banner banner

What is WCPT?
Founded in 1951, the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT), is the sole international voice for physical therapy, representing more than 625,000 physical therapists worldwide through its 121 member organisations. The WCPT operates as a non-profit organisation and is registered as a charity in the UK.

WCPT believes every individual is entitled to the highest possible standard of culturally appropriate healthcare delivered in an atmosphere of trust and respect for human dignity, and underpinned by sound clinical reasoning and scientific evidence. It is committed to furthering the physical therapy profession and improving global health through:

encouraging high standards of physical therapy research, education and practice
supporting the exchange of information between WCPT regions and member organisations
collaborating with national and international organisations


History
In 1951 WCPT had 11 founding member organisations from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, West Germany, Sweden and the United States.

The first international congress and second General Meeting were held in London in 1953, where the first executive committee was elected.

Over its first decade, membership increased to 16 organisations, even though WCPT had no regular income and depended on voluntary donations from its member organisations and occasional grants from other international bodies. By 1961, WCPT had an annual per capita subscription, its own office in London and a Secretary General.

WCPT consolidated its international position by attaining consultative status with the United Nations and an official relationship with the World Health Organization. It also forged links with voluntary international bodies like Rehabilitation International, the World Medical Association, and United Nations agencies such as UNICEF.

In 1991, WCPT established five Regions with autonomous regional committees to encourage frequent contact among members with similar cultural, economic and social outlooks.

Over its history, WCPT has developed statements, including education curricula, to support the development of the profession. At the 1995 general meeting, a range of declarations of principle and position statements were adopted for the first time, providing member organisations with foundation policy guidance about practice, education and research. New policy documents have been adopted at every general meeting since then, including a description of physical therapy, standards of practice and guidelines for entry level professional physical therapy education.

Early in the new millennium WCPT celebrated its 50th anniversary by holding a meeting of member organisations on evidence-based practice. The event underlined the coming of age of WCPT and the profession. The internet has become increasingly established as the main means by which WCPT can communicate with members, providing new potential for physical therapists worldwide to exchange information and share expertise.

Since its estasblishment, WCPT has regularly held world congresses, which now take place every two years.

World Physical Therapy Day, established by WCPT in 1996, has grown in popularity and influence. Every year physical therapy organisations around the world organise campaigns and events to celebrate and publicise the role of physical therapists.

What is physical therapy
Physical therapists have different titles in different countries: in many countries they are called physiotherapists. Some countries have their own version of the word physical therapist, such as kinesiologist. They are all part of the same profession.

Physical therapists provide services that develop, maintain and restore people’s maximum movement and functional ability. They can help people at any stage of life, when movement and function are threatened by ageing, injury, diseases, disorders, conditions or environmental factors.

Physical therapists help people maximise their quality of life, looking at physical, psychological, emotional and social wellbeing. They work in the health spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment/intervention, habilitation and rehabilitation.

Physical therapists are qualified and professionally required to:

undertake a comprehensive examination/assessment of the patient/client or needs of a client group
evaluate the findings from the examination/assessment to make clinical judgments regarding patients/clients
formulate a diagnosis, prognosis and plan
provide consultation within their expertise and determine when patients/clients need to be referred to another healthcare professional
implement a physical therapist intervention/treatment programme
determine the outcomes of any interventions/treatments
make recommendations for self-management.
WCPT has developed a comprehensive description of physical therapy.

Website:World Confederation for Physical Therapy

What is WCPT?
Founded in 1951, the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT), is the sole international voice for physical therapy, representing more than 625,000 physical therapists worldwide through its 121 member organisations. The WCPT operates as a non-profit organisation and is registered as a charity in the UK.

WCPT believes every individual is entitled to the highest possible standard of culturally appropriate healthcare delivered in an atmosphere of trust and respect for human dignity, and underpinned by sound clinical reasoning and scientific evidence. It is committed to furthering the physical therapy profession and improving global health through:

encouraging high standards of physical therapy research, education and practice
supporting the exchange of information between WCPT regions and member organisations
collaborating with national and international organisations


History
In 1951 WCPT had 11 founding member organisations from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, West Germany, Sweden and the United States.

The first international congress and second General Meeting were held in London in 1953, where the first executive committee was elected.

Over its first decade, membership increased to 16 organisations, even though WCPT had no regular income and depended on voluntary donations from its member organisations and occasional grants from other international bodies. By 1961, WCPT had an annual per capita subscription, its own office in London and a Secretary General.

WCPT consolidated its international position by attaining consultative status with the United Nations and an official relationship with the World Health Organization. It also forged links with voluntary international bodies like Rehabilitation International, the World Medical Association, and United Nations agencies such as UNICEF.

In 1991, WCPT established five Regions with autonomous regional committees to encourage frequent contact among members with similar cultural, economic and social outlooks.

Over its history, WCPT has developed statements, including education curricula, to support the development of the profession. At the 1995 general meeting, a range of declarations of principle and position statements were adopted for the first time, providing member organisations with foundation policy guidance about practice, education and research. New policy documents have been adopted at every general meeting since then, including a description of physical therapy, standards of practice and guidelines for entry level professional physical therapy education.

Early in the new millennium WCPT celebrated its 50th anniversary by holding a meeting of member organisations on evidence-based practice. The event underlined the coming of age of WCPT and the profession. The internet has become increasingly established as the main means by which WCPT can communicate with members, providing new potential for physical therapists worldwide to exchange information and share expertise.

Since its estasblishment, WCPT has regularly held world congresses, which now take place every two years.

World Physical Therapy Day, established by WCPT in 1996, has grown in popularity and influence. Every year physical therapy organisations around the world organise campaigns and events to celebrate and publicise the role of physical therapists.

What is physical therapy
Physical therapists have different titles in different countries: in many countries they are called physiotherapists. Some countries have their own version of the word physical therapist, such as kinesiologist. They are all part of the same profession.

Physical therapists provide services that develop, maintain and restore people’s maximum movement and functional ability. They can help people at any stage of life, when movement and function are threatened by ageing, injury, diseases, disorders, conditions or environmental factors.

Physical therapists help people maximise their quality of life, looking at physical, psychological, emotional and social wellbeing. They work in the health spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment/intervention, habilitation and rehabilitation.

Physical therapists are qualified and professionally required to:

undertake a comprehensive examination/assessment of the patient/client or needs of a client group
evaluate the findings from the examination/assessment to make clinical judgments regarding patients/clients
formulate a diagnosis, prognosis and plan
provide consultation within their expertise and determine when patients/clients need to be referred to another healthcare professional
implement a physical therapist intervention/treatment programme
determine the outcomes of any interventions/treatments
make recommendations for self-management.
WCPT has developed a comprehensive description of physical therapy.

Website:World Confederation for Physical Therapy