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World Spine Day 2025: Invest in your Spine, Invest in your Health

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World Spine Day, marked on 16 October, reinforces the central role of musculoskeletal physiotherapy in promoting health and preventing spinal problems.

Under the theme "Invest in Your Spine, the organisation's global campaign World Spine Day calls for greater investment in prevention and spinal health education, highlighting the impact of back pain - the leading cause of disability worldwide - and the importance of behaviours and environments that encourage movement and healthy posture.

According to data from the World Spine Day organisation, low back pain affected 619 million people in 2020 and it is estimated that this figure will rise to 843 million by 2050, making it the leading cause of disability worldwide. Low back pain can appear at any age, with a higher prevalence between the ages of 50 and 55, and especially affects women.

Physiotherapy, especially the now-recognised musculoskeletal speciality, plays an essential role in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of spinal pain and dysfunction, promoting mobility, well-being and quality of life.

Physiotherapists work to promote healthy habits, postural and ergonomic education and the implementation of personalised rehabilitation and exercise programmes tailored to the needs of each person and context.

The campaign "Invest in your spine" encourages citizens, communities and political decision-makers to adopt preventive measures and create safer and healthier environments, emphasising that investing in spinal health means investing in people's mobility, productivity and quality of life.

Find out more about Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and the different physiotherapy specialities in this article. article.

National Pain Day: Physiotherapy emphasises the role of prevention

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National Pain Day: Physiotherapy reinforces the role of prevention

National Pain Day, celebrated on 14 October, has the theme "Preventive Care in Chronic Pain" and is officially organised by the European Pain Federation (EFIC). The day aims to increase understanding and awareness of chronic pain, a condition that affects 1 in 5 adults in Europe and is the leading cause of healthcare demand and disability.

Chronic pain is a multidimensional condition, influenced by biological, psychological and social factors, which limits quality of life, affects mental health and reduces social participation. Despite its significant impact, prevention remains insufficient and early intervention is crucial to prevent acute pain from becoming chronic and disabling.

See here the official video of EFIC's 2025 campaign, centred on the importance of chronic pain prevention.

The central role of physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a fundamental component in the prevention and management of chronic pain. Physiotherapists assess the functional causes of pain and intervene before it becomes disabling, promoting:

  • Movement and motor re-education, reducing inflammation and stiffness;
  • Education for self-care, ergonomics and safe exercise;
  • Follow-up of rehabilitation, ensuring a return to functionality and improved quality of life.

In this way, physiotherapy not only relieves pain, but also contributes to primary and secondary prevention, reinforcing health equity and reducing the economic impact of chronic pain, estimated at up to 12 billion euros a year in Europe.

EFIC emphasises that prevention is possible, effective and affordable, and that joint action is needed to reduce the burden of chronic pain on society.

As an example of promoting awareness of the importance of movement in pain management, review here the episode dedicated to this theme of the "+Health At Every Move" campaign by the Order of Physiotherapists.

Order of Physiotherapists marks International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

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On the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, marked on 13 October, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction emphasises the importance of "Financing resilience, not disasters", stressing the urgent need to invest in risk prevention and mitigation to avoid human, social and economic losses in the future. In this context, the Order of Physiotherapists emphasises the role of physiotherapy in the humanitarian response and in the recovery of affected populations.

In a world increasingly vulnerable to extreme phenomena, investing in prevention, planning and professional training means investing in lives. The United Nations' "Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025" estimates that the direct annual costs of disasters exceed 202 billion dollars, but that the real impact could amount to 2.3 billion dollars a year - a figure eleven times higher than that officially recorded.

Despite the magnitude of these figures, investment in disaster risk reduction (DRR) remains insufficient, both in national budgets and in international assistance. The United Nations is therefore calling for a paradigm shift: finance resilience today to avoid paying for disasters tomorrow.

Physiotherapy, as a health science centred on movement and functional recovery, has a decisive role to play in building societies that are more resilient, inclusive and prepared to face the unexpected.

In addition to clinical intervention, physiotherapy contributes to community resilience by supporting multidisciplinary teams in disaster preparedness and response plans, ensuring that healthcare and rehabilitation remain accessible and sustainable, even in crisis contexts.

As the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, emphasised, "resilience must be rooted in the foundations of development", a message that takes on particular relevance in a global context of climate emergency and inequality of resources.

Promoting resilience starts with small gestures of preparation. That's why the Order of Physiotherapists shares the information leaflet "Physiotherapy in Emergency Settings"with simple guidelines to reinforce the safety and autonomy of families in critical situations.

World Palliative Care Day 2025: "Keeping the promise - universal access to palliative care"

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Today marks the World Palliative Care Dayis celebrated every year on the second Saturday in October. The event is organised by World Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) and, in 2025, it will take place under the theme "Achieving the Promise: Universal Access to Palliative Care"reaffirming the global commitment to equitable access to quality palliative care at all stages of life.

More than 60 million people - including adults and children - need palliative care every year, with the majority living in low- and middle-income countries. This year's theme takes up the 2014 resolution of the World Health Assembly (WHO's main decision-making body), which called for the strengthening of palliative care as an essential component of lifelong healthcare, emphasising the urgency of fulfil that promise.

A Order of Physiotherapists associates itself with this date, emphasising the role of the profession in promoting the dignity, autonomy and quality of life of people with chronic, incurable or end-of-life illnesses.

  • Physiotherapy is an essential tool for promoting functional independence, autonomy and comfort in palliative care patients.
  • As part of the interdisciplinary team, the physiotherapist develops individualised intervention plans for pain relief, fatigue management, anxiety control and the prevention of complications resulting from bed rest or immobilisation.
  • The physiotherapist, as a movement specialist, has a fundamental contribution to make in preserving the dignity and quality of life of every person.
    Movement is life.

Read the full article on Physiotherapy in Palliative Care, published in Mais Magazine, here.

World Mental Health Day: "Access to Services - Mental Health in Disasters and Emergencies"

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World Mental Health Day takes place on 10 October, established by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). This year, the theme defined by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) centres on "Access to Services - Mental Health in Disasters and Emergencies", highlighting the importance of ensuring adequate care in crisis contexts. The Order of Physiotherapists is associated with this date, emphasising the contribution of Physiotherapy in Mental Health to promoting overall health and improving quality of life.

Physiotherapy in Mental Health is a transversal and specific area of physiotherapy that operates in different health, mental health, psychiatric and psychosomatic medicine environments. It can act in particular in the relationship between somatic disorders and psychological problems (sleep disturbances, fear related to pain, psychological stress and depressed mood associated with a clinical condition); in the relationship between mild mental disorders and the main chronic non-communicable diseases (anxiety and moderate depression associated with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancer), in the relationship between somatic disorders and mild mental health disorders (depression associated with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder associated with fibromyalgia and anxiety associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and in the specialised approach to serious mental illnesses (major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and addictive behaviours and dependencies) in psychiatric units/hospitals.

Recent studies reinforce the scientific evidence of this impact. One 2022 meta-analysis concluded that regular physical exercise - three times a week for eight weeks - significantly reduces symptoms of depression in adolescents. Another analysis, which included 27 studiesIn a study of the elderly population in the United States, the study of the elderly population in the United States showed that higher levels of physical activity are associated with an improvement in schizophrenia symptoms. Among the senior population, aerobic exercise has also shown consistent benefits for mental and emotional health.

The Order also recommends reading book "Physiotherapy in Mental Health - Experience Informs Evidence", with the participation of the Physiotherapy in Mental Health Working Group, available at here, as an essential resource for professionals and students in the field.

In marking World Mental Health Day, the Order of Physiotherapists emphasises the profession's commitment to an integrated approach to health, in which body and mind are inseparable, and highlights physiotherapy's contribution to promoting physical and emotional well-being.

Patient safety from the start: World Patient Safety Day 2025 dedicated to "Safe care for every newborn and every child"

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World Patient Safety Day, celebrated every year on 17 September, was established by Resolution WHA72.6, approved at the World Health Organisation Assembly on 28 May 2019.

The theme selected for World Patient Safety Day 2025 is "Safe care for every newborn and every child"with the slogan "Patient safety from the start". The World Health Organisation thus highlights the priority of guaranteeing patient safety from the earliest stages of life, particularly with regard to the first care given to newborns and children.

Through this slogan, the WHO is calling on all sectors to commit to the continuous improvement of the quality and safety of care, focussing on evidence-based practices, safe environments and the active participation of families and health professionals from the earliest moments of life.

The objectives proposed by the WHO are:

  1. Raising awareness of the risks to patient safety in neonatal and paediatric care, recognising the specific needs of children;
  2. Involving governments, health centres, professionals and society in the adoption of effective measures that promote safe care from the beginning of life;
  3. Strengthening the active role and autonomy of parents, carers and the children themselves, promoting their informed participation and the sharing of responsibilities;
  4. Encouraging research and the collection of scientific data to help improve safety in the care of newborns and children.

As early as 2021, the WHO emphasised the importance of this issue by dedicating World Patient Safety Day to safe maternal and neonatal care, drawing attention to the intrinsic vulnerability of early life.

The Order of Physiotherapists joins in celebrating this day, reinforcing its commitment to safe care from the beginning of life. Physiotherapists play an essential role in providing safe care in paediatric settings, from assessment and clinical intervention to effective communication with families and interdisciplinary teams, always promoting the well-being and protection of children. To mark the date, the Order of Physiotherapists' Patient Safety and Paediatric Physiotherapy Working Groups have jointly developed specific materials to raise awareness and support clinical practice.

Check out the recommendations and checklist for for safe physiotherapy practices in paediatrics.

Order of Physiotherapists emphasises the importance of birth rates in Portugal and highlights the contribution of the profession

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On the day 9th September the World Pregnancy Daycelebrated in Portugal as National Birth Day. In a country facing significant demographic challenges and where motherhood is happening later and later, this event values motherhood and emphasises the importance of making it available. qualified healthcare that accompany women through all stages of the perinatal cycle.

This date is thus an opportunity for the Order of Physiotherapists underline the importance of the intervention of specialised physiotherapists in pregnancy and postpartum care. Their contribution is crucial to

  • promoting women's quality of life and the baby's well-being;
  • prevent complications;
  • support functional recovery and resolve dysfunctions associated with the perinatal cycle.

In the context of Physiotherapy in Pelvic and Women's Healthspecific competences that enable:

  • assess the pregnant woman's physical condition and prescribe appropriate exercise;
  • guide pain control and reduction strategies (low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, sacroiliitis, etc.);
  • promoting healthy sexuality
  • intervening in women's sexual and pelvic dysfunctions
  • empower women and their carers in the different stages of pregnancy and postpartum.
  • monitor physical recovery after childbirth;
  • promote and support breastfeeding;
  • supporting women in situations of greater risk;

The presence of the physiotherapist in this journey is therefore an essential element in ensuring integrated, safe and evidence-based careThese contribute to the health and well-being of families and to boosting the birth rate in Portugal.

Order of Physiotherapists marks World Humanitarian Day and highlights the role of the profession in emergency contexts

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The Order of Physiotherapists joins the celebration of World Humanitarian Day on 19 August, highlighting the importance of the contribution of physiotherapists in crisis, disaster and humanitarian intervention scenarios.

On this day, dedicated to honouring professionals who risk their lives to save and improve the lives of others, the Order reinforces the importance of Physiotherapy as an essential component of humanitarian responses. In situations of conflict, natural disasters or disease outbreaks, physiotherapists play a fundamental role in the rehabilitation, mobilisation and support of affected populations.

The Order of Physiotherapists also reaffirms its commitment to the training, preparation and ongoing qualification of these professionals to act effectively in critical contexts, where their intervention contributes to increasing the reach and effectiveness of aid operations. In addition to the direct clinical response, physiotherapists also play an important role in mitigating the consequences of gender-based violence, which tends to worsen in emergency scenarios.

In marking this date, the Order honours all the professionals who, with courage and dedication, strive every day to improve the lives of others, reaffirming their commitment to promoting human dignity and strengthening the role of Physiotherapy as a transforming agent in humanitarian actions around the world.

Public Consultation - Proposal to amend the Registration Regulations of the Order of Physiotherapists

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The Portuguese Physiotherapists Order informs that it was published, in Diário da República, the Notice no. 19455/2025/2of 4 August 2025 on the public consultation of the proposal to amend the Registration Regulations of the Order of Physiotherapists.

Responses to the Public Consultation

All members of the Order of Physiotherapists, with current registration, are invited to participate by filling in the form to send comments.

Once filled in, the form will be automatically sent to your address: consultapublica@ordemdosfisioterapeutas.ptThe participant will receive a copy in the e-mail box they have indicated.

Only contributions that have been received by the end of the day will be considered. 16th September 2025be sent to the Order of Physiotherapists in the manner indicated.

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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