Purpose
To compare the roles and challenges of physical therapists in public health between Japan and other countries as of 2024 and to identify areas for to compare the roles and challenges of physical therapists in public health between Japan and other countries as of 2024 and to identify areas for improvement in Japan.
Methods
Information from the national associations of North America, Canada, the UK, Australia, Germany, and the World Confederation for Physical Therapy was gathered. Definitions, laws, history, roles, and required skills were analyzed. AI tools were used to unify terminology based on semantic similarities, and country-by-country comparisons were made.
Results
In other countries, physical therapists actively contribute to public health through health promotion and disease prevention, playing a crucial role in community health. In contrast, Japanese physical therapists are primarily limited to individual rehabilitation under physician supervision, with legal restrictions and a lack of skills in public health being a major challenge. In contrast, Japanese physical therapists are primarily limited to individual rehabilitation under physician supervision, with legal restrictions and a lack of skills in public health being major challenges.
Conclusion
For Japanese physical therapists to play a more active role in public health, legal frameworks must be strengthened, and education in epidemiology must be expanded. Greater involvement in community health could contribute to reducing healthcare costs and improving overall public health in Japan.
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