Health systems around the world are undergoing rapid transformation to respond to rising rates of physical inactivity, a growing burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), aging populations, and widening health disparities. In addition, rehabilitation needs are increasing at unprecedented rates, while significant gaps in access to essential services remain—particularly in low-resourced and underserved settings. With expertise in movement, function, and participation across the lifespan, physiotherapists are well-positioned to support these competing priorities: rehabilitation on the one hand and disease prevention on the other.

Public health physiotherapy expands the traditional scope of physiotherapy beyond individual clinical care to include actions at the organizational, community, and societal levels. This approach directly aligns with global health priorities articulated by the World Health Organization, including Rehabilitation 2030, the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity, the Decade of Healthy Ageing, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Around the world, physiotherapists are increasingly leading and supporting scalable, evidence-informed interventions that promote physical activity, support healthy ageing, prevent injury and disease, and strengthen health systems.

The International Organization of Public Health Physiotherapy (IOPHT) seeks to grow a global network of clinicians, researchers, educators, and advocates working at the intersection of physiotherapy and public health. Across diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and political contexts, IOPHT members are advancing innovative models of care at the intersection of physiotherapy and public health. These models demonstrate the value of physiotherapy in upstream, prevention-oriented strategies that can reduce long-term healthcare costs, enhance quality of life, and improve population health outcomes.

This focused symposium will showcase innovative, evidence-informed, and scalable approaches illustrating how physiotherapists can address global health challenges at the organizational, community, and societal levels. Presenters will share international models of public health physiotherapy practice, compare implementation strategies across varied contexts, and highlight lessons learned.

By integrating global perspectives, evidence-informed strategies, and actionable frameworks for implementation, this symposium positions physiotherapy as a critical contributor to global health priorities and reform. Participants will gain practical insights into how physiotherapists can strengthen population-level initiatives and promote global health equity.

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