Issue 1: Congress Preview
20-23 June 2011 Amsterdam
WCPT Congress News
Supported by platinum sponsors Hur, MBT and Meeùs
We’re ready for the big event! 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. “We’re absolutely delighted that there’s been so much interest from physical therapists, and from companies who want to be associated with World Physical Therapy 2011,” says Marilyn Moffat, WCPT President. “We’re all looking forward to immersing ourselves in this global gathering of physical therapists. At a WCPT Congress you know what it means to be part of an international physical therapy community.” Since the first WCPT Congress held in London in 1953, there have been 15 congresses held by WCPT all over the globe. This will be one of the biggest in the confederation’s history. It is also the third where the programme has been organised under the auspices of a WCPT International Scientific Committee, selecting presentations according to strict quality principles, and guided by the views of physical therapists themselves. The congress hosts, the Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy (KNGF), have been involved in planning all the way
Inside this issue 2 How congress was shaped 3 Tips for a great congress 4 Are sporting events a missed opportunity? 5 The exhibition 6 Ten things to do in Amsterdam 8 PTs as exercise prescribers 6 The posters Some of the 180 volunteers for World Physical Therapy 2011 introducing themselves during a meeting in May
and are guaranteeing a warm welcome to delegates. “We are greatly looking forward to welcoming so many physical therapists from all over the world,” says Bas Eenhoorn, KNGF President. “There’s so much to enjoy at the congress and beyond in Amsterdam. Dutch physical therapists want to make sure that visitors get a good taste of our culture and our professional comradeship.” An essential part of the smooth-running of the congress are the 180 volunteers, who have offered their time to ensure that delegates have an enjoyable and memorable congress. Most of them are KNGF members and
physical therapy students from the Amsterdam area, but some have come from Nigeria, France, Ghana and Poland. Volunteers are there to answer delegate questions about the congress and about Amsterdam, providing information on local services and attractions. So as soon as you arrive, get to know them, get to know lots of other delegates, and have a great congress!
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If you haven’t yet registered for the WCPT Congress, don’t worry. Though it’s too late to register online, you can still turn up at the congress centre on the day and register there and then. Details are at www.wcpt.org/congress
WCPT would like to thank the following platinum sponsors of World Physical Therapy 2011:
From every corner of the globe From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, physical therapists are coming to World Physical Therapy 2011 from every corner of the globe. With nearly 5,000 delegates registered when online registration ended on 20th May, and many more expected to register on site, the Amsterdam RAI really will be 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 will be an impressive representation from countries where the profession is well established. There are 200 Australian and New Zealand physical therapists travelling from the other side of the world.
WCPT Congress News
Four years’ planning ends here: how the congress was shaped
An operatic performance during the Holland Festival in 2010.
Amsterdam is a home to the arts during congress The Holland Festival – the leading international performance arts event in the Netherlands – will be taking place in Amsterdam during the time of World Physical Therapy 2011. The festival offers a mix of theatre, music, dance, opera, film and visual arts, as well as Western and non-Western performance pieces in a variety of languages.
WCPT CONGRESS NEWS
This year’s events include: Isabelle Hupert in a new adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ play “A Streetcar Named Desire”; the latest work of performance artist Laurie Anderson; and a performance of Tchaikovsky’s opera Eugene Onegin in Amsterdam’s Muziektheater and beamed live onto a big screen in the city’s Oosterpark.
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 This issue is a special preview edition, available before congress begins on 20th June. Daily editions, reporting on congress events, will be available to delegates on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of congress. An online edition will be 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 2
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
Ann Moore
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. I love the way that, during congresses, you can’t help but be exposed to different ways of thinking, new ideas, big issues that other countries are facing and which put a new perspective on your own. There’s that sense of the profession standing shoulder to shoulder.”
Preview Issue May/June 2011
Ten tips for a great congress You’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 volunteers There 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 they 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 have a good look at the programme in advance (www. wcpt.org/congress/programme) 4. Use the Interactive planner Once 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 your interests, and identify the full range of sessions that may be relevant to you. 5. Open up your mind. There’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 people Past 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 Village The Dutch Village, located at a central point in the RAI, is a central meeting point with a typical Dutch ambiance, offering opportunities to relax, have a cup of coffee and browse the internet. 8. Keep in shape There 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 June There 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
Why major sporting events could be a missed opportunity for PT Are 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. The session, 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 further support research and service development in sports rehabilitation.” With physical therapists now
Ella Yeung
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.”
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Preview Issue May/June 2011
Trade exhibition is a hands-on experience for delegates More than 180 companies will be displaying products and equipment at this year’s congress exhibition – making it the largest international physical therapy trade show in the world. Delegates will have the opportunity to try out cutting-edge equipment and take part in dozens of activities and demonstrations when they walk around the exhibition. There will be 30% more exhibitors than the previous WCPT congress in Vancouver. Many will 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 for how much value exhibitors are putting on this event and the people who will attend it.” “There will be lots of demonstrations, with experienced professionals and developers on hand to teach people how to use the products.” Among the exhibitors will be manufacturers/distributors of electrotherapy equipment teaching aids, supports, cushioning, tapes, assessment equipment, software, seating, hydrotherapy equipment, plinths, massage equipment, orthotics and prosthetics. There will also be stands from publishers,
Your code to enhancing sensorimotor training
Exhibitors from Enraf-Nonius company, a company that markets electrotherapy and active rehabilitation equipment, pictured during the last WCPT Congress in Vancouver. This time the company, which is based in Amsterdam, will be on its home ground.
voluntary organisations and national physical therapy associations. Delegates will 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 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 on hand to answer questions about specific projects.
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References 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. Nigg B.M., Davis E.M., & Emery C., 2009. The Effectiveness of an unstable shoe on golf performance and a reduction of low back pain. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine 19 (6), 464-470. 3. Buchecker M., Wagner H., Pfusterschmied J., Stöggl T.L., & Müller E., 2010. Lower extremity joint loading during level walking with Masai Barefoot Technology shoes in overweight males. Scand J Med Sci Sports, Article first published online: 30 AUG 2010.
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WCPT Congress News
Ten things you have to do... 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.
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 Frank The 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.
Choosing flowers in one of Amsterdam’s many markets.
Stroll round Dam Square Dam 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 windmill You don’t have to leave Amsterdam to see one of the Netherlands’ historic windmills – there are eight in the city, or on its
Browse the markets for presents The 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.
Where the world of physical therapy meets 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
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
www.wcpt.org 6
Preview Issue May/June 2011
...while you’re in Amsterdam Take to the water Amsterdam’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 Gogh The 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.
All life is here: get a unique perspective on Amsterdam from its canals
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 musiclover. Or you could head for buzzing Rembrandtplein. where there are dozens of cafes to choose from.
Get on your bike Cycling 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-ABike (www.bikes.nl) and the Yellow Bike company (www.yellowbike.nl). Pop into a cafe Cafes and bars are central to the Dutch way of life, open first thing in the morning and not shut until late.
Marvel at the Masters While 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.
MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN AMSTERDAM
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.begijnhofamsterdam.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.”
Exercise in the park The 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.
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WCPT Congress News
Physical therapists’ role as exercise prescribers in a new age of disease Sedentary 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. On Tuesday 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 is being convened by Mark Tremblay, Director of the
A physical therapist from Taiwan providing a fitness and lifestyle assessment during World Physical Therapy Day
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
Mark Tremblay, convenor of the session on global physical activity changes. “We will discuss the evidence supporting trends towards more sedentarism.”
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 preventing 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.
Awards will recognise professional leadership Sixteen physical therapists will be honoured with WCPT Awards, to be announced at a Gala Dinner in Amsterdam on the Sunday before congress opens. Awards are also due to be presented to the best presentations made at congress. The WCPT Awards, being presented for the second time, recognise outstanding contributions and leadership by physical therapists at an international level. Nominations were made by member organisations, regions and subgroups last year, and then 8
considered by an Awards Committee, with representatives from each region. Their recommendations then went to the WCPT Executive Committee for final approval. Along with the Mildred Elson Award, WCPT’s highest honour presented every four years to a physical therapist who has demonstrated outstanding international leadership, there are three categories: • International Service • Humanitarian Service • Recognition of Service to WCPT
The presentation of awards will be the centrepiece of the WCPT Gala Dinner celebrating WCPT’s 60th anniversary. WCPT will also acknowledge those who have made an outstanding contribution to the congress programme. During the closing ceremony on Thursday 23rd June, the International Scientific Committee will give awards for outstanding abstracts and presentations. Awards will be given in the following categories: • Africa region
• Asia Western Pacific region • European region • North America Caribbean region • South America region • Platform presentation: research report • Platform presentation: special interest report • Poster presentation: research report • Poster presentation: special interest report • Poster discussion session: research report • Poster discussion session: special interest report
Preview Issue May/June 2011
The mini-city of knowledge Within the congress will be a minicity 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
The poster presentation area in Vancouver, during the 2007 WCPT Congress. In Amsterdam, each day’s displays will be streamed into topics.
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 programme, they will be made available via the WCPT website after the congress. Further details will be provided after the event.
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WCPT Congress News
History of congress charts the emergence of an independent profession Delegates to World Physical Therapy 2011 are following in a long professional tradition. The first WCPT Congress took place in London in 1953, when there were physical therapists from just 12 national physical therapy organisations taking part. Since then, there have been 15 world physical therapy congresses held by WCPT all over the globe, and this year around 105 countries will be represented. Their impact on the profession has been profound, according to some of the profession’s most senior figures. This year’s event is the second WCPT Congress to be held in Amsterdam. The first, opened by HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, was held in 1970, the year in which Doreen MooreWheelwright from Australia, became WCPT President. She observes today: “WCPT congresses have evolved over time, and have always allowed physical therapists to participate, share knowledge and appreciate the contribution of their global colleagues. The congress is stimulating, educational and enjoyable and gives participants a sense of pride in their profession.” David Teager, WCPT President
from 1995 to 1999 was a second year student physiotherapist at the time of the first congress in London. “It appeared to take place largely under the patronage of the medical profession – perhaps a necessary step in the emergence of a legitimate and independent health care profession,” he observes. Things were very different 38 years later, when WCPT held its congress in 1991 in London for the second time. Around 3,000 people attended. “How things had moved on!” says David Teager. “The congress was marked by the range of nationalities attending, and a growing awareness of the relevance of physical therapy in global health care.” World Physical Therapy 2011 is likely to prove influential in setting a professional agenda for individual physical therapists and their organisations over the next decade, according to current WCPT President Marilyn Moffat. “More than ever, the profession is gaining global awareness, and at congresses physical therapists have a real opportunity to stand together,” she says.
Living it up at Grand Hotel The elegant Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky is the setting for the congress party night on Wednesday 22nd June. The 140-year-old hotel is Amsterdam’s most famous, sitting opposite the Royal Palace, which it challenges for glamour. A buffet dinner will be served in the hotel’s spectacular
Winter Garden (pictured), which is a listed monument. That’s followed by an evening of dancing to a live band in the ballroom. Because of popularity of this event, just a few last-minute ticket returns may be available at the registration desk at the Amsterdam RAI. Ask when you get there.
Your chance to meet the researchers and editors! 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:
• first attempts at writing for publication • writing abstracts • how to get started in research • research career pathways • research design questions • what is required to be a good journal reviewer These are one type of a number of networking sessions taking place during congress. They offer an informal opportunity to meet and talk with colleagues who share a common interest, and to renew acquaintances from previous congresses.
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:
5BJ $IJ t 'VO'JUOFTT t 1JMBUFT t :PHB 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.
Hats abound at the opening ceremony of the second WCPT Congress, held in New York in 1956.
10 Forthcoming events WCPT subgroups and regions will be holding the following events: