FROM YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF!

On August 25-27, the Danish Sports Physical Group hosted the world at the Fourth World Congress of Sports Physical Therapy. Over 475 people from 37 countries met in Nyborg, Denmark, about one hour from Copenhagen on the ocean. The star-studded speaker list was a draw for those fresh out of the gate from COVID-19 restrictions, along with the many social and networking opportunities.

If you weren’t with us…we missed you! We’d like to share photos from some of the events over these three days.

IFSPT EVENTS: AUGUST 25

Thursday, August 25 kicked off with a working session of the IFSPT Board of Directors. This was the first time our entire current Executive Board was able to meet face to face, due to COVID. The four hour working session carried over through lunch before the IFSPT Networking Session, where Member Organizations were able to share their thoughts and ideas freely. The official General Meeting followed where several important topics were reviewed and voted upon, including the revisions to our Articles, member benefit initiatives, educational opportunities and more.

The day wrapped up with a 1 km stroll down the beach for a joint delegate/speaker dinner and plenty of time for socializing.

The IFSPT Executive Board and Staff at its opening sessiion...and in a lighter moment!

Luciana de Michelis Mendonça, IFSPT president, leads the board and staff in presenting opening remarks for the delegate networking session.

General Meeting delegates and attendees.

AUGUST 26: DAY ONE

Karen Litzy (US) and Professor Kristian Thorborg (DK) presented the opening ceremony, followed by a symposium on the Unbreakable Young World Athlete. Presenters Ummukulthoum Bakare (NGR), Dr. Mario Bizzini (SUI), and Dr. Luciana De Michelis Mendonça (BRA) were featured, while the symposium was chaired by Karen Kotila (DK), and Professor Thorborg.

Symposia regarding the adolescent athlete, tendinopathy, muscle injury prevention, as well as five parallel sessions and the infographic competition followed.

In the evening, a Gala dinner was held with dancing and music. The first annual Alfa Care award was presented to Eduardo Tondelli from Argentina, as well as awards for the infographic competition.

Throughout the day, networking breaks were held to allow participants to connect with one another, the speakers and with our exhibitors and sponsors.

Left to right: Kristian Thorborg, former IFSPT president, Denmark, Karen LItzy, United States; Ummukulthoum Bakare, IFSPT board member, Nigeria; Luciana de Michelis, Mendonça, IFSPT president, Brazil; Mario Bizzini, former IFSPT board member, Switzerland.

AUGUST 27: DAY TWO

The day began with a symposium on the brain in sports related injury/pain: Local structural damage or central changes. After a networking coffee break, five parallel sessions were repeated twice to allow participants to make multiple selections.

The afternoon finished with two symposia: physical activity: that the sports physical therapist needs to know, and motivation for exercise as medicine.

Next, the oral abstract competition was held, featuring the six best rated abstracts.

The closing ceremony, complete with an inspiring video, was presented by Dr. Luciana De Michelis Mendonça, Brazil, IFSPT president, and Lars Damsbo, Denmark, DSSF president.

IFSPT Board Members with the Danish organizing committee. Thank you for all your work!

IFSPT Board Members with the Norwegian organizing committee for the Fifth World Congress of Sports Physical Therapy in Oslo, Norway. Looking forward to an exciting event in Norway, June 14-15, 2024!

IFSPT Board Members with the Belgian organiziing committee for the the upcoming 2023 partnered Congress in Brussels! Save the date for September 22-23!

SOCIALLY SPEAKING

The conference was full of opportunities to connect, network and have fun with colleagues! New to this World Congress were physical activity breaks in the middle of the day for participants. Organized activities such as yoga and beach volleyball, were provided, as well as time for attendees to do their own activities or network. These breaks were well-received by participants, who also enjoyed the healthy bag lunches provided for them.

However, the biggest social event was the Gala Dinner and After Party, featuring the Tennis Band. This optional event was enjoyed by most attendees, who celebrated into the night. All research awards were presented at this event, featuring the first annual Alfa Care Prize!

Eduardo Tondelli, inaugural Alfa Care Prize winner; Torkild Haugen, Alfa Care; and Chris Napier, IFSPT Secretary and Research Chair at the presentation of the Alfa Care prize.

Chris Napier, Eduardo Tondelli, Pablo Policastro and Luciana de Michelis Mendonça after the Alfa Care award presentation.

Poster presentation award winners celebrate on the stage.

A full dinner hall, enjoyed by attendees, including Vibeke Bechtold (Denmark), former IFSPT board member, and Karl Locher (Austria), shown below.

The Tennis Band hits its stride at the after party!



Thank you to all who traveled to Denmark to join us! If you weren’t with us…we missed you! Plan now to attend the Fifth World Congress of Sports Physical Therapy in Oslo, Norway, June 13-14, 2024, and the iFSPT and BFSP partnered course in Brussels, Belgium, September 21-23, 2023.

The World Physiotherapy Congress 2023 will be held June 2-4, 2023, at Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai's epicentre for events and business in the heart of the city.

Dubai is the largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf, it is the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, one of the seven emirates that make up UAE.

WHY ATTEND?

• Meet your international colleagues face to face for the first time in four years.

• Learn from world experts and leaders in their field as they share the latest findings.

• Listen to global perspectives on the profession’s hot topics – reflecting experiences in

low, middle and high income countries/territories.

• Discover new ways of thinking and the latest research to inform how you practice – 80%

of previous participants said gaining new knowledge was a key benefit of attending.

• Over 130 scientific programme sessions to choose from, and over 800 poster and

ePoster presentations across the event.

• 80% of previous participants rated their congress experience as good or excellent.

• 79% said they were likely to recommend attending a World Physiotherapy congress to a

  colleague or friend.

• A large exhibition showcasing the industry’s latest innovations and services, including a

startup zone and industry workshops.

• Join a range of informal sessions in the exhibition area including our popular Indaba

sessions, industry workshops and campfires.

If you can't make it to Dubai we have an online event option, 23-25 June 2023, that includes recorded content and live Q&A discussions with presenters from the in-person event

THE IFSPT AT WP 2023

Dr. Luciana De Michelis Mendonça, IFSPT President, is a member of the World Physiotherapy Congress organizing committee, supporting IFSPT’s active role in WP. IFSPT will present a networking session at WP 2023 and will participate in other

programme educational sessions.

“One of the benefits of a live, face-to-face Congress is the ability to interface with your fellow colleagues around the world,” Dr. Mendonça says. “While we have all become used to online education and communication, with the break of the pandemic World Physiotherapy recognizes the need to return to live communication with one another. The IFSPT saw this in action at our Fourth World Congress in Denmark in 2022.”

INFORMATION ABOUT DUBAI

A global city and business hub of the Middle East, in 2018, Dubai was named as the world's second safest country and 20th happiest country. Bordered by deserts and beaches, Dubai provides stark contrasts, from intriguing Islamic culture to the ultra-modern, high-tech metropolis of the 21st century.

JOIN US IN DUBAI!

Join the IFSPT and all World Physiotherapy subgroups and member organizations in Dubai in 2023 to share ideas, research, practice, education, policy, and service innovation.

For more information, go to https://wp2023.world.physio/

IFSPT PLATINUM SPONSOR AND IFSPT TITLE SPONSOR FOR WORLD CONGRESS OF SPORTS PHYSICAL THERAPY!

LEARN MORE ABOUT ALFA CARE HERE>

IFSPT PARTNER

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHYSITRACK HERE>