Policy statement: Description of physical therapy

The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) advocates that the profession 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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is responsible for articulating the profession’s

Scope of practice: The full spectrum of roles, functions, responsibilities, activities and decision-making capacity that individuals within the profession are educated, competent and authorised to perform. WCPT describes the parameters of a physiotherapist’s scope of practice in its description of physiotherapy.

See also Advanced practice

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and defining the roles of physical therapists. National physical therapy associations are responsible for defining physical therapy and physical therapists’ roles relevant to their nation’s

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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service delivery needs, ensuring that they are consistent with accepted international

Guidelines (World Physiotherapy): Produced to assist member organisations and others to raise the quality of physical therapy. They may provide guidance on standards, criteria or courses of action in areas relevant to physical therapy education, research, practice or policy. They are not mandatory but designed to assist the implementation of World Physiotherapy’s policies. Guidelines are resources to assist with the implementation of policy and do not require a vote to be taken at a World Physiotherapy General Meeting.

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set out by WCPT. National physical therapy associations have a responsibility to seek support for legislation/

See Regulation of the profession

/

Recognition: Formal acceptance of a student’s knowledge, skills, or former academic studies and the granting of advanced standing or credit. The term may also apply to formal acceptance of an educational institution by another institution or public authority. Recognition relates more to acceptance and equivalency, i.e. determining a relationship of parity between one system, jurisdiction, or institution and another with respect to the value and significance of courses, diplomas, certificates, licenses, and/or degrees.

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, which defines the distinctive and autonomous nature of physical therapy practice, including the profession’s scope of practice.