Emergency Preparedness for Physiotherapy Services Lacking in World Physiotherapy Member Organizations

Strategic Insights -

According to research published in Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, a significant gap exists in the integration of physiotherapy services into national and subnational health emergency preparedness planning in countries/territories of World Physiotherapy member organizations. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the need for emergency preparedness, many organizations reported not adopting mitigation strategies to overcome physiotherapy service disruptions.

Key Takeaways:

  • 116 out of 125 World Physiotherapy member organizations (MOs) participated in the 2022 World Physiotherapy annual membership census.
  • 24% of participating MOs reported not adopting any of the listed mitigation strategies to overcome physiotherapy service disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 64% of participating MOs reported that physiotherapy services were not included in any health emergency preparedness component for rehabilitation in their country/territory.
  • A country's income level does not appear to be a major determinant of emergency preparedness.
  • Low levels of integration of physiotherapy services into national and subnational health emergency preparedness planning were reported.
  • Quantitative analysis was conducted on response frequencies, with 116 participating MOs, from World Physiotherpy member organizations, 25 countries reported integrating physiotherapy in their response to the pandemic, in 2022.

Statistics:

  • 24% of participating MOs did not adopt any of the listed mitigation strategies to overcome physiotherapy service disruptions.
  • 64% of participating MOs reported that physiotherapy services were not included in any health emergency preparedness component for rehabilitation.
  • 116 World Physiotherapy member organizations participated in the 2022 census.
  • 25 countries reported integrating physiotherapy in their response to the pandemic.
  • Physiotherapy services disruptions were reported in 34 countries worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. New Emergency Preparedness Data Have Been Reported by Researchers at World Health Organization (WHO) (Global response to physiotherapy services disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the level of preparedness for the next health emergency). Bioterrorism Week. September 15, 2025; p 198.
  • Global response to physiotherapy services disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the level of preparedness for the next health emergency. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 2025;6:1614604.