International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT)
WCPT Subgroup
Address
PO Box 35 602
Browns Bay
Auckland
0753
New Zealand
Tel: +6494765353
Fax: +6494765354
International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists
The International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists aims to:
- Promote and maintain the high standards of specialist education and clinical practice in manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapists
- Promote and facilitate evidence based practice and research amongst its members
- Communicate widely the purpose and level of the specialisation of manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapists among physiotherapists, other healthcare disciplines and the general public
- Work towards international conformity of educational standards of practice among manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapists
- Communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals within the organisation, and with other organisations.
Vision
- Worldwide promotion of excellence and unity in clinical and academic standards for manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapists
- Responsive to the information needs of all manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapists
- Worldwide promotion of clinical excellence for manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapists
- Working for unity in standards of education and clinical practice worldwide
- Fostering, co-ordinating and promoting the specialisation of manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapy.
The four-yearly conference and general meeting of IFOMPT was held in Rotterdam, June 2008 and more than 1500 delegates attended from all over the world.
IFOMPT was pleased to welcome organisations from Ireland and Japan as new member organisations in Rotterdam, bringing the total membership to 22, with five registered interest groups.
The IFOMPT website is continually being developed to help members stay up to date with current international research and will soon have discussion forums for international manual therapy issues.
The standards committee has now monitored five countries as part of its international monitoring, implemented to ensure countries continue to meet the manual physical therapy educational standards. The committee is also working towards developing a glossary of terms in manual physical therapy, and guidelines for neurovascular screening prior to treating the cervical spine.
IFOMPT is establishing an education committee to develop manual therapy practice and infrastructure in North and South America. An equivalent for Europe has been very valuable for orthopaedic manual therapy groups to communicate and share knowledge and friendship.
A report on Research Priorities for Post Qualification Level Dissertations/Thesis in Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy has been made available on the IFOMPT website to help develop relevant research and promote collaboration.
