Movement and being able to create and build connections were the themes of the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025 opening session on 29 May 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.
Speakers included:
- Mike Landry, World Physiotherapy president
- Hideyuki Saito, 公益社団法人日本理学療法士協会/Japanese Physical Therapy Association president
- Sidy Dieye, World Physiotherapy chief executive officer
- Catherine Joy Escuadra, World Physiotherapy congress programme committee chair
The congress was opened by a performance from Orientarhythm, a dance company that merges live performance with projected images to express the unique movement and rhythm and spirituality of Japanese martial arts.
Mike Landry, World Physiotherapy president, took inspiration from the performance and reminded congress participants how central movement was to physiotherapists. He also encouraged participants to take the opportunity to introduce themselves to a stranger and build connections.
World Physiotherapy board members introduced segments highlighting activities in each of the organisation’s five regions: Africa, Asia Western Pacific, Europe, North America Caribbean, South America.
More than 4,000 participants from 127 countries/territories are attending World Physiotherapy Congress 2025, 29-31 May 2025, at Tokyo International Forum.
The congress scientific programme includes:
- 23 focused symposia
- 13 discussion sessions
- 5 World Physiotherapy seminars
- 12 clinical seminars (new for 2025, these seminars address relevant practical questions using case studies)
- 27 networking sessions
- 52 idobata sessions (these sessions are an informal meeting space designed to break down the distinction between speaker and participant, providing inspiration and ‘food for thought’)
- 22 clinical visits
- joint World Physiotherapy and JPTA session
- 2,448 abstracts made up of 370 platform abstracts, 678 ePosters, 1,400 printed posters.
