International Federation of Sports Physiotherapy (IFSP)   Contact: Laetitia Dekker-Bakker Chairperson International Federation of Sports Physiotherapy (IFSP) Dr. W. Nijestraat 93 2064 XB SPAARNDAM Netherlands Tel: (31) 235 392 426 Fax: (31)235 386 744 Email: laetitia.dekkerbakker@quicknet.nl Web: www.ifsp.nl

 

Mission Statement

IFSP is a world-wide Federation, recognised as a subgroup of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT), representing national organizations of Sports Physiotherapy. The efforts of IFSP are directed towards Member Organizations and their individual members in serving athletes of all ages and abilities through excellence in education, research, practice, and clinical specialization. The intention of the IFSP is to be the international resource for Sports Physiotherapists, to promote Sports Physiotherapy through the International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Sports Federations (ISF’s) and other professional organizations.

 

ARTICLE 3:  OBJECTIVES

 

The objectives of the IFSP shall be to:

3.1 Promote Sports Physiotherapy worldwide.

3.2 Advance the professional interest and stature of Sports Physiotherapy worldwide.

3.3 Improve the quality of Sports Physiotherapy worldwide on the level of knowledge, skills, and professional responsibility.

3.4 Facilitate efforts to conduct research in order to promote evidence based Sports Physiotherapy.

3.5 Encourage communication and exchange of educational and professional information through various mediums.

3.6 Utilize organizational structure and policy to promote international harmonization in order to achieve the overall mission of the IFSP.

 

ARTICLE 4:  MEANS

 

4.1 Carry out the functions of the WCPT as set forth by the bylaws and in policy statements as they relate to the IFSP.

4.1.1 Give support to WCPT in events and matters where Sports Physiotherapy is involved.

4.2 Develop, promote, monitor and update high international core standards of Sports Physiotherapy by:

4.2.1 Setting competencies and standards for sports physiotherapists to facilitate flexible transferable systems of accreditation to become an IFSP   registered sports physiotherapist.

4.2.2 Developing clinical guidelines, protocols and a Code of Ethics

4.2.3 Establishing a recognized body of knowledge specific to Sports Physiotherapy.

4.2.4 Encouraging participation in evidence based practice in Sports Physiotherapy.

4.3 Encourage international scientific research in the specific field of Sports Physiotherapy and promote opportunities for the spread of knowledge of new developments.

4.4 Encourage communication and exchange of educational and professional information between Member Organizations and their individual members as well as communication among and exchange of their students, teachers and programs through:

4.4.2 International Congresses, preferably yearly

4.4.3 Seminars, Symposiums

4.4.4 Web Site

4.4.5 Journal, preferably web based

4.5 Encourage working visits between individual members of the Member Organizations.

4.6 Facilitate the development of international networks of all specialty areas in which Sport Physiotherapists practice including Olympic, professional, elite, disabled, and various other athletic populations.

4.7 Develop a list of IFSP registered Sports Physiotherapists.

4.8 Facilitate job rotation.

4.9 Promote communication and cooperation with other health care professionals, organizations, agencies and professional associations in areas of mutual interest.

 

The following is taken from the WCPT Quadrennial Report for the period 2003-2007

IFSP aims to help member organisations and their sports physiotherapists serve athletes through excellence in education, research, practice, and clinical specialisation.  It was a founding partner of the Sports Physiotherapy for All project (SPA) – which has been its priority issue over the past four years. It has worked on five work packages: an international doping guideline for physiotherapists working in sport; sports physiotherapy competencies and standards at Master’s level; an audit tool kit to enable sports physical therapists and educators to assess these competences; a website for communicating the SPA goals and providing access to resources; an educational portal for assisting physiotherapists to become sports physiotherapists.  The ultimate aim is to set up a system for accrediting physiotherapists who have met the criteria to become IFSP registered sports physiotherapists.