Hundreds of events and campaigns marked World Physical Therapy Day on 8th September, with physical therapists around the world donating their time to raise the profile of their profession. 

With reports of activities still coming in, there are early indications that more physical therapists have participated than ever before. Physical therapists in Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Guatemala, India, Kuwait, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines and the United States have all reported activities, with many more expected to follow.

Activities included conferences, education and health monitoring sessions for the public, creating videos, leafleting and poster campaigns and peace walks. In Guatemala, the Asociacion Nacional de Fisioterapistas de Guatemala organised a scientific meeting, and used the opportunity to launch the country’s first physical therapy entry level university programme. 

In Taichung, Taiwan, physical therapists from 31 countries marked World Physical Therapy Day at the WCPT Asia Western Pacific regional congress. The congress had the theme of Health Promotion through Physical Therapy, echoing World Physical Therapy Day’s Movement for Health theme. At a banquet dinner to mark World Physical Therapy Day on 8th September, representatives from each country stood up and said “Health promotion through physical therapy” in their own language.

WCPT will be posting reports of World Physical Therapy Day activity on its website. Please let us know about your activities by emailing mlockner@wcpt.org [2]