Advancing an environmentally responsible physiotherapy

 

The world faces complex and interrelated crises… Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, rapid urbanization, geopolitical conflict and militarization, demographic change, population displacement, poverty, and widespread inequity create risks of future crises even more severe than those experienced today. Responses require investments that integrate planetary, societal, community and individual health and well-being (WHO 2021 Geneva Charter for Wellbeing)

 

 The impact of human activities on our planet’s natural systems has been intensifying rapidly in the past several decades, leading to disruption and transformation of most natural systems. These disruptions in the atmosphere, oceans, and across the terrestrial land surface are not only driving species to extinction, they pose serious threats to human health and wellbeing. Characterising and addressing these threats requires a paradigm shift (Myers, 2017)

Action at the level of direct drivers of nature decline, although necessary, is not sufficient … a sustainable global future’ is ‘only possible with urgent transformative change that tackles the root causes: the interconnected economic, socio-cultural, demographic, political, institutional, and technological indirect drivers behind the direct drivers (Diaz et al., 2019)

About

An international community of academics, clinicians, practitioners and students interested in exploring and advancing the field of environmental physiotherapy. 

Blog

Follow our latest musings on environmental physiotherapy. Ideas, inspiration, news, publications, events, and more. 

Join

Become part of the first international community of physiotherapists with an interest in researching, developing, and practising physiotherapy at a planetary scale. 

Resources

A growing selection of resources carefully selected by members of the EPA to inspire your thinking and practice of environmental physiotherapy. 

Park prescriptions: Moving toward greener and more socially just healthcare

Green space is not as accessible as you think Since cities started developing in North America, there has been a move to create designated green spaces, both in and outside of urban centers. Although the intention behind these efforts seems pure, the practice of...

Shaping up our neighbourhoods: How physiotherapists positively contribute to design healthier communities 

Physical activity is a vital component of successful health promotion. Yet, Public Health England (2016) reported that the UK population is 20% less active than in the 1960s. Considering the significant consequences of inactivity, this is one of the country's most...

New Physioplus course on Biodiversity and Physiotherapy

Adapt your physiotherapy practice for positive environmental health Environmental physical therapy is an emerging field that describes the relationship between health (specifically physiotherapy) and the environment. The environment encompasses climate change,...

Putting nature-based health and therapy into practice – An international online symposium

One year after the first-ever Environmental Physiotherapy Festival, we are excited to announce the next instalment in our growing list of events: Putting nature-based health and therapy into practice – an international online symposium. This symposium will take place...

If you have any thoughts, ideas or questions about environmental physiotherapy,
we would love to hear from you anytime

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