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Physiotherapy in Rare Diseases: functionality, autonomy and continuity of care

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28 February marks the World Rare Disease Day, This date aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by those living with these diseases and to reinforce the need for early diagnosis, specialised monitoring and fair access to healthcare.

A rare disease is one that affects fewer than 1 in 2,000 people. Despite the low individual prevalence, it is estimated that there are between 5,000 and 8,000 different rare diseases, which together affect millions of people in Europe and about 700 thousand in Portugal. Many of these diseases are genetic, complex and degenerative, often associated with functional limitations, emotional impact and socio-psychological challenges for both individuals and their families.

To support these patients, the Rare Disease Card, available at SNS Portal 24 and the SNS 24 App, which allows health professionals quick access to essential clinical information in emergency situations or transition of care, promoting greater safety and continuity of care.

In a context of high clinical complexity, physiotherapy plays a decisive role. As part of interdisciplinary teams, physiotherapeutic intervention focuses on preserving functionality, promoting autonomy and maximising active participation in daily life.

Intervention is always individualised and adapted to the person and the evolution of the clinical condition, and can include different approaches according to need.

The training of carers and family members and therapeutic education are also fundamental, promoting health literacy and greater safety and participation in the care pathway.

Rare diseases continue to pose significant challenges to health systems and society, including delays in diagnosis, gaps in care coverage and inequalities in access to specialised responses. In this context, it is essential to strengthen integrated, articulated and person-centred care models.

On this World Rare Disease Day, the Order of Physiotherapists reaffirms its commitment to an intervention based on scientific evidence, continuous throughout the life cycle and aimed at improving the quality of life of people living with these conditions.

CNOP received by the President of the Republic and honoured as Honorary Member of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator

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The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, received the National Council of Professional Orders (CNOP) and the members of the Orders in audience at the Belém Palace on 26 February.

On the occasion, the CNOP was honoured as a Honorary Member of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator, a distinction that recognises the role of professional bodies in defending the public interest and valuing the professions. The Order of Physiotherapists was represented by its President, António Lopes.

During the audience, the President of the Republic was presented with a piece alluding to the event and an institutional note signed by the Professional Bodies, which recognises the close monitoring he has dedicated to the activities of the Bodies and their contribution to the country throughout his mandate.

The note also underlines the permanent willingness of the Professional Bodies to collaborate in overcoming the structural challenges facing Portugal, reaffirming their commitment to qualification, responsibility and the defence of citizens.

The full text is available here.

World Physiotherapy Day 2026 will be dedicated to cardiovascular disease and stroke

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World Physiotherapy has announced that the theme of World Physiotherapy Day 2026 will be cardiovascular disease and stroke, with a focus on the role of physiotherapists in their prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

This will be the first year of a four-year campaign dedicated to non-communicable diseases, with subsequent years already planned to focus on cancer, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Cardiovascular diseases and strokes continue to be one of the main causes of death and disability worldwide, and physiotherapy plays a key role in promoting cardiovascular health, preventing risk factors, rehabilitation after acute events and functional recovery for those affected.

As a member of World Physiotherapy, the Order of Physiotherapists participates in the translation and dissemination of official graphic materials into Portuguese, helping to disseminate them to professionals and the public.

As in previous years, since the Order is part of World Physiotherapy, as soon as the official graphic materials are available, we will translate and publicise them. The materials for previous editions can be consulted on the Order's website, in the Physiotherapists - World Physiotherapy Day menu.

Investing in cardiovascular prevention: the role of physiotherapy on National Coronary Heart Disease Day

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National Coronary Heart Disease Day is on 14 February, a date set by the Portuguese Cardiology Foundation to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease prevention, early recognition of the symptoms of acute myocardial infarction and the adoption of healthy lifestyles.

The Order of Physiotherapists joins this event, emphasising the importance of cardiovascular prevention and the contribution of physiotherapy in promoting health throughout the life cycle.

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death in Portugal, accounting for around 29% of deaths.

The main risk factors include high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, smoking, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and diabetes - largely modifiable conditions that require a structured and sustained preventive approach.

Scientific evidence shows that a significant proportion of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by adopting healthy lifestyles. Regular physical activity, body weight control, smoking cessation and appropriate clinical monitoring are essential pillars in reducing cardiovascular risk.

In this context, physiotherapy plays an important role in promoting safe and individualised physical activity, assessing functional fitness and empowering people to manage their risk factors. Physiotherapy intervention, particularly in primary healthcare and in structured cardiac rehabilitation programmes, helps to improve physical fitness, reduce the likelihood of new cardiovascular events and promote greater autonomy and quality of life.

After a coronary event, physiotherapy integrated into multidisciplinary rehabilitation programmes, with intervention based on scientific evidence and aimed at functional recovery, physical reconditioning and reintegration into active life, can be decisive in reducing disability and improving health outcomes.

On this National Coronary Heart Disease Day, the Order of Physiotherapists recalls that investing in prevention means investing in more years of life with functionality, autonomy and active participation, and that physiotherapy is an essential element in building a healthier society.

ERS manual reinforces good practices in health advertising

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A Health Regulatory Authority (ERS) has made Manual of Good Practices in Health Advertising, This is a guiding document that establishes essential principles for ethical, truthful, transparent and user-centred communication.

Access here Manual of Good Practices in Health Advertising

The Manual applies to all healthcare providers and clarifies the legal framework for health advertising, with a special focus on the veracity of information, clear identification of the professional and the establishment, and the prohibition of practices that mislead users, such as guarantees of results, improper use of titles or advertising of services not provided.

In the case of physiotherapy, advertising must comply, in addition to the applicable legal framework, with the principles of the Code of Ethics of the Order of Physiotherapists, including the duty of honesty, professional competence and the primacy of the user's interests over commercial interests (Article 19, Chapter XVI).

Among the aspects covered in the manual are:

  • Mandatory identification of the healthcare professional and the organisation providing the service;
  • The need for advertising to be reliable, scientifically rigorous and distinguishable from editorial information;
  • The regulation of user testimonials, the use of “before and after” images, which must be clear and not generate false expectations.

In this context, The ERS Manual emphasises that, since the constitutionally protected right to the image of users is at stake, as well as the processing of their personal data, the dissemination of photographs or testimonies depends on the prior, free and explicit consent of users for this purpose, particularly when it comes to publicising their experience or the results of treatments.

The ERS also provides a set of Frequently Asked Questions on Health Advertising, which help to clarify the practical application of these rules and support professionals in complying with the applicable legislation:
https://www.ers.pt/pt/prestadores/perguntas-frequentes/faqs/perguntas-frequentes-sobre-publicidade-em-saude/

The Order of Physiotherapists considers this manual to be a reference tool that supports physiotherapists in adopting rigorous communication practices, contributing to the enhancement of the profession and strengthening citizens' trust in healthcare.

The Order of Physiotherapists is also a member of the Strategic Council of the Health Advertising Observatory, an initiative promoted by the ERS that brings together regulatory, academic and professional bodies with the aim of monitoring the evolution of health advertising, promoting good practices and strengthening literacy in this area. The ERS has a tab on its website dedicated to the Health Advertising Observatory, where you can see the organisations that are part of this Strategic Council and other information related to this initiative.

 See also informative video of the ERS on Health Advertising.

Physiotherapy in Oncology: more quality of life at all stages of the disease

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Today marks the World Cancer Day, The International Union for Cancer Control (UICC) created this year in 2000 with the aim of alerting the population to prevention, early diagnosis and the importance of fair and equitable access to health care. The Order of Physiotherapists joins this date, reinforcing the role of physiotherapy in promoting the functionality, autonomy and quality of life of people diagnosed with cancer.

 

Cancer continues to affect millions of people around the world. In Portugal, there have been around 60,000 new cases each year, with an impact that goes beyond the physical dimension of the disease, also influencing the emotional, social and family well-being of people diagnosed with cancer.

 

Between 2025 and 2027, this anniversary is framed by the international campaign “United by Unique”, which advocates more person-centred models of care, recognising that each experience of cancer is unique and that healthcare should be integrated, empathetic and humanised, responding to the physical, emotional and social needs of each individual throughout their illness.

 

Physiotherapy in oncology plays a fundamental role throughout the care pathway. The intervention of physiotherapists contributes to improving the quality of life, functional recovery and promoting the autonomy of people with cancer, from prevention and prehabilitation to rehabilitation, post-treatment and support in the survival phase and, when necessary, in the more advanced stages of the disease.

 

Physiotherapy intervention includes:

 

  • Prevention - Promotion of healthy lifestyles, physical exercise and weight management;
  • Prehabilitation - Prevention and treatment of complications associated with oncological therapies;
  • Rehabilitation - Restoring and maximising function;
  • During oncological treatments - Continuous functional monitoring;
  • Advanced stage - Improved quality of life at all stages;
  • Survival - Support for social and occupational reintegration.

 

The physiotherapist intervenes in an integrated way, based on scientific evidence, in conjunction with multidisciplinary teams, guaranteeing humanised and personalised care.

On this World Day Against Cancer, the Order reinforces the importance of fair, accessible and person-centred care, where Physiotherapy is crucial in promoting functionality, autonomy and quality of life.

Because caring for cancer is also caring for the person, in all their uniqueness.

Order of Physiotherapists monitors public information on Operation “Harry Potter”

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The Order of Physiotherapists has taken note of the press release issued by Judicial Police, The investigation into the so-called “Harry Potter” operation, in which four men were arrested for strong indications that they had committed the offences of trafficking in prohibited substances and methods, possession of a prohibited weapon and money laundering, is currently underway at the Lisbon DIAP.

The Board of the Portuguese Bar Association is monitoring the information provided by official bodies and the media regarding the arrest of a physiotherapist, and has already sent it to the Jurisdictional Council, so that any subsequent action can be taken after the formal communication from the competent bodies, which is awaited.

The Order of Physiotherapists reaffirms its commitment to legality, professional ethics and safeguarding citizens' trust in the profession, respecting the principle of the presumption of innocence in all circumstances.

Inauguration of the Governing Bodies of the Physiotherapists' Association

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On 13 December, the inauguration ceremony for the governing bodies of the Portuguese Physiotherapists' Association took place in the auditorium of the Lisbon School of Health, following the elections held on 5 December.

The session began in the morning with the inauguration of the General Council, preceded by a speech by the President of the Electoral Commission, Rui Jorge Dias Costa, who outlined the electoral process and the respective results. This was followed by the reading and signing of the terms of office by the elected members of the General Council, formalising the beginning of this body's term of office.

During the afternoon, the ceremony continued with a speech by the President of the General Council, Maria António Ferreira de Castro, and the inauguration of the remaining National and Regional Bodies, namely the Jurisdictional Council, the Supervisory Council, the Regional Directorates and the Regional Assembly Boards of the North, Centre, South, Azores and Madeira. The session culminated with the inauguration of the President of the Bar Association.

In his speech, António Lopes, reappointed as President of the Portuguese Physiotherapists' Association, highlighted the progress made during his previous term of office and the fundamental pillars of the profession's regulation, emphasising the importance of defending the interests of users and the role of the Association as a regulatory body. He emphasised the need to consolidate the work carried out and to plan for the future of the profession with ambition and responsibility:

“The future of the Order lies in consolidating the path we have been building, with vision and ambition, placing Physiotherapy at the service of health, citizens and the public interest.”

The ceremony also featured musical performances by Jorge A. Silva on piano and Marina Zambujo on vocals, and was broadcast live on the Order of Physiotherapists' YouTube channel.

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Lisbon to host the World Physiotherapy Congress 2029

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World Physiotherapy announced that the World Physiotherapy Congress 2029 will take place in Lisbon, Portugal.

This will be the 11th time that the congress has been held in Europe and the first time in Portugal.
The Physiotherapists' Association has been a member of World Physiotherapy since 2023.

See the press release on the World Physiotherapy website, here or download the document directly here. 

See the conversation between the President of World Physiotherapy and the President of the Portuguese Physiotherapists' Association

Following the official announcement, World Physiotherapy President Mike Landry shared a conversation with António Lopes, President of the Portuguese Physiotherapists' Association, congratulating Lisbon on being chosen as the host city for the World Physiotherapy Congress 2029.

Watch the full video below.

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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