World Physiotherapy Day: 8 September 2019

Run by the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT), World Physiotherapy Day is on 8 September each year. This is an opportunity for physiotherapists around the world to raise awareness about the crucial contribution our profession makes to movement for life.

PNZ is supporting the WCPT theme for 2019, highlighting physiotherapy’s role in chronic pain. WCPT notes “the campaign is focused around the following key messages about the benefits of using exercise to manage chronic pain to:

  • maintain flexibility and movement
  • improve cardiovascular health
  • build and keep muscle tone
  • improve mood and general wellbeing
  • help control pain
  • increase confidence to take part in activities
  • take back control of your life and reduce your fear.

These messages are important not just to encourage health and activity in populations. They can help demonstrate how physical therapists keep people moving through interventions which maximise strength and mobility.”

PNZ Office will promote the day online leading up to 8 September. If you’d like to get involved WCPT have a World Physical Therapy Day page on their website. They also have a World Physical Therapy Day toolkit including flyer, postcard and posters available to members.

Read Physiotherapy Specialist Tracey Pons' article about physiotherapy for persistent pain and PNZ's media release focused on how physiotherapy can reduce New Zealand’s opioid use.


Page updated September 2019