International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

In line with its mission and 2007-2011 strategic plans the World Confederation for Physical Therapy is aiming to:

• raise the profile of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) with the membership of the WCPT and
• work with the World Health Organization (WHO) on a collaborative work programme to gain greater use of ICF by physiotherapists

Physiotherapists are concerned with the functional status of their patients and the aim of physiotherapy interventions is to maintain or improve current level of functioning or to prevent deterioration.

The ICF is a framework and classification system for use in describing functioning and disability in relation to a health condition. As such the ICF provides a common language and framework for documenting person-centred information on the functional changes associated with physical therapy interventions.

How to find out more about the ICF:

• Join the WCPT network for ICF. The network enables physiotherapists to communicate and share experiences in using the classification
• Find an ICF expert to help with training or to assist with specific questions
• Look up ICF resources
• Participate in discussions on the ICF forum
• Find web links relevant to ICF

ICF updates - August 2009 onwards

• Update on ICF - December 2011
• Update on ICF - January 2011
• Update on ICF - August 2010
• Update on ICF - December 2009
• Update on ICF - August 2009