Reserved Area

adminofsite

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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.

Physiotherapy plays a decisive role in promoting good sustainable practices

by

The Order of Physiotherapists is launching the "Sustainability in Action" awareness campaign, highlighting the profession's contribution to mitigating climate change and promoting sustainable health practices. The campaign emphasises the importance of integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into professional practice and reinforces the role of physiotherapists in responding to the environmental crisis.

World Physiotherapy has published a Policy Statement that recognises the interconnection between climate change and health, warning of the devastating impacts of global warming on populations. According to the organisation, the health sector is responsible for around 4.6% of global emissions and it is therefore urgent to adopt measures to reduce its environmental footprint. As Physiotherapy is intrinsically linked to the promotion of health and well-being, it can and must take an active role in this transformation.

In this context, WP identifies various strategies by which physiotherapists can contribute to a more sustainable future. These include adopting clinical practices with a lower environmental impact, such as conscious management of the resources used and encouraging sustainable transport. Educating and sensitising users to the influence of the environment on health, as well as promoting functionality and adaptation to the conditions imposed by climate change, are also priorities.

Collaboration with other health professionals and community organisations to create environmental mitigation and adaptation policies completes the set of recommendations proposed by the WP. These measures contribute not only to the sustainability of the planet, but also to fair access to care and the resilience of health systems in the face of emerging challenges.

The Order of Physiotherapists reinforces its commitment to adopting responsible environmental practices, based on measurable targets and scientific evidence that contribute to reducing the impact of health services on the environment. The profession thus has an unavoidable role to play in building sustainable solutions that preserve the health of people and the planet.

Are you familiar with the Order of Physiotherapists' Job Opportunities Exchange?

by

The Order of Physiotherapists now has a Job Vacancy Exchange dedicated to publicising professional opportunities for physiotherapists. This new space, accessible via the reserved area of the website, allows members to consult job offers.
Companies interested in hiring physiotherapists can also submit their offers directly via the platform, by registering and validating them.

To make it easier to use, a Step-by-Step Guide has been created with all the instructions for companies and members of the Order.

📄 Consult here the Step-by-Step Guide - Job Vacancy Exchange
🔗 Access the Job Opportunities Exchange via your reserved area here


The Order of Physiotherapists emphasises that it does not intervene in or validate recruitment processes, and that members are responsible for individually analysing the offers made.

World Physiotherapy Day 2025

by

World Physiotherapy Day has been celebrated every year on 8 September since 1996, the date that marks the founding of the current organisation. World Physiotherapy (WP)in 1951.

This date is an opportunity to recognise physiotherapy's essential contribution to health promotion, functionality and quality of life for the population at all stages of life. It is also a privileged moment to reinforce to society the value of the profession and the positive impact of physiotherapists' intervention in communities.

In 2025, the World Physiotherapy has chosen the following as the central themes of World Physiotherapy Day Healthy ageing and the Preventing fallsThe event will be held at the University of Coimbra, highlighting the role of physiotherapy in promoting autonomy, active ageing and reducing the risk of falls - one of the main causes of loss of independence and hospitalisation in older people.

A Order of Physiotherapists, a member of World Physiotherapy since the beginning of 2023, is joining in this celebration and actively participating in the translation and dissemination of materials produced by the international organisation. These resources include information leaflets, infographics, posters and banners, available in several languages, with the aim of supporting physiotherapists in their awareness-raising activities with patients and the community.

Information leaflets

Posters

Banners

24 June - World Falls Prevention Day

by

Created by the World Health Organisation, the World Falls Prevention Day is being held today, 24 June, with the aim of raising awareness of the risks associated with falls and the need for effective prevention strategies.

Every year, more than 684,000 people die as a result of a fall, and it is estimated that more than 172 thousand become temporarily or permanently disabled. Although falls can occur at any age, they are particularly worrying in older people over 65 and children under five years of ageIn the labour context, in 2017 there were 36,000 deaths due to falls, which accounted for almost 12% of all deaths from accidents at work.

In Portugal, between 2010 and 2018, the following were recorded 383,016 hospital admissions related to falls, representing 2.1% of the total. In healthcare settings, falls are the most reported patient safety incident, with an occurrence rate of between 2 to 8 per 1000 inpatient beds.

Prevention begins with risk assessment. Tools such as the "Timed Up and Go", combined with specific questionnaires on risk factors, can effectively identify people at risk of falling in just a few minutes.

With the increase in average life expectancy, there is an urgent need to address this issue strategically.

- Consult and download the our poster with recommendations for prevention.

- Also check out the statistics on falls that we share on our social networks: Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin.

The App of the Order of Physiotherapists is now available

by

The Order of Physiotherapists has launched its official app, now available for Android and iOS devices.

The app is designed to make it easier for physiotherapists and citizens alike to access information and services from the Order.

You can use the Order of Physiotherapists App:

  • Access your reserved area
  • Consult your digital professional card
  • Find physiotherapists by municipality
  • Monitoring latest news
  • See events diary
  • Access site contents adapted to mobile phones

The Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas App was developed with the aim of making the most relevant functions available to physiotherapists and citizens in an accessible way. This is an initial version, which can be adjusted as it is used and tested on a daily basis.

We invite all users to explore the App and take advantage of what is already available. We are counting on your co-operation to make this application more useful to everyone.

📲 Access the Order of Physiotherapists App now:

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.

This site uses cookies to enable a better user experience.
By browsing the site you are consenting to its use.

What are cookies?
Accept