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Manual Therapy 14 (2009) 585

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Manual Therapy

journal homepage: www.elsevier .com/math

Editorial

World Congress of Physical Therapy 2011 and IFOMT 2012

As January 2010 approaches the build-up to two significantconference events is in flow. These events are the World Congressof Physical Therapy to be held June 20th to June 23rd 2011 inAmsterdam in Holland, and IFOMT 2012 which will be heldbetween 30th September and 5th October in Quebec, Canada.

Both these events will showcase research and developments inpractice, but tend to attract different audiences who attend fordifferent reasons and purposes. Whilst IFOMT attracts physicaltherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors specialising or wishingto specialise in musculoskeletal therapy and sets increasinglyhigh standards in terms of research rigour and endeavour, theWorld Confederation of Physical Therapy as an organisation, iscommitted to taking forward physical therapy as a profession andits contribution to global health. The Confederation promotes andencourages high standards of physical therapy research, educationand practice. Globally, physical therapy is in very different stages ofdevelopment, for example, in several countries, physical therapistsact as first contact practitioners, some are holding consultant postsin hospital settings and working almost autonomously, whilst otherphysiotherapists in some parts of the world are struggling toachieve degree status and first contact rights. Wherever physicaltherapists are based we all face issues and challenges in day today practice and in professional status and development. Somephysical therapists face incredible personal and professional chal-lenges when working, for example, in areas of conflict and severehardship, dealing with patients who are mal-nourished and whoare also suffering other consequences of living in poverty-strickenareas. Many of us working in western societies are perhaps lulledinto our own senses of security and are not exposed to the difficul-ties that some of our colleagues face in different parts of the world.

Research in physical therapy and standards of education andpractice are at different levels of maturity in different parts of theworld. Anything that can be done as a profession to reduce thisdiversity can only help strengthen the profession globally.

I was very honoured to be elected to be Chair of the Interna-tional Scientific Committee for the World Congress of PhysicalTherapy 2011. I am highly committed, as is the rest of the Inter-national Scientific Committee, to provide a conference in 2011which celebrates physical therapy as a whole global communitywhich, whilst recognising specialism and distinct areas of prac-tice, also recognises the importance of sharing ideas, newknowledge, new approaches to practice, education and research.The committee is also aiming to construct a conference whichworks towards enabling all those attending to cross specialisa-tion boundaries, cross international divides and enables the

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whole of the physical therapy worldwide community to growintellectually. For some this will be via the sheer exposure tonew research findings and for some it will be by gaining insightsinto other specialities, other ways of working, but also by recog-nising what obstacles physical therapists in some countries faceand how they are dealing with these obstacles. The conferenceshould be a learning experience for everyone, whether youcome as a top international researcher, or a new graduate phys-ical therapist from a country where physiotherapy is still in itsearly developmental stages. There is something at WCPT foreveryone.

The World Confederation of Physical Therapy represents over300,000 physical therapists worldwide and has 101 memberorganisations. The World Congress is expected to attract around3500 delegates, providing a rich and vibrant forum fornetworking and debate and the opportunity to contribute toother physical therapists’ knowledge base development. WCPT2011 will be held at the Rai Exhibition and Conference Centrein Amsterdam and the Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy(KNGF) is hosting the conference. Please visit the WCPT websitefor ongoing information. Importantly, the call for abstractsubmissions for the 2011 conference will be open in January2010, so think now about submitting an abstract for a platform,poster or interactive poster presentation. Additionally, othersessions will be available at WCPT 2011, for example focusedsymposia and satellite programmes which will have a stronginternational focus as will debating sessions, workshops and ofcourse a range of networking and social activities. Put WCPT2011 in your calendar now! If you have not attended a WCPTcongress before, it will be a new experience and one hopefullynot to forget. The International Scientific Committee memberswill be doing its very best to provide a memorable conferencefor everyone and we will look forward to seeing you there.And whilst you are getting your diaries out to put in the WCPT2011 dates, please also put the dates in your diary for IFOMT2012. In the meantime, Seasons Greetings to All.

Ann Moore, Executive Editor, Chair of the International ScientificCommittee, WCPT 2011*

Director Clinical Research Centre for Health Professions, AldroBuilding, 49, Darley Road, Eastbourne BN20 7UR, United Kingdom

� Tel.: þ44 1273 643 766; fax: þ44 1273 643 944.E-mail address: a.p.moore@bton.ac.uk