To create a table of techniques not recognized by the National Council of the Order of Physiotherapists and reported as having been provided by physiotherapists.
The techniques that are reported in the guide "Health and Sectarian Abuses" or another activity report by the Interministerial Mission for Monitoring and Combatting Sectarian Abuses (MIVILUDES) and/or are qualified by a public authority authorized to do so, as illusory or potentially so, and/or regarded as a questionable practice warranting caution, and/or techniques that have been subjected to scientific studies which could not conclude their effectiveness, and/or techniques that are the subject of an ethical opinion taken and published by the National Council of the Order, and/or techniques whose implementation by a physiotherapist has been sanctioned by the Disciplinary Chamber, have been listed and classified according to a degree of caution based on the number of criteria they meet.
The identified illusory techniques can be classified into three main categories: manual methods, psychological methods, and methods practiced using devices. Most of these methods are based on theories claiming "vitalism," which purportedly involves stimulating a so-called "vital" energy that would produce self-healing or are inspired by the energetic concepts of acupuncture with a claimed "vibratory" dimension. Other methods propose an (erroneous) application of the concept of quantum physics to the human body to explain how one could act on the material and vibratory entities of the body. Finally, the psychological methods are largely based on the theory of states and levels of consciousness.
The findings from this study underscore the necessity for rigorous oversight and regulation within the field of physiotherapy. The classification into manual methods, psychological methods, and device-based methods reveals the diverse nature of these techniques and their underlying pseudoscientific theories.
This study's methodology ensures a comprehensive assessment of these questionable practices. The table created serves as a crucial tool for healthcare professionals, helping them navigate their practice within the bounds of recognized and safe techniques, but also for patients who must remain vigilant when faced with techniques that advocate for holistic care, where the therapist claims to use their intuition or to mobilize self-healing through vital energy.
By reinforcing standards based on scientific evidence, the Order not only protects patients but also maintains the trust and credibility of the physiotherapy profession. Future efforts should focus on continuous education and vigilance among healthcare providers to mitigate the risk of pseudoscientific practices infiltrating clinical care.
Professional ethics
healthcare safety
