Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital Physiotherapist Ülviye Koçarslan stated that physiotherapy is a discipline that includes all principles, disciplines and techniques that aims at prevention, identification and treatment of functional movement disorders caused by anatomical and physiological reasons.
Koçarslan made a statement about the 8th of September World Physical Therapy Day; explaining Physiotherapists; as those who have obtained the required qualifications and characteristics for the occupation, who conducts comprehensive assessment of the patient, diagnoses the condition, identifies and applies the appropriate treatment methods and finally identifies the results and criteria of the termination of physiotherapy treatment.
Physiotherapist Ülviye Koçarslan also explained that the history of the physiotherapy profession dates back to 460 BC, where Physicians such as Hippocrates and later Galen were the first practitioners of applying methods such as massage, manual therapy techniques and hydrotherapy to treat patients. Koçarslan also stated that the modern era began in the UK and America in the 19th century.
Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital Physiotherapist Ülviye Koçarslan stated that the first official meeting of the World Confederation of Physiotherapy (WCPT), which was established in 1951 was held on the 8th of September and for this reason World Physical Therapy is celebrated on that day in all member countries.
Ülviye Koçarslan stated that: “Today, WCPT is a major organization representing 450,000 physical therapists worldwide through its 112 member organisations. WCPT is also conducting joint projects with many international and organizations such as the World Health Organization, United Nations, International Institute on Ageing and UNİCEF, and continues to increase the professional development and promotion of physiotherapists worldwide. Koçarslan also stressed that the Turkish Physiotherapists Association which has been founded in 1969, has become a member of WCPT in 1974 and the Turkish Cypriot Physiotherapists Association is preparing to celebrate their 40th anniversary.
Koçarslan said that starting from the 1980s physiotherapists are conducting postgraduate studies on neurological rehabilitation, orthopaedic rehabilitation, paediatric rehabilitation, rehabilitation in reconstructive surgery, geriatric rehabilitation, obstetric-gynaecological rehabilitation, curative rehabilitation, physiotherapy in sports; as well as on fields such as physiology, anatomy, neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, biomechanics, kinesiology, bioengineering and neuroscience.
Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital Physiotherapist Ülviye Koçarslan completed her statement with the following words: We will continue to achieve our goals by multidisciplinary teamwork and perform our profession without distinction as to race, language or religion. We would like to wish a happy Physical Therapy Day to all physiotherapists for helping people to be physically active, who encourage and guide those who have movement problems. Life is beautiful when we are able to move. “