About the specialty group
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.
The group promotes and facilitates evidence-based practice and research amongst its members and communicates widely the purpose and level of the specialisation of manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapists among physiotherapists, other healthcare disciplines and the general public.
They work towards international conformity of educational standards of practice among manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapists and communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals within the organisation, and with other organisations.
IFOMPT’s vision is:
- worldwide promotion of excellence and unity in clinical and academic standards for manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapists
- to be responsive to the information needs of all manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapists
- fostering, co-ordinating and promoting the specialisation of manual/musculoskeletal physiotherapy
The IFOMPT website is continually being developed to help members stay up to date with current international research and will soon have discussion forums for international manual therapy issues.
The standards committee has now monitored five countries as part of its international monitoring, implemented to ensure countries continue to meet the manual physiotherapy educational standards. The committee is also working towards developing a glossary of terms in manual physiotherapy, and guidelines for neurovascular screening prior to treating the cervical spine.
IFOMPT is establishing an education committee to develop manual therapy practice and infrastructure in North and South America. An equivalent for Europe has been very valuable for orthopaedic manual therapy groups to communicate and share knowledge and friendship.
