Adding life to years: The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) Theme for 2016

Adding life to years: WCPT launches World Physical Therapy Day resources and downloads

WCPT has launched the toolkit for this year's World Physical Therapy Day, with posters, leaflets and an infographic now available.

World Physical Therapy Day takes place on 8th September 2016, and this year WCPT is suggesting that physical therapists around the world publicise their important role in healthy ageing, and “adding life to years”.

This choice of message follows the WHO World Report on Ageing And Health which says that “maintenance of functional ability has the highest importance” for older people. WCPT has played a significant role in the consultations which resulted in the new WHO ageing and health strategy.

By 2050 the global population will include two billion people aged 60 or over, and 400 million aged 80 or over.

Each year, World Physical Therapy Day allows therapists to highlight their role as experts in movement and functional mobility. Participants are encouraged to organise events to publicise physical therapy's contribution and cost effectiveness. WCPT is suggesting that individual physical therapists wishing to organise events should contact their National physical therapy organisation so that activities can be linked up.

This year's toolkit includes a guidance booklet, stickers, posters and a t-shirt design, as well as a list of resources to support activities including research demonstrating the role of physical therapy in promoting independence.

For the first time WCPT has produced an infographic, illustrating physical therapy's importance in helping older people reach their full potential following stroke, dementia and falls.

World Physical Therapy Day allows individual therapists and their organisations across the world to celebrate their contribution to global health. This year's event hopes to build on the success of the event in 2015, when the theme was “Fulfilling potential”.

Last year hundreds of events took place, ranging from Nordic walking to international lectures and workshops. The World Physical Therapy Day web pages were accessed more than 17,000 times, with 2,435 people using the hashtag #worldptday on Twitter.

Individual therapists, hospital departments and organisations are encouraged to use the toolkit and hashtag #addlifetoyears to show that physical therapy all over the world helps keep people well, mobile and independent.

Source: WCPT: http://www.wcpt.org/news/Word-PT-Day-2016-Jun16

World Physical Therapy Day resources can be downloaded from: http://www.wcpt.org/wptday-posters