Guideline: Standards of physical therapy practice

This guideline for standards of

Physical therapy —services for individuals and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. Physical therapy is described more comprehensively in WCPT’s Description of Physical Therapy.

The professional title and term used to describe the profession's practice varies and depends largely on the historical roots of the profession in each country. The most generally used titles and terms are 'physical therapy’, ‘physiotherapy' and ‘physical therapist’, ‘physiotherapist’.

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practice provides details on the statement of performance and conditions to which WCPT expects physical therapists to aspire, in order to provide high quality physical therapy professional services to society. These standards provide the foundation for the

Assessment: In healthcare, assessment is a process used to learn about a patient’s condition. This may include a complete medical history, medical tests, a physical exam, a test of learning skills, tests to find out if the patient is able to carry out the tasks of daily living, a mental health evaluation, and a review of social support and community resources available to the patient.

Environments may also be the subject of assessment using specific tests and measures and evaluation of the results (e.g. occupational health settings).

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of physical therapy practice.  They represent the physical therapy profession’s commitment to society to promote optimal

Health: 'Health' is defined in the WHO constitution of 1948 as a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

See also Health promotion

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and function in individuals and populations by pursuing excellence in practice.  These standards provide the basis for physical therapy practice in all settings, including but not limited to: clinics, hospitals, schools and commercial premises.