The Order wishes Season's Greetings to all Physiotherapists and informs that the attendance services will be working on the 23rd and 30th December, in the usual timetable, which you can consult here.
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Portuguese Physiotherapists Order marks the International Day of Disabled People
Today marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This day has been celebrated annually on 3 December since 1998, the year in which the United Nations adopted the "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities"with the aim of promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in society and their participation in the various social, cultural, economic and political fields.
Proposing the subject On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the United Nations challenges us to "transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation to foster an equitable and accessible world".
The Portuguese Physioterapists Order marks the International Day of Disabled People. Bearing in mind its area of intervention, physiotherapy can help to treat and prevent a wide range of health conditions and movement disorders, contributing to promote independence, autonomy and well-being of people with disabilities.
We are hiring
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.
Portuguese Physiotherapists Order meets with associations connected to non conventional therapies
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.
Portuguese Physiotherapists Order marks World Diabetes Day
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.
Portuguese Physiotherapists Order joins World Physiotherapy
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.
Intervention of the President of the Portuguese Bar Association on Physiotherapy in Mental Health
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!
Portuguese Physiotherapists Order marks the World Mental Health Day
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.
About 2 thousand professional ballots sent to Physiotherapists
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.