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The International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy (IFSPT) is a worldwide Federation which represents national Sports Physiotherapy organisations. The intention of IFSPT is to be the international resource for Sports Physiotherapists to promote their profession through professional medical organisations. IFSPT is a recognised subgroup of the World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT).
It is based in Spaarndam in the Netherlands.
Main objectives
The main objectives of the IFSPT are to
- promote Sports Physiotherapy worldwide
- advance the professional interest and stature of Sports Physiotherapy worldwide
- improve the quality of Sports Physiotherapy worldwide in terms of knowledge, skills and professional responsibility
- facilitate efforts to conduct research in order to promote evidence based Sports Physiotherapy
- encourage communication and exchange of educational and professional information through various media
- utilise organisational structure and policy to promote international harmonisation
IFSPT encourages high standards of sports physical therapy by keeping the athlete at the central focus of the organisation. In particular, we are concerned with the performance of the athletes, teamwork, complementary expertise and skills, and multidisciplinary guidelines.
The actions we undertake to achieve this high standard include
- Promoting and advancing collaboration of post-graduate education and criteria for clinical specialisation
- Evaluating, developing, and standardizing current worldwide clinical skills, guidelines, protocols, ethics, and rules of behaviour specific to Sports Physiotherapy
- Establishing an internationally recognised body of knowledge specific to Sports Physiotherapy
- Encouraging worldwide participation in the evidence-based practice of Sports Physiotherapy
- Encouraging international scientific research in the field of Sports Physiotherapy and promoting opportunities for the spread of knowledge of new developments
- Encouraging communication and exchange of educational and professional information between member organisations and their individual members through: International Congress; seminars; IFSP website; and a web based scientific magazine
- Encouraging working visits between individual members of the associated organisations
- Facilitating the development of international networks of all specialty areas in which Sport Physiotherapists practice including Olympic, professional, elite, disabled, and other athletic populations
- Developing a list of registered or board certified specialists in Sports Physiotherapy
- Facilitating job rotation
- Promoting communication and co-operation with other healthcare professionals, organisations, agencies and professional associations in areas of mutual interest.
IFSPT Projects
Sports Physiotherapy for All is the name of a major initiative co-ordinated by IFSP from 2004-2006. It was funded by Leonardo da Vinci Foundation with the aims of promoting and enhancing
- mobility and recognition of sports physical therapists in Europe and around the world;
- safe physical activity and participation in sport for all by the development of
- European competencies and standards for sports physical therapists;
Download the Competencies & Standards document >>
- an audit tool, evaluated in a European context; and
- guidelines for ethical behaviour in relation to doping.
This successful program is being further developed by IFSPT and adopted worldwide.
IFSPT Guidelines on Doping
Published November 2004 in association with NeCeDo, the Netherlands Centre for Doping Affairs.
Download the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy Guideline On Doping (PDF) >> |
IFSPT 
