Tomorrow, on an international level, the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) is celebrating the World Day of Physiotherapy, along with other countries.

On the 8th of September, the World Confederation of Physiotherapists celebrates World Physiotherapy Day – with the theme for this year – Physical Activity for Life.

All human beings need to be physically active. Globally around 26% of adults are not active enough, however physiotherapists keep people active throughout their lives.

The MUMN said that in Malta, statistics issued in 2015, showed that 43 % of the population are not active enough. The physical activity of the male population is 61% while that of the female population is 53%.

Physical inactivity was defined as “failing to engage in exercise in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity five times a week, 20 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity three times a week, or an equivalent combination of exercise,” the Union said.

It added that, “Malta also tipped the scales as the most obese population in the European Union this year in a study by the World Health Organisation (WHO).”

“When non-EU countries in Europe are factored in, only people from Andorra and Turkey outweigh the Maltese, with the United Kingdom in fourth place. 68.5% of men and 59.6% of women over the age of 18 from the Maltese population were found to be overweight by the WHO study.”

The MUMN said that, “physical activity and exercise help people lead happy and healthy lifestyles. It improves cardio respiratory fitness, muscular health and reduces the risk of many conditions including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.”

It added that, “physiotherapists keep people moving throughout interventions which maximise strength and mobility. Through advice and exercise programmes, they support people of all ages to achieve activity goals.”

The Union also pointed out that physical activity reduces the risk of disease. Regular physical activity helps to maintain a healthy body and can help people with range of symptoms and conditions such as pain, dementia, stroke, hypertension, arthritis, obesity, depression and cardiovascular disease.

The Union remarked that physiotherapy needs to be seen “not as a complimentary profession but a standalone profession which is an integral part of the health care system just as doctors and nurses.”

“Policy makers and the authorities need to understand that physiotherapists have a very specific role to play in our health care system,” the MUMN said.

The Union stated that “physiotherapists are not only physical rehabilitation providers, but are also able to work as first contact practitioners, they play a key role in primary care and prevention of non-commutable diseases such as diabetes, obesity and also in mental health; all this based on the importance of movement and exercise.”

“Provision of physiotherapists is surely not an issue in this country, but there is need to invest more in this profession both in human resources, physical resources and space.,” it said.

MUMN went on to say that it is the sole union that represents physiotherapists in the public service, and will continue to strive to bring forward the advancement of the profession, development of its members and the widespread influence that physiotherapists have.

The MUMN Council wished all physiotherapists and physiotherapy students a Happy Physiotherapy Day.

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