The challenges of achieving global standards for Sports Physical Therapists

Abstract

　“A sports physiotherapist (physical therapist) is a recognised professional who demonstrates advanced competencies in the promotion of safe physical activity participation, provision of advice, and adaptation of rehabilitation and training interventions, for the purposes of preventing injury, restoring optimal function, and contributing to the enhancement of sports performance, in athletes of all ages and abilities, while ensuring a high standard of professional and ethical practice” (Bulley et al., 2004).

 

　As Physical Therapy has developed, the vast knowledge and skill base has led to the development of specialist areas, one of them being Sports Physical Therapy. In order for Sports Physical Therapy as a specialisation to evolve and be promoted internationally, globally recognized standards need to be developed to assess important topics such as governance, leadership and scope of practice, which all affect the quality of services that clients and athletes receive. These standards are criteria for performance and create a strong health care structure that the public, providers and policy makers can rely on; assuring high quality health services.

 

Global standards help physical therapists to:

・Describe the minimum level of capability expected of sports physical therapists

・Evaluate and improve upon the quality of their health services

・Determine what type of care should be offered and identify gaps in current systems

・Identify best practices, leading to reliable and higher quality health services

・Determine efficiency of diagnoses and treatment

・Allow organizations to benchmark against one another

 

Global standards also help thepublic (athletes) to:

・Know what level of quality to ask for from their service providers

・Identify quality advice and treatment from providers

・Actively provide feedback on current health services and help identify gaps

・Have confidence that the health services they are receiving are standardized; meaning that they are verified, safe, evidence-based and reliable

 

IFSPT Sports Physical Therapy Competencies and Standards

 

　Sports Physical Therapy is a recognized speciality that has been further promoted and developed since the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapists (IFSPT) was established in 2000. The European Union-funded Sports Physiotherapy for All (SPA) project developed competencies and standards expected of Sports Physical Therapy specialists. The competency statements describe effective professional behaviours and integrate specific knowledge, skills and attitudes for this specific context of practice. These competencies provide a basis for policy development, enable quality assurance activities and facilitate individual professional development.

 

　Eleven Sports Physical Therapy competencies were developed and designed to be demonstrated at a Master’s level.

・Injury Prevention

・Acute intervention

・Rehabilitation

・Performance Enhancement

・Promotion of a Safe, Active Lifestyle

・Life-Long Learning

・Professionalism and Management

・Research Involvement

・Dissemination of Best Practice

・Extending Practice Through Innovation

・Promotion of Fair Play and Anti-Doping Practice

 

　This presentation will consider the development of Sports Physical Therapy as a specialised area of practice and discuss the challenges of achieving global standards for Sports Physical Therapists in relation to initiatives from the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy and its Member Organisations（MO’.）