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Patient safety is a priority for the Order of Physiotherapists

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Today marks the World Patient Safety Daywith the theme "Involving Patients in Patient Safety" and the motto "Giving patients a voice", recognising its central role in promoting safe care. 0

A Order of Physiotherapists is associated with the objectives proposed by World Health Organisation for the World Patient Safety DayThe aim is to raise global awareness of the need to actively involve patients, families and carers in improving patient safety across all healthcare settings and levels, and to empower patients and families to become actively involved in their own healthcare.

Find out how to take a more active role when you use physiotherapy care.

The safe physiotherapy care must be aligned with the commitments of the National Patient Safety Plan 2021-2026 (PNSD 2021-2026) and with the principles "involve, value, make responsible". Find out more at information leaflets.

If you are over 65, have impaired vision, have had a fall in the last year and/or are often off balance, don't exercise and take various medications, you should also consult the recommendations on fall prevention.

Fall prevention

Incident reporting helps improve patient safety

The development of incident reporting systems in healthcare makes it possible to guarantee patient safety and quality in the provision of care, contributing to health gains, and has been a recommendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 2002.

In Portugal, the NOTIFYThe National Incident Reporting System, made available by the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), is an integral part of the National Incident Reporting System. Registration is voluntary and can be done by citizen or by the health professionalanonymously. Find out how to use the NOTIFICA platform:

Video NOTIFICA

It is estimated that there are 134 million safety incidents in healthcare every year, and that many could be avoided. We can all help to improve the statistics. Patient safety is our priority!

World Patient Safety Day in pictures

The Order of Physiotherapists invited members to share photographs illustrating the celebrations. See the selected photos here.

World Physiotherapy Day 2023

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Today is World Physiotherapy Day!

It's a day to honour physiotherapists as health professionals. 

This year, the focus of this ephemeris, instituted by World Physiotherapy, is arthritis, with an in-depth look at some forms of inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondylitis.

The Order of Physiotherapists emphasises the decisive role of physiotherapists in the treatment and management of people affected by this health condition in improving the health of users in general.

World Physiotherapy Day in pictures

The Order of Physiotherapists invites members to join the "World Physiotherapy Day in pictures" initiative by sharing with us photographs illustrating the celebrations, by filling in this form. form. The selected photographs will be published on the Order's website.

Happy World Physiotherapy Day!

Find out more here.

Eurostat counts around 611,000 physiotherapists in the European Union

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This month, the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) published a statistical report on the number of physiotherapists, dentists and pharmacists practising in the European Union (EU).

Data on these health professions, which provide services directly to users, show that in 2021 there were around 611,000 physiotherapists working in the EU, which equates to an average of 136.7 physiotherapists per 100,000 inhabitants.

In the information broken down by Member State, the statistics for Portugal only take into account data from the public sector. However, considering the number of professionals registered with the Order of Physiotherapists - around 11,000 - Portugal has a ratio of 110 physiotherapists per 100,000 inhabitants.

Click here to access the Eurostat report.

Click here to consult the data of physiotherapists registered with the Order.

Physiotherapists provide assistance at World Youth Day 2023

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A total of 4,376 people were assisted at the World Youth Day (WYD) venues, which took place between 1 and 6 August. Official INEM data also recorded that, of these assistances, only 153 (3.5%) required observation or additional care in a hospital environment.

The assistance of the health teams distributed throughout the different WYD events included several physiotherapists, who reported various types of interventions, with a greater incidence in occurrences related to musculoskeletal situations, such as sprains.

WYD also saw the presence of physiotherapists registered in the parishes hosting the pilgrims, who also provided support in this context.

The physiotherapists registered as health volunteers for WYD responded to the survey. challenge launched by the Order, thus joining several others who were already registered as central or parish volunteers.

The Order welcomes the participation and the professionalism demonstrated by the physiotherapists who participated in WYD 2023, contributing to raise the importance of Physiotherapy in reinforcing response teams in large-scale events, as well as in disaster situations and/or humanitarian crises.

Order visits headquarters of WYD Foundation, organiser of World Youth Day 2023

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António Lopes, accompanied by the Board Members Fátima Domingues and Afonso Neutel, met with the Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon and President of the WYD Foundation - Lisbon, Dom Américo Aguiar. The purpose of the visit was to mark the integration of physiotherapists in the World Youth Day 2023 (WYD23) Health Team, whose mission is to provide proximity health care to all registered pilgrims, volunteers and participants in the various events, in conjunction with the SNS entities (Primary Health Care, INEM and Hospitals). The reception included the unveiling of a plaque evoking the visit of the President of the Order of Physiotherapists to the headquarters of the World Youth Day Foundation Lisbon 2023 and ended with the signing of the Book of Honour, in which a message was inscribed on behalf of all physiotherapists.

The Order of Physiotherapists highlights the contribution of physiotherapists in WYD23, considering that international guidelines for best practices in health point to the importance of integrating physiotherapists in the reinforcement of professional teams responding to disasters and/or humanitarian crises and in large-scale events.

Order of Physiotherapists launches Network of Physiotherapy Researchers (RIFt)

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Get to know Physiotherapy Researchers Network (RIFt). Developed by the Office of Studies and Planning (GEP) of the Order of Physiotherapists, the platform of research and researchers in Physiotherapy (RIFt) aims to promote and increase the visibility of science produced in Portugal by Physiotherapists.

RIFt will disseminate the profile of physiotherapists conducting research in Portugal, in order to foster intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration, thus enhancing collaboration between researchers around projects with a strong clinical research component.

RIFt aims to bring research closer to the needs of clinical practice, convey the added value of physiotherapy to the general public, and promote research initiatives, with the involvement of citizens, that promote more and better health and well-being.

RIFt registration can be done by here by any Physiotherapist, registered with the Order of Physiotherapists, carrying out research.

RIFt is open access to view and search, by research physiotherapist or by keyword. Find out more at practical guide to RIFt. 

Service at the Order's offices during World Youth Day week

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The Order of Physiotherapists informs all physiotherapists and the general public that customer services will be operating during the week of World Youth Day 2023.

However, due to traffic constraints in the city of Lisbon, face-to-face attendance will be ensured only by prior appointment, with scheduling through the usual contacts, which can be consulted at here. During the week, the telephone service will take place from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm and from 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm.

Thank you for your understanding.

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!"

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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