Specialty groups of World Physiotherapy

Specialty groups are important independent organisations in their own right. They have a specific area of interest, and promote the advancement of physiotherapy and exchange of scientific knowledge in their field.
Subgroup Listing

Acupuncture

The International Acupuncture Association of Physiotherapists (IAAPT) is for physiotherapy associations and individuals interested in the practice of acupuncture and dry needling

Aquatic

The International Organisation of Aquatic Physiotherapists (IOAPT) specialty group has a mission and vision to advance aquatic physiotherapy worldwide.

Cardiorespiratory

The International Confederation of Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapists (ICCrPT) represents physiotherapists with a special interest in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy.

Electrophysical

The International Society for Electrophysical Agents in Physiotherapy (ISEAP) is an international physiotherapy organisation with specific interest in the area of electrophysical agents.

HIV/AIDS, oncology, hospice and palliative care

The International Physical Therapists for HIV/AIDS, Oncology, Hospice and Palliative Care (IPT-HOPE) subgroup vision is to advance physiotherapy management and prevention of HIV/AIDS, oncologic, and hospice and palliative related functional impairments throughout the world and across cultural groups.

Manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapy

The International Federation of Manual and Musculoskeletal Physical Therapists (IFOMPT) aims to promote and maintain the high standards of specialist education and clinical practice in manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapists.

Mental health

The International Organisation of Physiotherapy in Mental Health (IOPTMH) specialty group is for physiotherapists working in the field of psychiatry and mental health

Neurology

The International Neurological Physiotherapy Association (INPA) represents national groups of physiotherapists with a specialist interest in neurology and neuroscience.

Occupational health and ergonomics

The International Federation of Physiotherapists working in Occupational Health and Ergonomics (IFPOHE) is for physiotherapists working in the area of occupational health and ergonomics.

Older people

The International Association of Physiotherapists working with Older People (IPTOP) was recognised as a specialty group in 2003 and supports worldwide promotion of physiotherapeutic excellence when working with older people.

Paediatrics

The International Organisation of Physiotherapists in Paediatrics (IOPTP) fosters cooperation between physiotherapists practicing in paediatrics around the world.

Pelvic and women's health

The vision of the International Organization of Physiotherapists in Pelvic and Women's Health (IOPPWH) is to provide an international support network for member countries/territories of World Physiotherapy to improve health and wellbeing in pelvic and women’s health.

Private practice

The International Private Physiotherapy Association (IPPTA) aims to support independent private practice worldwide, developing pathways for communication and disseminating information.

Sports

The International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy (IFSPT) is a worldwide federation representing national organisations of sports physiotherapy.

About specialty groups

These international organisations have met the requirements for recognition as a specialty group of World Physiotherapy. They have to be composed of member organisations or groups recognised by a World Physiotherapy member organisation (members of the groups also have to be members of the member organisation). Specialty groups must have at least 10 members, representing at least three of the World Physiotherapy regions.

Applications

If your organisation would like to apply to become a specialty group of World Physiotherapy, please email Heidi Kosakowski at [email protected] for more information.

Applications are considered by the World Physiotherapy board.

If an application is approved, a general meeting is asked to confirm specialty group status. The most frequent reason for declining a specialty group application is a conflict between specialty group requirements and the group's membership criteria. All groups represented in the organisation applying for specialty group status must be recognised by the World Physiotherapy member organisation of their country/territory.