World Physiotherapy

World Physiotherapy is the international organisation for physiotherapy, representing more than 600,000 physiotherapists worldwide through its 128 member organisations. World Physiotherapy is the operating name of World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT).

World Physiotherapy is committed to furthering the physiotherapy profession and improving global health. It believes every individual is entitled to the highest possible standard of culturally appropriate healthcare, delivered in an atmosphere of trust and respect for human dignity, and underpinned by sound clinical reasoning and scientific evidence.

World Physiotherapy is a non-profit organisation, and its previous name (World Confederation for Physical Therapy) is registered as a charity in the United Kingdom. It has been in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1952, collaborating on work programmes to improve world health. It works with a wide range of other international bodies and is a member of the World Health Professions Alliance. It has signed a "memorandum of understanding" with the four other members of the World Health Professions Alliance "to enhance their joint collaboration on protecting and investing in the health workforce to provide safe, quality and equitable care in all settings".

Vision and mission
World Physiotherapy's "About us" statement: "Founded in 1951, we are the sole international voice for physiotherapy. We represent more than 600,000 physiotherapists worldwide, through our 128 member organisations. World Physiotherapy operates as a non-profit organisation and is registered as a charity (World Confederation for Physical Therapy) in the UK."

World Physiotherapy's vision is to move physiotherapy forward so the profession is recognised globally for its significant role in improving health and wellbeing.

World Physiotherapy's mission is to:
 * unite the profession internationally
 * represent physical therapy and physical therapists internationally
 * promote high standards of physical therapy practice, education and research
 * facilitate communication and information exchange among member organisations, regions, subgroups and their members
 * collaborate with national and international organisations
 * contribute to the improvement of global health.

Activities
World Physiotherapy provides services to its member organisations, campaigns to improve world health, and produces policies and guidelines. It encourages high standards of physiotherapy and global health by facilitating the exchange of information and producing resources.

All of its activities are shaped and informed by research. In 2013, a study reported which World Physiotherapy countries/territories allow physiotherapy direct access. A 2020 study reported which World Physiotherapy countries/territories allow physiotherapists to order diagnostic imaging.

The website is the hub of its information sharing activity.

History and growth
The World Confederation for Physical Therapy was founded in 1951 by 11 national physiotherapy organizations from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, West Germany, Sweden, and the United States. The first international congress and second general meeting were held in London in 1953, where the first executive committee was elected.

Plans for a name change to "World Physiotherapy" were announced on January 28, 2020: "World Physiotherapy will be used for all externally-facing communications and materials. World Confederation for Physical Therapy will continue to be used for all legal and governance matters." The rebranding was publicized on June 30, 2020.

World Physiotherapy has developed statements, including Education Guidelines, to support the development of the profession. It has developed a structure of five regions, and close relationships with international independent organisations of physiotherapists with specific interests – 14 of which are now recognised as subgroups of World Physiotherapy.

World Physiotherapy Congress
World Physiotherapy holds a congress every two years, where the world of physiotherapy meets.

The World Physiotherapy Congress is the largest international gathering of physiotherapists, bringing together clinicians, educators, researchers, managers, and policy makers. The next congress will be in May 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.

Previous congresses

 * 2023 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
 * 2019 Geneva, Switzerland
 * 2017 Cape Town, South Africa
 * 2015 Singapore, Singapore
 * 2011 Amsterdam, Netherlands
 * 2007 Vancouver, Canada
 * 2003 Barcelona, Spain
 * 1999 Yokohama, Japan
 * 1995 Washington DC, United States
 * 1991 London, UK
 * 1987 Sydney, Australia
 * 1982 Stockholm, Sweden
 * 1978 Tel Aviv, Israel
 * 1974 Montreal, Canada
 * 1970 Amsterdam, Netherlands
 * 1967 Melbourne, Australia
 * 1963 Copenhagen, Denmark
 * 1959 Paris, France
 * 1956 New York City, United States
 * 1953 London, UK