by Pamela Kipps Hansford | Jan 4, 2022 | Aquatic PT and bluespace exposure, Clinical Practice, Patient perspectives
“At least I can still become an Adaptive Surfer!” As I surface in ICU a flash of hope captures my imagination, lifts my spirits, and draws me forward with the promise of adventure. Lying flat ‘splat’ on my back my worldview is limited to perforated ceiling tiles and...
by Filip Maric | Dec 13, 2021 | Environmental Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy Education, Physiotherapy Research
Environmental and sustainability education is often conspicuous in its absence from public health and healthcare professional programmes around the world. Yet to respond to the diverse and complex social, ecological and health challenges we are facing everywhere today...
by Polina Boiko | Dec 2, 2021 | Environmental Issues and Health Impacts, Planetary Health, Students in EPT
In August 2021, the world received terrible news from the IPCC: the 6th assessment report is their “starkest warning yet” regarding current global climate issues (1). That news is everyone’s business, whoever we are. As a physiotherapist, I have been preoccupied too,...
by Eric Robertson | Nov 5, 2021 | AI, robots & digital health, Clinical Practice, Environmental Sustainability
Recently, you may have seen the widely published editorial in hundreds of health journals calling for emergency action on climate change. While the focus of that editorial was primarily external to healthcare, calling on governments to do more overall, we would be...
by Woyram Kofi-Bediako | Oct 24, 2021 | Clinical Practice, SDGs
The global economic recession following the COVID-19 pandemic, along with changes in climate patterns has magnified already existing global challenges that numerous countries are facing. The urgency to achieve the seventeen UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has...
by Filip Maric | Oct 12, 2021 | Events
It is that time of the year again. Time for the next environmental physiotherapy roundtable, but with a twist. In its third iteration, we are pleased to invite you to the first-ever multilingual Environmental Physiotherapy Community Roundtable! Having grown to over...
by Shaun Cleaver | Oct 7, 2021 | Biodiversity, Communication
Puede descargar una versión en español de este blogpost aquí: Cleaver, S., Hudon, A. & St-Georges, M. (2021). La lucha contra el cambio climático no se planifica en un solo idioma: implicaciones para la fisioterapia ambiental (Traducido de francés por Charles,...
by Shaun Cleaver | Oct 1, 2021 | Biodiversity, Communication, Indigenous perspectives
Puede descargar una versión en español de este blogpost aquí: Cleaver, S., Hudon, A. & St-Georges, M. (2021). Se necesitan diversos conocimientos para enfrentar las crisis ambientales. (Traducido de francés por Charles, D.). Moving Earth: Environmental...
by Lisa Newington | Sep 13, 2021 | Clinical Practice, Environmental Sustainability
Over the last decade, many of us have been making the move to a more sustainable way of living. Small incremental steps that collectively add up. Think of the re-fillable coffee cups, tote bags, and widespread shunning of single-use plastic. Consider the food waste...
by David Nicholls | Aug 31, 2021 | Environmental Philosophies, Environmental Physiotherapy, Planetary Health
During the brilliant August EPT Agenda 2023 participating institutions meeting organised by Filip and bringing five invited speakers together to talk about the integration of planetary health, environmental and sustainability perspectives into occupational therapy,...
by Srijani Banerjee | Aug 18, 2021 | Clinical Practice, Environmental Physiotherapy
For the past few years, body and movement have been the prime focus of my professional and personal life. As a physiotherapist and Dance Movement Therapy practitioner this is not surprising and what my practice has made me realise is that movement is the essence of...
by Filip Maric | Aug 6, 2021 | SDGs
These are exciting times for environmental physiotherapy! Nearly exactly two years since the inception of the Environmental Physiotherapy Association (EPA), we are proud and delighted to say that we have become a member of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions...
by Mariavittoria Anderlini | Jul 19, 2021 | Clinical Practice, EcoHealth, Greenspace Exposure
L’inattività fisica, concorrendo ad arrecare numerosi effetti nocivi sulle patologie croniche, è responsabile di oltre 5 milioni di morti annuali. Per questa ragione è considerabile come una pandemia (1). Ciò, associato ad un’esponenziale crescita della popolazione,...
by Len Kiroplis | Jul 4, 2021 | Clinical Practice, Environmental Sustainability
The plastic crisis has concerned us for decades as both landfilled and incinerated waste continue to pollute the environment and pose health risks to humans and wildlife. With packaging of all sorts being the main source of plastic pollution that is clogging the...
by Thies Bundtzen | Jun 20, 2021 | Events, Greenspace Exposure, Students in EPT
We, Thies Bundtzen (GER), Maud Weterings (NL) and Arthur Desachy (FR) have all recently finished our physiotherapy studies. The idea for this event has evolved out of the PhysioCouch Community, which inspired us with international events just like 2019 in Czech...
by Erik Halm | Jun 4, 2021 | Clinical Practice, Environmental Issues and Health Impacts
Die Umwelt und der Mensch können nicht losgelöst voneinander betrachtet oder analysiert werden. Auch wenn Umwelt auf den ersten Blick abstrakt und fern wirkt, hat sie doch durchgehend einen fundamentalen Anteil an der menschlichen Entwicklung im physischen, kognitiven...
by César Sá | May 18, 2021 | Aquatic PT and bluespace exposure, Clinical Practice
The use of water for therapeutic purposes is an ancient practice of civilizations, which, through new techniques, remains in constant rediscovery. The application of water can occur through its three physical states and part or all of the body can be treated....
by Harris Kelesidis | May 2, 2021 | Clinical Practice, Greenspace Exposure
Observing the national statistics of physical inactivity in the UK and acknowledging the difficulty of changing a habit, there is a need to explore new methods and ways to help more people to be active. The socio-ecological model of active living (Sallis et al. 2006)...
by Annie Palstam | Apr 22, 2021 | Environmental Sustainability, Physiotherapy Research, SDGs
It is about time physiotherapists realize our potential as a profession that could make vital contributions to sustainable development, in healthcare and in society as a whole. Global environmental changes, such as climate change and loss of biodiversity, greatly...
by Samantha Meijer | Apr 13, 2021 | Greenspace Exposure, Students in EPT
Mezelf aanpassen aan de anderhalvemetermaatschappij, met daarin weinig tot geen lichamelijk contact: het is een flinke opgave en ik blijf het stug proberen. Zelfs na een jaar is het mij nog niet gelukt om hieraan te wennen. Dat is wellicht ook een goed teken, want het...
by Filip Maric | Apr 6, 2021 | Clinical Practice, Events, Physiotherapy Education, Physiotherapy Research
Ever since we have launched the Environmental Physiotherapy Association it has been our aim to advance the exploration and development of the relationship between physiotherapy, health and the environment in all of its facets. Today we are excited to share yet another...
by Shaun Cleaver | Mar 29, 2021 | EcoHealth, Environmental Issues and Health Impacts, Environmental Justice, Indigenous perspectives
In the two decades that I have been a member of this profession, I cannot recall an instance when justice was a central topic for physiotherapists. With many physiotherapists self-conceptualizing as experts of movement or physical function, maybe this oversight is...
by Filip Maric | Mar 15, 2021 | Events
Shortly after the launch of the Environmental Physiotherapy Association in the middle of 2019 I put out what felt like a wish to the universe (in blogpost format) hoping for people to submit their interest in environmental and sustainability related topics to be...
by Jordan Spencer | Mar 4, 2021 | SDGs, Students in EPT
Now more than ever it feels necessary to, at a very minimum, encourage deliberation on the importance of adopting more sustainable practices in physiotherapy. Major fields such as engineering and fashion have already begun the process of teaching students about...
by Nadja Thöner | Feb 25, 2021 | Clinical Practice, Environmental Philosophies
Wie eine deutsche Physiotherapie-Zeitschrift (1) im Juli 2020 veröffentlichte, sind in der Forschung Therapiemethoden in der Erprobung, die eine weitere Elektrifizierung der Physiotherapie zur Folge hätten. Die zunehmende Elektrifizierung von Lebenswelten verändert...
by Adam Toner | Feb 8, 2021 | Clinical Practice, Greenspace Exposure, Planetary Health
How many of your patients arrived to their physio appointments last week by car? For me, it was 100% of those not opting for telehealth. An empty bike rack sat outside the clinic and nobody approached from the bus stop across the street. Granted, it is winter in...
by Filip Maric | Feb 1, 2021 | Events
This years HAN University of Applied Sciences 9th International Week – Connecting localism to globalism: Critical perspectives on allied health professions – will feature a host of interesting workshops, lectures and seminars. Two of these are highly...
by Filip Maric | Jan 28, 2021 | Environmental Philosophies
‘Admit that humans have crawled or secreted themselves into every corner of the environment; admit that the environment is actually inside human bodies and minds, and then proceed politically, technologically, scientifically, in everyday life, with careful...
by Pamela Kipps Hansford | Jan 21, 2021 | Clinical Practice, Greenspace Exposure
I sit cleverly positioned between the driver, an experienced field guide seated at the wheel on the right and an invisible cameraman operating from the left back corner of the safari vehicle. The guide turns frequently, looking over his or her left shoulder to talk to...
by Filip Maric | Jan 10, 2021 | Clinical Practice, Events, Planetary Health, SDGs
Though the official launch is scheduled for World Environment Day on 5 June 2021, this year marks the beginning of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. This United Nations effort is based on the recognition that ‘there has never been a more urgent need to...
by Thies Bundtzen | Dec 9, 2020 | Clinical Practice, Greenspace Exposure
There is rarely a day when I don’t go out, because I feel like my body really calls for it. Physiotherapy starts within us, within you, within yourself. If you feel tension right now you might be better off scrolling to the next picture and put the words into...
by Nafsika Michail | Nov 25, 2020 | Clinic Design, Clinical Practice, Greenspace Exposure
Physical Environment & Health It is well documented that the physical environment influences population health, has an impact on chronic diseases and could have a preventative role on human’s health and wellbeing by promoting physical activity (Sallis et al.,...
by Filip Maric | Nov 12, 2020 | Events, Physiotherapy Education
Nearly exactly one year after the first ever Environmental Physiotherapy Roundtable, we are pleased to invite you to the second iteration of our livestream discussion on environmental physiotherapy. At the 2nd Environmental Physiotherapy Roundtable, representatives...
by Srishti Banerjee | Nov 4, 2020 | Clinical Practice, Environmental Issues and Health Impacts, Environmental Sustainability
Healthcare systems have a significant carbon footprint generated through basic infrastructure, medical diagnostic and surgical procedures, as well as patients post-operative hospital stays. There is a growing body of research across various countries looking to...
by Sarah Cooper | Oct 20, 2020 | Clinical Practice, Environmental Sustainability
In January 2020 Sir Simon Stevens the chief executive of NHS England and Improvement detailed a commitment to a Greener National Health Service (NHS). The NHS is the largest employer in Britain and is responsible for approximately 4% of the carbon emissions of the...
by Shaun Cleaver | Oct 1, 2020 | Disaster relief and humanitarian emergenciess, Environmental Issues and Health Impacts, Planetary Health
Shaun and Mathieu are physiotherapists with experience in disaster response. They were accepted to present a workshop at the Canadian Physiotherapy Association’s “Congress 2020” on the use of the disaster cycle to conceptualize the roles of physiotherapists in the...
by Filip Maric | Sep 17, 2020 | Events, Physiotherapy Education
My brain is still buzzing with thoughts and ideas after two back-to-back conferences that featured contributions on environmental physiotherapy education amongst many other exciting themes. Thanks to their online format, you need not worry if you haven’t been...
by Filip Maric | Sep 7, 2020 | Events, Planetary Health
We are excited to have joined the Planetary Health Alliance, a consortium of over 200 universities, non-governmental organizations, research institutes, and government entities from around the world committed to understanding and addressing global environmental change...
by Thies Bundtzen | Sep 1, 2020 | Physiotherapy Education, Students in EPT
It’s 2020. The threat of climate change is ever increasing and we now have a greater understanding than ever of how the environment impacts our health. There is a global outcry for action to be taken to protect the future of the Earth. Leading the charge? Students....
by Filip Maric | Aug 14, 2020 | Events
I am finding it really hard to believe, but it is one year to the day since we have launched the Environmental Physiotherapy Association and so much has happened in so little time. Evidently, the COVID-19 pandemic has overshadowed the last six months of this time, but...
by Mark Taylor | Aug 3, 2020 | Clinical Practice, Greenspace Exposure
Lancashire and North West England. The wettest part of a wet country. So, maybe not the first place one would think of when developing a business model incorporating outdoor rehabilitation. However, the flip side of our, at times, particularly soggy climate brings a...
by Ben Ellis | Jul 21, 2020 | Events, Physiotherapy Education
In Beta is a virtual community of physiotherapy educators who experiment with different approaches to teaching and learning, make podcasts, publish a newsletter, share project ideas and arrange Unconferences. In Beta’s name reflects the fact that we are always in a...
by Jessica Stanhope | Jul 13, 2020 | Clinical Practice, Greenspace Exposure, Physiotherapy Research
Have you ever told a patient to spend more time in greenspaces to help reduce their pain? I haven’t, but this simple intervention may improve pain outcomes for our patients. It was not something I had given a lot of thought to, until a discussion with colleagues last...
by Alexander Stirner | Jul 2, 2020 | Physiotherapy Education, Students in EPT
Vor wenigen Wochen wurde ich mit der EPA und ihrem Thema der Verknüpfung von Physiotherapie und Umwelt konfrontiert. Wenige Tage später veröffentlichte die EPT ihre Agenda 2023. Erfahrungen und Gedanken zu einem Thema, wenn man persönlich bei Level 0 anfängt....
by Tina Price | Jun 7, 2020 | Clinical Practice, Patient perspectives
Living with persistent pain can be difficult! Pain permeates every part of my life and is my constant companion. In this blog I hope to show how the beauty of the natural world can help support those of us living with persistent pain, and in particular how living by...
by Lester Jones | Jun 1, 2020 | Clinical Practice
It was around this time of year, 20 years ago, that I sold my last car. Ingrid and I were heading to London to live and so the sale was necessary. But the fact that we have not bought a car since, to many, is remarkable – so this reflection is a celebration of that. I...
by Joletta Belton | May 25, 2020 | Clinical Practice, Patient perspectives
During the worst years of my pain I became withdrawn and isolated, disconnected from the people, places, and experiences that mattered to me. My sole focus was pain and being rid of it so I could get on with my life and get back to being me. Back then, sitting was my...
by Filip Maric | May 13, 2020 | Clinical Practice, Physiotherapy Education
After writing my recent blogpost on COVID-19, healthcare and the environment I’ve continued updating it for a pretty substantial reading, viewing and listening list. Together, I believe that these resources paint a pretty broad picture of what we are going...
by Oka Sanerivi | May 1, 2020 | Clinical Practice, Environmental Philosophies, Indigenous perspectives
It is a privilege to contribute to the conversation of how the physiotherapy profession could, and should, embark on critically evaluating its relationship with the natural environment. In doing this, I draw on the knowledge of my forbears, particularly in Samoa, to...
by Filip Maric | Apr 23, 2020 | Environmental Issues and Health Impacts, Physiotherapy Education, SDGs
Today we are excited to announce that the EPA has joined the Physiotherapy and Refugees Education Project (PREP) as associate partner. PREP is an Erasmus+ project led by the Western University of Applied Sciences in Bergen, Norway. It seeks to address the mismatch...
