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The Order of Physiotherapists is recruiting for a post of Advisor for the Office of Studies and Planning.
Applications can be submitted until 9 December via the website: rh@ordemdosfisioterapeutas.pt
You can consult here information on the admission procedure.
The Portuguese Physiotherapists Association met with the Portuguese Association of Acupuncture, Phytotherapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine Professionals, the Van Nghi Institute and the Union of Natural Medicines, last 17th November. The meeting, which was based on the understanding between health professionals, the establishment of cordial relations and the union of synergies, resulted in a joint communiqué that can be read here.
World Diabetes Day - which falls on 14 November - was established in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
One in ten adults lives with diabetes, according to data from the IDF for 2021. Among the various factors influencing the development of Type II Diabetes, the most evident is the urbanised lifestyle, which includes an unhealthy diet and sedentary behaviour. Recent studies show that the adoption of a healthier lifestyle and the practice of physical activity can postpone or even prevent its appearance. Remember: Physiotherapy is an ally in the prevention and control of Type II Diabetes, bearing in mind its area of intervention.
The Portuguese Physiotherapists Order welcomes the fact that it is now part of World Physiotherapy, and the Region EuropeIt succeeds, in a consensual manner, the Portuguese Association of Physiotherapists, which was admitted in 1963.
The voting of the members that integrate the organization founded in 1951 took place by electronic vote and accepted the candidacy formalized by the Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas, as the structure that regulates physiotherapy and physiotherapists in Portugal, and that will take effect in January 2023.
Find out more at press release released by World Physiotherapy.
The President of the Portuguese Institute of Physiotherapists considers that "(...) despite the legislative measures, the responses implemented are still insufficient, with remarkable geographical asymmetries and there is a clear lack of health professionals integrated in the mental health teams, as well as an omission of the inclusion of physiotherapists in these teams".
In a message video for the conference "Current and Future Challenges for Physiotherapy in Mental Health", organised by the Portuguese Association of Physiotherapists APFISIO, António Lopes underlined that, although Physiotherapists and other health professionals may be unaware of the role and benefits of intervention, the scope of Physiotherapy practice in Mental Health and Psychiatry "is holistic, eclectic and dynamic - as it is constantly informed by evidence - and, as such, is able to respond to the health needs of people and society."
In the intervention, transmitted on the 22nd of October, which took place in the Escola Superior de Saúde - Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, the President of the Board of Physiotherapy António Lopes made a presentation on the various dimensions of the work of Physiotherapy in Mental Health and on the specific theoretical, practical and interpersonal skills that Physiotherapists should have, mentioning that one of the reasons for the benefits of the Physiotherapy interventions not always reaching the users with mental health problems is the lack or inadequate training of Physiotherapists in this area.
Despite this, according to the declarations presented at the time of registration in the Order, of the more than nine thousand already registered, "around 700 physiotherapists state that they have obtained additional qualifications in the area of mental health, and around 600 physiotherapists state that they have, or have had, clinical activity in mental health".
In order to improve this panorama, he underlined the commitment of the Order of Physiotherapists to promote the access to physiotherapy care in the area of mental health, to support and value those who already work in this area and to study solutions, together with the Higher Education Institutions. He also recalled, in this context, the process of creating a framework for Physiotherapy professional specialties in Portugal, which is currently underway, guaranteeing: "We will work to promote Physiotherapy in Mental Health!
World Mental Health Day is celebrated annually on 10 October, a date established by the World Federation for Mental Health (WHOF). Today, the World Health Organisation also recognises and marks this day. This year's theme is "Making Mental Health and well-being a global priority".
O World Mental Health Report of the WHO, published in June 2022, revealed that even before the pandemic, in 2019, around 1 billion people were struggling with some form of mental disorder.
Acting in Mental Health Physiotherapy
In this World Mental Health Day, the Board of the Order salutes the work developed by Physiotherapists in the area of Mental Health.
In Portugal, from 8905 Physiotherapists registered in the Order, 693 refer having obtained additional qualifications in Mental Health and 598 refer having clinical activity in Mental Health (graph 1. distribution by districts). There are also 185 physiotherapists with additional qualifications and clinical activity in Mental Health, according to the information extracted from the registration form.
Note: data does not include members who have suspended or cancelled their membership.
Mental Health Physiotherapy is a transversal and specific area of Physiotherapy, which operates in different health, mental health, psychiatric and psychosomatic medicine environments. It aims to optimise wellbeing through health education strategies and the promotion of 1) body awareness, movement and emotions 3) functionality, 4) exercise and physical activity, always integrating the physical and mental and relational dimensions.
Physiotherapy can act on Mental Health, namely on the relationship between somatic disorders and psychological problems (sleep disorders, fear related to pain, psychological stress and depressed mood associated with a clinical condition) in the relationship between mild mental disorders and major chronic non-communicable diseases (anxiety and mild 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 severe mental illness (major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and addictive behaviours and addictions) in psychiatric units/hospitals.
The second batch of professional cards of Physiotherapists has already been sent by ordinary registered mail to the respective holders.
In his professional conduct, the physiotherapist should identify himself rigorously, as a member of the Order, namely through the professional name and professional cédula number. See here the guidance document on the existence, evidence and use of vignettes.
Ballot papers are being sent to all registered members, this task having been contracted out to a company outside the Order. In certain cases, there has been a need to correct personal data, such as postal addresses and photographs. The mailings are made as the situations are corrected.
Physiotherapists are part of the priority group of professionals in health services (public and private) and other health care providers, in the context of the vaccination campaign Autumn-Winter against COVID-19 and against the flu. See here the standards of the DGS sent to the Order of Physiotherapists by the Coordinating Centre for Support to the Ministry of Health.
The current vaccination campaign takes place in posts located in health centres and in specific vaccination centres. Consult the list: List of Vaccination Centres - Covid 19 (min-saude.pt). Like last year, the "Open House" modality is also available, with the use of a digital password. Learn how to access in: Open House - Covid 19. The Order appeals to the vaccination of physiotherapists, who must be accompanied by their professional card or a statement from their employer, proving their professional activity. More information in: Vaccination campaign Autumn-Winter against COVID-19 and Influenza - Covid 19 (min-saude.pt)
A Order of Physiotherapists (OF) met with the National Association of Young People in Physiotherapy(ANJF) on 21 September.
The purpose of the meeting was to address and discuss themes related to the target population of the association that has as its mission "to represent Physiotherapy Students and Young Portuguese Physiotherapists (...)", namely the possibility to establish special conditions regarding the payment of the registration fees for those who finish the degree. The Order reiterated its availability to study the proposal in the context of the preparation of the Budget proposal and the proposal of the Activity Plan for 2023.
The National Association of Young People in Physiotherapy also requested clarification on the process of creation of the speciality framework physiotherapy professionals in Portugal, and the President of the Portuguese Bar Association, António Lopes, explained the set of stages of this objective, which derives from this attribution of the Order of Physiotherapists, foreseen in article 4 of the Statutes.
Representing the Order were the President and Afonso Neutel. The ANJF was represented by Beatriz Silva and António Martins, recently elected president and vice-president, respectively, and treasurer Sofia Tavares.
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.
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 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.