International Federation of Sports Physiotherapy (IFSP)

Overview:

Profession(s): Sport Physiotherapy
Member Type(s): Sports Physiotherapists
Scope: International
Formed: 2000
Members: 20
Registration No.: Dutch Chamber of Commerce
Address: Dr. W. Nijestraat 93, 2064 XB SPAARNDAM , Netherlands
Fax: 0031-235 386 744
Website: www.sportsphysiotherapyforall.org/the_team/ifsp/

Description:

The International Federation of Sports Physiotherapy (IFSP), based in Arnhem, The Netherlands, established at 8 December 2000, is a world-wide Federation, representing national organisations of Sports Physiotherapy. The IFSP counts 20 national Member Organisations per June 2005 and 12.784 individual sports physiotherapists that are members of the national Member Organisations, spread across 5 continents. Driving strong growth is its desire to fulfill IFSP’s mission statement.

Mission/Aims:

IFSP is a world-wide Federation, recognised as a subgroup of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT), representing national organizations of Sports Physiotherapy. The efforts of IFSP are directed towards Member Organizations and their individual members in serving athletes of all ages and abilities through excellence in education, research, practice, and clinical specialization. The intention of the IFSP is to be the international resource for Sports Physiotherapists, to promote Sports Physiotherapy through the International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Sports Federations (ISF’s) and other professional organizations.

Aims:

Promote Sports Physiotherapy worldwide.

Advance the professional interest and stature of Sports Physiotherapy worldwide.

Improve the quality of Sports Physiotherapy worldwide on the level 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 mediums.

Utilize organizational structure and policy to promote international harmonization in order to achieve the overall mission of the IFSP.

Principal Activities:

Till 2007 the the Sports Physiotherapy for All project (SPA project), will be the main activity for IFSP, because by means of this project IFSP will be able to achive many of its aims and goals. On the IFSP website all information regarding the SPA project is to be found including an educational portal, providing courses for Sports Physiotherapists.

Other means:

Develop, promote, monitor and update high international core standards of Sports Physiotherapy by:

Setting competencies and standards for sports physiotherapists to facilitate flexible transferable systems of accreditation to become an IFSP registered sports physiotherapist.

Developing clinical guidelines, protocols and a Code of Ethics.

Establishing a recognized body of knowledge specific to Sports Physiotherapy.

Encouraging participation in evidence based practice in Sports Physiotherapy

Encourage international scientific research in the specific field of Sports Physiotherapy and promote opportunities for the spread of knowledge of new developments.

Encourage communication and exchange of educational and professional information between Member Organizations and their individual members as well as communication among and exchange of their students, teachers and programs through:

International Congresses, preferably yearly
Seminars, Symposiums at (inter)national level
Web Site including an educational portal
Journals, preferably web based
Encourage working visits between individual members of the Member Organizations
Facilitate the development of international networks of all specialty areas in which Sport
Physiotherapists practice including Olympic, professional, elite, disabled, and various other athletic populations
Develop a list of IFSP registered Sports Physiotherapists
Facilitate job rotation
Promote communication and cooperation with other health care professionals, organisations, agencies and professional associations in areas of mutual interest
Carry out the functions of the WCPT as set forth by the bylaws and in policy statements as they relate to the IFSP
Give support to WCPT in events and matters where Sports Physiotherapy is involved

Member Benefits:

Increased credibility
Increased promotion
Increased recognition
Communication with other SPT-groups world-wide
Sharing resources
Collaboration on projects
Support of strategic planning
Improved service to members of IFSP member organizations
Influence on the development of the quality, education and the clinical practice of sports physiotherapy world-wide

Training/Licensing/Certification:

According to the choosen model, that will set a very high standard in determining the level of competence that the sports physiotherapist should possess, education should be developed and available up to an MSc level. From 2007, after the expiration of the Sports Physiotherapy for All project (SPA project), an accreditation board will be established to accredit education modules, courses at the level of competencies and standards, as they are developed by the SPA project for the benefit and of IFSP and its membership.

Affiliations:

Associations to which we are a member:
World Confederation For Physical Therapy (WCPT)

Our member Associations, Chapters, Divisions:
Asociacion de Kinesiologia del Deporte
Sports Physiotherapy Australia
Fachgruppe Sportphysiotherapie Austria
Bulgarian Organization of Sports Physiotherapy (BOSP)
Faggruppen for IdrætsFysioterapi (Danish Society of Sports Physiotherapy)
Arbeitgemeinschaft Sportmedizin im Deutschen Verband für Physiotherapie
Panhellenic Physiotherapists Association - Sports Physiotherapy Section
Hungarian Sports Physiotherapy Group
Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine (CPSM)
Gruppo Interesse Specialistico Sport A.I.FI. (GIS SPORT A.I.FI.)
Societe Luxembourgeoise de Kinésithérapie du Sport (SLKS)
Nederlandse Vereniging voor Fysiotherapie in de Sportgezondheidszorg (NVFS)
New Zealand Sports and Orthopaedic Association (NZSOPA)
Nigeria Sports Physiotherapy Association (NSPA)
Norwegian Sports Physical Therapy Association
Grupo de Interesse em Fisioterapia no Desporto da APF (GIFD)
Seccion National de Fisioterapia Deportiva
Swiss Sports Physiotherapy Association (SSPA)
Association of Turkish Sports Physiotherapists
Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine (ACPSM)
Sports Physical Therapy Section (SPTS)

Partner Associations:
International Acupuncture Association of Physical Therapists (IAAPT)
International Association of Physical Therapists Working with Older People (IPTOP)
International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapists (IFOMT)
International Federation of Sports Physiotherapy (IFSP)
International Organisation of Physical Therapists in Women's Health (IOPTWH)
International Private Practitioners Association (IPPA)

Verification Criteria:

From 2007 there should be an IFSP register in place of all IFSP registered Sports Physiotherapists world wide. Until that time, we refer to the registers of our national Member Organisations.

Additional Information:

Definition of an IFSP Sports Physiotherapist: A sports physiotherapist is a recognised professional who demonstrates advanced competencies in the promotion of safe physical activity participation, provision of advice, and adaptation of rehabilitation and training interventions, for the purposes of preventing injury, restoring optimal function, and contributing to the enhancement of sports performance, in athletes of all ages and abilities, while ensuring a high standard of professional and ethical practice.