Environmental-Friendly Physiotherapy Practices on a Global Scale

Abstract

The current review paper recognizes and values the elemental and vital role of the environment in our day-to-day life, our physical health and professional physiotherapy practice, and adapt our thinking and actions accordingly. There is a dire need to understand and acknowledge how the environment relates to the existing specialties in the field of physiotherapy and therefore the pathologies and health challenges they attempt to handle. This understanding will enable us to enhance practice for the advantage of patient health across musculoskeletal, neurologic, paediatric, and cardio-pulmonary physiotherapy, and additionally for physiotherapy in mental health issues, occupational health and ergonomics. Apart from patient care, the environmental consideration within the operational functioning and provision of physiotherapy has to be given importance in the various treatment settings. This needs a general understanding of the concept of sustainability and its applications to different parts of physiotherapy service provision. The key foundation for environmental physiotherapy is robust understanding of the environmental issues that we face worldwide these days, along with their health impacts. These include global climate change, biodiversity loss, plastic and air pollution and extreme weather events, and also the means by which they contribute to the direct and indirect spread of health problems, relevant to the field of physiotherapy.