Movement for health

Congress daily exercise programme

WCPT is pleased to offer 45 minute exercise sessions during congress. Take the opportunity to try out a different form of exercise or new piece of equipment at one of

these sessions. All exercises are low impact and may include:

Sessions will be held in the exercise area in hall 3 of the exhibition during break times: 10:00, 12:00, 12:45 and 15:15

Participation is on a first-come first-served basis and numbers will depend on the space requirements of the exercise.

For further information and the full timetable please see the notice board by the exercise area.

All exercise sessions are free of charge. Any voluntary contributions will go towards humanitarian support of WCPT member organisations whose members have been affected by natural disasters.

Forthcoming eventsWCPT subgroups and regions will be holding the following events:

9th Bi-annual WCPT Africa Congress

6-9 June 2012, Nairobi, Kenya

Further details are availble at http://www.ksphy.org

IFOMPT Conference 2012

30 September - 5 October 2012, Quebec City, Canada

Further details are available at www.ifomptconference.org

3rd European Congress on Physiotherapy Education

8-9 November 2012, Vienna, Austria

Further details are availble at http://congress2012.physioaustria.at

The congress includes several opportunities to meet informally with international researchers and editors to develop your skills for research and writing for publication, discuss journal development and foster international collaboration.

The “Meet the researchers/editors” sessions will be held every day. A chair and 16 facilitators will lead discussions on a variety of research and publishing topics with the opportunity for delegates

to move round tables and cover different subjects. Topics include:• writing for publication• writing abstracts• how to get started in research• research career pathways• research design questions

There are a number of networking sessions during congress. They offer an informal opportunity to talk with colleagues who share a common interest, and to renew acquaintances from previous congresses.

Meet the researchers

11

Issue 1: Tuesday 21st June 2011

91

Europa Foyer 2 21-22-23 June 2011

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Winners of art competition go on show

Lau Kwok Hung’s sculpture “Empathy”, overall winner of the competition.

The finalists for WCPT’s first Art and Health competition are on show at an exhibition in the RAI Ruby Lounge.

WCPT was looking for outstanding pieces of artwork representing the congress theme of movement for health, in particular representations of human movement in health and disease, people with functional limitations in action and physical therapy practice across the lifespan

An overall winner of the competition was chosen as well as finalists and runners-up from each of the four categories (photography, painting, drawing and sculpture).

The judging panel was extremely impressed with the quality of the entries and the many creative interpretations of the movement for health theme.

The overall winner was Lau Kwok Hung for his sculpture entitled “Empathy”, pictured right.

Hung, a 57-year old Chinese

artist currently living in Italy, was inspired by his own voluntary service lending mobility to an aged father-figure.

“Empathising with a visually and audibly impaired nonagenarian has helped me fine-tune in the art of compassion. His silhouette is so empowering that it has become for me an emblem of fatherhood, firmness and faithfulness,” says Lau Kwok-Hung

The winner in the photography category was David Bevan from the UK, a freelance photographer who also works as a physiotherapist.

Another physiotherapist, Jane Simmonds from the UK, won the painting category. She leads the MSc in Sport and Exercise Rehabilitation at the University of Hertfordshire, having studied art and design alongside her professional work.

The winner of the drawing category is Hanne Agerholm, a paediatric physical therapist from Denmark.

12

WCPT Congress News

The Mildred Elson Award, WCPT’s highest honour, has been presented to Stanley Paris. Now President of the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Stanley Paris has been a driving force in the physical therapy profession across the world.

From New Zealand, where he earned his physical therapist entry-level qualification in the 1950s, to the United States of America where he currently lives and works, Stanley Paris has influenced the world of physical therapy through his writing, teaching, clinical practice, and advocacy efforts.

“His work has truly furthered the development of the physical therapy profession,” said WCPT President Marilyn Moffat presenting him with the award, which honours sustained and continuous leadership over a career and a significant contribution to the development of physical therapy at an international level.

Receiving the award at the WCPT 60th anniversary Gala Dinner, Stanley Paris drew warm applause for his words. “What I’ve learned over the years,” he said, “is that the gap between nations in terms of practice standards is

narrowing. WCPT has helped place the international community of physical therapy on a more level platform,“ he said.

The profession, he said, was under-appreciated, and what was needed was more research showing the long-term outcomes of physical therapy interventions – research that depended on the profession gaining full autonomy.

“I’m convinced that with our increasing emphasis on wellness, physical therapy is equal our better than medical and surgical care.”

“The future of our profession is very bright,” he said.

Stanley Paris was the founding Chairman of the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physiotherapists, IFOMPT, and also its second President.

He was also the founder and President of the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. He founded the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy.

“Over his career, Stanley has been as energetic in the pursuit of excellence as he has in his own many physical activities and adventures,” said Marilyn Moffat.

Stanley Paris receives WCPT’s highest accolade

Gala dinner honours the past and today’s achieversThe World Confederation for Physical Therapy celebrated its first 60 years with a Gala Dinner at the Novotel in Amsterdam at the weekend.

Guests and WCPT delegates from all over the world attended, many in national dress. Among those attending were three former WCPT Presidents: Doreen Moore (1970-74), Margrit List (1982-88) and David Teager (1995-1999).

The dinner marked the founding of WCPT in 1951 when a group of 15 delegates from 11 national physical therapy associations gathered for their first meeting in a room in a Copenhagen restaurant.

The WCPT Awards were presented at the dinner. These recognise outstanding international contributions to the profession and/or global health by physical therapists.

The winner of the Humanitarian Service Award, which recognises those who have improved people’s lives through exceptional care, compassion, dedication and personal commitment, was Peta Ann Schmidt. She is a longstanding member of the South African Society of Physiotherapy who, the citation said, has continuously reached out beyond the confines of her paid employment to contribute time and services to not-for-profit causes.

International Service Awards were presented to those who had made a significant international contribution in the areas of physical therapy practice, education, research, and administration and development.

The awards were presented to: Eckhardt Boehl, Elisabeth Haase, António M Fernandes Lopes, Joyce Mothabeng,Ina Diener, Amélia Pasqual Marques, Yoriko Taguchi, Jill Boissonnault, Elizabeth Carrington, Olwen Finlay, Prudence Galley, Gwendolen Jull, Paul JM Helders and Ann Moore.

Stanley Paris pictured with former Mildred Elson Award winners Joan Walker (left) and Marilyn Moffat.

Hans Krijgsman from the Netherlands talks to Sylvia Kambalametore from Malawi at the WCPT 60th anniversary dinner and awards presentation ceremony on Sunday.