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Month: June 2023

World Fall Prevention Day: Portuguese Bar Association calls for an increase in programmes oriented by Physiotherapists

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Created by the World Health Organization to warn about the risks of falls, today, 24 June, is World Falls Prevention Day.

The Portuguese Physioterapists Order answers some questions about one of the main causes of accidental death in the world, with the contribution of the physiotherapist Maria Teresa Tomás, PhD in Physical Activity and Health.

How to prevent something that is unpredictable?

Physiotherapist Maria Teresa Tomás - Falls are commonly defined as "inadvertent or unintentional falling on the floor, or other lower level, excluding intentional change of position to rest" (WHO, 2007) and have their own classification in the International Classification of Disease.

About 28-35% of individuals aged 65 years and over fall at least once a year and if we consider individuals aged 70 years and over the frequency rises to 32-42%, being the cause of approximately 40% of deaths by injury or trauma (WHO, 2007).

Amongst the geriatric syndromes (cognitive incapacity, incontinence, postural instability, immobility and family insufficiency), postural instability is the most responsible for the risk of falls, which imply costs at different levels (physical, functional, social, financial), both for the older individual and for his/her family and/or carers and for society.

What are the risk factors for falls?

Physiotherapist Maria Teresa Tomás - As falling is something that is potentially unpredictable, it is important to know and reduce or eliminate the known risk factors involved in the fall mechanism. These risk factors can be grouped into intrinsic risk factors: dementia, vestibular dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, orthostatic hypotension, polymedication (five or more drugs) and type of medication (psychotropic), decreased visual acuity, chronic diseases (e.g. osteoarthritis, history of stroke, anaemia, etc.); extrinsic and/or interface risk factorsobstacles in the external environment (e.g. altered pavements or asphalt) or internal environment (furniture, non-adherent carpets, pets, slippery floors, insufficient lighting), type of footwear used, physical restrictions, type of activity performed (e.g. climbing on cupboards, etc), personal risk factors: age >80 years, gait and balance alterations, depression; cognitive deterioration, muscle weakness (sarcopenia), female gender, dependence in activities of daily living, lack of exercise.

How can physiotherapy help in both prevention and rehabilitation?

Physiotherapist Maria Teresa Tomás - the multidisciplinary intervention, where the physiotherapist is essential, involves the prevention or rehabilitation of post-fall status:

  • Education for greater empowerment of the individual or his/her caregivers in the management of the fall prevention and/or rehabilitation process (greater health literacy, knowledge of all the factors involved). Teaching the individuals and/or their caregivers about exercises at home (home-based exercise programs)
  • Increased levels of physical activity and specifically Exercise Programmes to increase strength and muscle quality, increase aerobic capacity and increase flexibility and balance with greater or lesser autonomy, supervised or at home. Examples are walking programmes, Nordic walking, Pilates, Tai Chi, yoga programmes, among many others, as long as their implementation is directed at the functional limitations or changes of each individual
  • Therapeutic reduction/optimisation
  • Correction of sensory deficits (auditory, visual, proprioception, etc)
  • Treatment of orthostatic hypotension
  • Treatment of chronic diseases
  • Vitamin D supplementation
  • Correction of environmental risk factors

O physiotherapistIn addition to a full assessment, it should intervene on almost all the aspects described above, with particular emphasis on education, exercise and correction of environmental factors as well as improvement in the functional management of associated chronic diseasesoptimising the functional capacity of the older person within a multidisciplinary team. Physical exercise programmes directed to the clinical and functional particularities of each individual, particularly if associated to a multidisciplinary intervention, were associated to a lower risk of falls with injury, when compared to the usual intervention. Gear programmesand particularly Nordic walking programmes, were also associated with higher levels of autonomy and muscular strength, and better postural stability, these being community-based programmes of low financial impact and low to moderate intensity, well tolerated by this population, with higher levels of adherence and better results.

Message from the President of the Portuguese Bar Association on the revision of the Statute of the Portuguese Physiotherapists' Order

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The President António Lopes recorded a message addressed to citizens and physiotherapists to explain what is at stake with the Government's draft law, which "creates inequalities and creates a setback in the health security of users who use physiotherapy care".

As it is worded, and by comparison with the proposal for the Statute that the Order of Physiotherapists had sent to the Executive, the proposal "jeopardises the mission of looking after users and ensuring that physiotherapy care is provided by professionals who are duly qualified and subject to the ethical and deontological principles and rules of the profession", he stresses.

The President also recalls that the government's proposal leaves out the physiotherapists' own acts, adding that "by not protecting them by law, it chooses to unprotect citizens".  

Stating that the Order of Physiotherapists "cannot and will not accept this unprotection"The President stated that he counts on the support of all in the defence of citizens, "because that is what it is all about".Physiotherapy only with Physiotherapists registered in the Order!"

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Physiotherapists can strengthen World Youth Day 2023 Health Team

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Physiotherapists can reinforce the Health Team of the World Youth Day 2023 (WYD23), whose mission is to provide neighbourhood health care to all registered pilgrims, volunteers and participants in the various events, in conjunction with SNS entities (Primary Health Care, INEM and Hospitals). 

International guidelines for best practice in health point to the importance of integrating physiotherapists in the reinforcement of professional teams responding to disasters and/or humanitarian crises and large-scale events. The Order of Physiotherapists therefore considers that the contribution of physiotherapists as health volunteers at WYD23, will be essential for the affirmation of the physiotherapist in this ecosystem, and therefore calls for their registration.

In order to ensure that the cost of registration as a health volunteer at WYD23 does not constitute a barrier to the participation of physiotherapists, and given the importance attributed to it, the Order of Physiotherapists is available to share the minimum registration package.

We therefore inform you that the physiotherapists full members of the Order, can register as volunteers until the next 30 Junethrough the WYD organisation's own form23.

If you wish to share the registration fee, you should not pay the reference issued after completing the form. The reference for payment should be sent to the Order of Physiotherapists, to the following email address rh@ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt, with the subject "JMJ23", indicating full name and professional card number.

Sign up now as Health Volunteer, here!

Find out more at:

World Youth Day 2023

World Youth Day 2023 Health Plan

World Youth Day 2023 Health Plan: questions and answers

Portuguese Physiotherapists Order appeals for blood donation

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Today marks World Blood Donor Day, celebrated annually on 14 June, under the aegis of the World Health Organisation.

The need for blood supply for both treatment and urgent interventions is a reality. The donation, collection, testing, processing, preservation, storage and distribution of human blood safely and in sufficient quantity is a fundamental component of an effective health system. Blood is vital in all kinds of emergencies: natural disasters, accidents, armed conflicts, among others, which is why donations by volunteers are so important.

The Order of Physiotherapists considers that the more than ten thousand members of the Order of Physiotherapists are also key to achieving the goal of creating World Blood Donor Day - this year with the theme "Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often" - which is to raise awareness of the importance and need for blood, to emphasise the role of voluntary and unpaid blood donors and to support national blood transfusion services, blood donor organisations and other non-governmental organisations in strengthening and expanding their voluntary blood donor programmes.

Find out how you can donate blood or enlighten potential donors, here.

World Physiotherapy 2023 Congress and General Assembly

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Portugal was represented at the World Physiotherapy Congress, which took place between 2 and 4 June in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The President of the Portuguese Physiotherapists Order, António Lopes, was present and participated as a moderator (chair) of a session entitled "Education: methods of teaching & learning".

He also had contacts with Alexandre Coelho, Andreia Rocha, Andreia Sousa, António Alves Lopes, Cláudia Costa, Diana Bernardo, Marina Mesquita, Paula Clara Santos, Rita Durte and Stecy da Silva, physiotherapists present in the Congress, with active participation at scientific level, namely with the presentation of posters and e-posters, and with the moderation of several symposiums, e-posters, networks and scientific tables.

The physiotherapist Anabela Silva was, as a matter of fact, distinguished with the best poster, related to the subgroup of the International Association of Physiotherapists working with Older People (IPTOP) and that can be consulted here.

As far as Portugal's representation is concerned, the physiotherapist César Sá stands out as an effective member of the Organising Committee for the Congress Scientific Programme.

Other links of the Congress:

Opening Session

Photo exhibition    

For more information consult the site of the congress, here.

 

General Assembly of World Physiotherapy

Michel Landry, from Canadian Physiotherapy Associationwas elected president of World Physiotherapy and Suh-Fang Jeng, from Taiwan Physical Therapy Associationis the new vice-president. A election took place at the 20th General Assembly (20th General Meeting) of the World Physiotherapy, which took place on 30 and 31 May 2023.

The World Physiotherapy has 129 member organisations and 118 delegations with voting rights, among them the Portuguese Physiotherapists Order, represented by António Lopes, President of the Portuguese Institute of Physiotherapists.

At the General Assembly, in addition to the election of the positions of president and vice-president, votes were also taken:

  • Approval of Policy Statement on Rehabilitation
  • Adoption of Political Declaration on Climate Change and Health
  • Approval of a motion on language proposed by the Japanese Physical Therapy Association
  • Confirmation of awards in recognition of the individual contribution of physiotherapists to the profession, globally, and to World Physiotherapy

The highest distinction was awarded to New Zealand physiotherapist Margot Skinner. Meet the other winners here.
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Pedro Maciel Barbosa

Specialist physiotherapist at the Matosinhos Local Health Unit Sub-coordinator for Primary Health Care, Matosinhos Local Health Unit Visiting Assistant Professor at the Porto School of Health Member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Health - SNS Member of the General Council of the Order of Physiotherapists

Carlos Sand

Carlos Areia has been a physiotherapist since 2013, and has worked in various hospitals, clinics and clubs in both Portugal and the UK. He began his academic career at Oxford University in 2016, where he led a clinical trial comparing physiotherapy vs surgery in anterior cruciate injuries in 32 hospitals in England. In 2018 she moved to the neurosciences department, where she developed her own studies on remote monitoring of vital signs, which were implemented during the pandemic. Here he discovered his passion for data, and in 2022, he joined Digital Science as a Data Scientist. He completed his PhD earlier this year, and has more than 60 publications in journals such as The Lancet, BMJ, Cochrane, among others. He is also an honorary lecturer at Oxford Brookes University and a consultant in clinical research.

Eduardo José Brazete Carvalho Cruz

PhD in Physiotherapy from the University of Brighton, UK. Post-Doctorate in Epidemiology from the National School of Public Health at the New University of Lisbon.
Coordinator of the Studies and Planning Office of the Order of Physiotherapists. Coordinating Professor of the Physiotherapy Department of the School of Health of the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (ESS-IPS). President of the ESS-IPS Technical-Scientific Council. Coordinator of the Physiotherapy Department at ESS-IPS. Integrated Researcher at the Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC) (a partnership between FCM-UNL, the National School of Public Health, the University of Évora, the Lisbon Institute of Global Mental Health and Santo Espírito Hospital, Terceira Island, Azores).

Sara Souto Miranda

Sara Souto Miranda has a bachelor's and master's degree in physiotherapy from the University of Aveiro, and a postgraduate qualification in adult respiratory physiotherapy from the same institution. In 2023 she completed her double doctorate in Rehabilitation Sciences/Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at the Universities of Aveiro and Maastricht (Netherlands) and is currently working as a technical-scientific advisor to the Studies and Planning Office (GEP) of the Order of Physiotherapists, and as a guest lecturer at the Piaget Institute in Vila Nova de Gaia. As a member of the Respiratory Research and Rehabilitation Laboratory at the University of Aveiro (Lab3R), she has carried out applied research in which she has assessed and treated patients with respiratory pathology, having taken part in 6 research projects. Throughout her career she has published 19 scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals with an impact factor, 1 book chapter and more than 50 abstracts in conference proceedings. She was a research volunteer at the Ciro rehabilitation centre (Centre for expertise in chronic organ failure) in the Netherlands, and is currently a member of the Guideline Methodology Network of European Respiratory Society. She was honoured by European Lung Foundation e European Respiratory Society for carrying out patient-centred research, by the Directorate General for Higher Education with a merit grant for his master's degree, and by the Ciro Centre with a grant to support research abroad.

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