WCPT Network for physical therapists working with individuals with limb loss or limb absence

WCPT Network for physical therapists working with individuals with limb loss or limb absence (WCPT AR Network)

The aims of this network are:

1. To encourage, promote and facilitate the interchange of ideas, research, knowledge and skills in amputee rehabilitation for education and practice:
   • sharing clinical guidelines;
   • discussing and promoting the use of outcome measures;
   • support pre-registration education.
2. To develop post registration education in amputee rehabilitation.
3. To provide support and information between members of the network

The WCPT Network for physical therapists working with individuals with limb loss or limb absence is using people first language in its title but this may be shortened to the WCPT AR Network (where AR stands for Amputee Rehabilitation).

Find the WCPT Physical Therapy Network for physical therapists working with individuals with limb loss or limb absence on LinkedIn

 Let's get talking and sharing:

• Register on LinkedIn, if you are not already registered
• Submit a request to join the AR group at http://www.linkedin.com/groups/WCPT-Network-Amputee-Rehabilitation-AR-5140337/about

Membership

Membership of the WCPT AR Network is open to physical therapists working or interested in working, in amputee rehabilitation, who belong to a WCPT member organisation.  Membership of the WCPT AR Network is free.  You can apply for membership by sending an email with your name, country, WCPT member organisation you belong to, professional background and field of expertise to louise.tisdale@nhs.net. Through your membership you will be linked with colleagues who share the same background and interests, in your own country and worldwide.

WCPT AR Network membership is also open to other disciplines, provided these members form no greater than 30% of the total membership.  Acceptance of such applicants will therefore be at the discretion of the WCPT AR Network facilitators.

WCPT AR Network members have the opportunity to meet at the following international events in 2017:

• ISPO 16th World Congress, Cape Town, South Africa, 8-11 May 2017
• WCPT Congress 2017, Cape Town, South Africa, 2-4 July 2017 

Announcements will be made re who will be attendeding these congresses on the LinkedIn discussion site for the network and @arwcpt Twitter page.

Resources

Clinical guidelines

Australia

• NSW Health Policy Directive - Amputee Care Standards in New South Wales, Department of Health NSW, 18 March 2008.
• Model of Amputee Rehabilitation in South Australia.  State wide Rehabilitation Clinical Network, Government of South Australia, February 2012.

New Zealand

• Design and implementation of interdisciplinary care guidelines for hospital management of amputees in Christchurch.

United Kingdom

• British Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Amputee Rehabilitation (BACPAR):
  • Amputee Rehabilitation Guidance for the Education of Pre Registration Physiotherapy Students. BACPAR, 22 March 2013.
  • Evidence Based Clinical Guidelines for the Physiotherapy Management of Adults with Lower Limb Prostheses. BACPAR, 13 Dec 2012.
    • Quick reference guide.
    • Audit implementation guideline.
  • Guidance for the multi-disciplinary team on the management of post-operative residuum oedema in lower limb amputees. BACPAR, 23 Oct 2012.
  • Risks to the contra-lateral foot of unilateral lower limb amputees. BACPAR, 22 February 2012.
  • Guidance for falls prevention in lower limb amputees. BACPAR, 6 March 2011.
  • Clinical guidelines for the pre and post operative physiotherapy management of adults with lower limb amputation. BACPAR, 12 Jan 2010.
• Scottish Physiotherapists in Amputee Rehabilitation (SPARG)
• SPARG have published clinical guidelines that are available to order via their website.  These are:

• Exercise Therapy for Patients with Intermittent Claudication: an evidence based guideline. SPARG, Jan 2012.
• Clinical Guidelines for the Pneumatic Post Amputation Mobility Aid. SPARG, 2008.

United States of America

• Clinical Practice Guideline: Rehabilitation of Lower Limb Amputation. US Veterans Health Administration/Department of Defence, 2008.

Organisations

• BACPAR is a professional network of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in the UK.
• International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) is a global multidisciplinary organization aiming to improve the quality of life for persons who may benefit from prosthetic, orthotic, mobility and assistive devices. ISPO addresses the needs of both industrial and less resourced regions, advocating for best practices to governments and non-governmental organisations and advising on key relevant issues.
• SPARG is a special interest group for all physiotherapists in Scotland with a clinical responsibility for patients with amputations. SPARG produce an annual report on the demographic profile, rehabilitation milestones and outcomes of all people undergoing lower limb amputation in Scotland and it is available via the website.

Other

• Enable New South Wales is a state wide disability support service.
• "Netværk for faguddannede" on Facebook. This is an interdisciplinary network for Danish speakers on Facebook. If you are interested but do not speak Danish please contact facilitator, Kajsa Lindberg directly:  kajsa@mail.dk
• New Zealand Artificial Limb Service. This service provides care guidelines written for first time amputees as well as a comprehensive report containing physical therapy resources.  Resources include transfer posters and a manual on applying rigid removable dressings.
• Norwegian treatment regime. Produced by the Soerlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway [in Norweigan].

Supported by

• British Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Amputee Rehabilitation (BACPAR)
• Scottish Physiotherapists in Amputee Rehabilitation (SPARG)
• Australian Physiotherapists in Amputee Rehabilitation (AustPAR)
• Danske Fysioterapeuter (The Danish Physiotherapy organisation)
• Associação Portuguesa de Fisioterapeutas-Grupo de Interesse em Fisioterapia em Pessoas com Amputações (GIFPA)