Honoured Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) member Adjunct Associate Professor Patricia Helen Trott FACP has joined esteemed company in becoming a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia during the 2012 Australia Day Honours. She has been recognized for her 'service to physiotherapy through administrative and academic roles and through professional associations at the state and national level'.

APA National President Melissa Locke said the public recognition is most deserved and testament to the exceptional level of service and dedication that Adjunct A/Prof Trott has given to the physiotherapy profession over the course of her career.

'The APA truly appreciates the outstanding and generous contribution that Pat has made over many years to physiotherapy, both locally and abroad, through clinical practice, academic excellence and professional leadership. She has worked tirelessly in the promotion of the profession and in the improvement of physiotherapy education.

'Her achievements span 50 years and throughout this time she has made a sustained and significant contribution to the APA, of which the Association formally acknowledged in 2002 when Pat was presented with Honoured Membership,' explained Ms Locke.

Protégée of The Maitland Concept creator and 'physiotherapy giant', Geoffrey Maitland, Adjunct A/Prof Trott taught on the first postgraduate course in manipulative therapy in the UK in 1965. Together with Maitland, Brian Edwards and Roger Wilson, she founded the Manipulative Therapists Association of Australia (MTAA) in 1966, now known as Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia (MPA). In 1984, she was one of the first three physiotherapists in Australia to become a Specialist Fellow in Manipulative Physiotherapy of the Australian College of Physiotherapists.

Adjunct A/Prof Trott was APA National President from 1976 to 1977, represented the APA at the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT), and served on the WCPT committee for four years. She was Head of the School of Physiotherapy at the University of South Australia from 1992 to 2000, and continues to guide the next generation of physiotherapists through her position as Adjunct Associate Professor in the Division of Health Sciences.

'Pat's passion for teaching and commitment to her students has undoubtedly changed the way physiotherapy is understood and practiced by those countless physiotherapist graduates she has inspired to the benefit of our profession and patients,' said Ms Locke

Director of the Physiotherapy Research Foundation from 1997 to 2000, Adjunct A/Prof Trott has been actively involved in physiotherapy research, her primary interest being spinal health. She has published many research papers and authored several definitive book chapters, including three in Modern Manual Therapy of the Vertebral Column.

The APA congratulates Adjunct A/Prof Trott on receiving this revered award, and acknowledges her legacy of hard work and extraordinary achievement.

For more information

Kate Price
General Manager, Marketing & Communications
Australian Physiotherapy Association
M (+61) 412 793 736 E This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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After extensive consultation, Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) National President Melissa Locke released the APA's Strategic Plan 2012–14, outlining the professional membership organisation's new direction within a changing health landscape.

'Our three-year plan identifies the Association's over-arching priority—to be a member-focused organisation that delivers quality professional development, advocacy, collegial networking and member services to a growing cohort of qualified health practitioners experiencing unprecedented demand,' stated Ms Locke.

'Physiotherapy is a fast-growing profession steeped in a history of evidence-based practice with increasing relevance in the context of an ageing Australian population, spiraling rates of disability, the rising incidence of chronic and non-communicable conditions and technological developments.'

In the last two decades the number of university-level physiotherapy courses has grown threefold with now over 20 courses offered across the country. During 2011, more than one thousand new physiotherapists graduated to join 22 000 registered practitioners.

'Growth in the number of physiotherapists is in response to huge demand for their wide range of services, despite many people associating physiotherapists with sporting injuries. As outlined in our strategic plan, the APA is keen to see the scope of physiotherapy more widely recognised and appreciated by the general public,' said Ms Locke.

The new plan centers around three strategic objectives directly addressing member needs: value, knowledge and voice. Twenty-eight aims fit under the objectives and have been carefully refined through broad consultation, including members, consumers and other professional and community organisations.

'A mainstay of the plan is to advocate for government funding mechanisms to ensure that physiotherapists can provide quality services. It is our belief that all Australians should have access to best practice physiotherapy when and where required to optimise health and well-being.

'As a peak body, the APA sets a high standard for professional competence and behaviour. This blueprint will guide our efforts to provide world-class support for physiotherapists within the Asia Western Pacific Region and become a distinctive, trusted brand that represents genuine value to all stakeholders,' concluded Ms Locke.

For more information

Kate Price, General Manager, Marketing & Communications
Australian Physiotherapy Association
M (+61) 412 793 736 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About the APA and its members

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is the peak body representing the interests of over 12 000 physiotherapists and their patients. APA members are registered with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, have undertaken to meet the APA Code of Conduct, are expected to use the latest research in practice and often have further and/or specialist qualifications. Physiotherapists work with, educate and customise exercise programs for people affected by a wide range of conditions and symptoms.

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A New Year sees many enthusiasts launch into exercise regimes to get fit and lose weight gained over the festive season. However, without taking suitable precautions injuries can occur–sidelining any fitness benefits. This need not be the case if simple steps are taken before, during and after work-outs.

Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) National President, Melissa Locke, explained 'According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' National Health Survey 2007-08, 61.4% of the Australia's population is either overweight or obese. So it follows that weight-loss and fitness is likely to be one of the top New Year's resolutions.'

'The evidence for movement is proven. Research has shown that exercise facilitates significant health outcomes from maintaining a healthy weight and enhancing mood to decreasing risk of preventable diseases and increasing longevity. But, if we're not careful, our best intentions can backfire,' stated Ms Locke.

When it comes to New Year's resolutions that involve fitness, we can be guilty of launching headlong into punishing regimes and, in doing so, we place ourselves at significant risk to injury and pain. As such, a considered and consistent approach is highly recommended.

It is important to devise a program which incorporates an assessment of current activity levels, particularly if coming from a long period of inactivity. If your goal is to run a marathon within a year, it is vital to set realistic and achievable goals–this will facilitate long term participation and also minimize the chance of injury.

'Creating an exercise plan under the supervision of an APA physiotherapist, will ensure the establishment of reasonable expectations for your body, address muscular weakness or tightness, improve your posture and technique, as well as ensure that you're using appropriate footwear and equipment', advised Ms Locke.

'To avoid set-backs and enhance results, it's important that programs are graduated and consist of exercises that work out the whole body. A cardio workout improves the function and health of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Weight-bearing exercises enhance the function and health of the bones, muscles, joints, and connective tissues.

'Common mistakes we make when starting out afresh include omitting to warm-up and failing to stretch during cool-downs, which help your muscles to deal with the forces of exercise and reset in readiness for the rigours of your next work-out. Over-training is another no-no, and jeopardises sustainable, long-term results,' continued Ms Locke.

'During the summer months, it's also important to stay well hydrated. Sweat output exceeding water consumption during exertion typically results in dehydration and may increase your susceptibility to heat-illness, reduced alertness, poor concentration, discomfort and, ultimately, injury.

'Keeping basic principles like these in mind and seeking professional advice from your physiotherapist will help you achieve and maintain your fitness and weight-loss goals, in the long run,' said Ms Locke.

For more information

Kate Price, General Manager, Marketing & Communications
Australian Physiotherapy Association
M (+61) 412 793 736 E This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About the APA and its members

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is the peak body representing the interests of over 12 000 physiotherapists and their patients. APA members are registered with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, have undertaken to meet the APA Code of Conduct, are expected to use the latest research in practice and often have further and/or specialist qualifications. As first contact practitioners, a doctor's referral is not necessary to see a physiotherapist. Physiotherapists work with, educate and customise exercise programs for people affected by a wide range of conditions and symptoms.

Click here to download this media release

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) welcomes the release of the latest report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) regarding the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) study into General Practice.

'The data shows that over a quarter of all Allied Health referrals in Australia by GPs are to physiotherapists. The links have never been stronger and reflect the long standing collaborative partnership between the two professions that has existed for many decades,' stated APA President Melissa Locke.

The latest yearly report for 2010-2011 as well as the Decade of General Practice activity report for 2001-11 highlights that physiotherapists are the health professional of choice for General Practitioners when it comes to the treating of a range of physical ailments such as the management of chronic pain.

'We are particularly pleased that the rate of referrals to Allied Health professionals continues to increase with an estimated 230,000 more referrals to physiotherapists in 2010-11 compared to 2001-02. This equates to a 63% increase in activity over the past decade,' Ms Locke said.

Australian's clearly require strong communication between GPs and physiotherapists to address their health care needs. The introduction of the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) in just over six months will be a critical enabler to this communication and therefore it is vital that health professionals such as physiotherapists are included as part of the new scheme from the start.

Further Information
BEACH is a continuous cross-sectional national study of general practice activity that began in April 1998. Every year approximately 1 000 randomly selected GPs participate. Each GP records details of 100 consecutive patient encounters on structured paper recording forms, and provides information about themselves and their practice. The age-sex distribution of patients at the weighted encounters has excellent precision with that of patients' at all Medicare GP-claimed encounters. General practice activity in Australia 2009-10

Contact
Kate Price, General Manager, Marketing and Communications
Australian Physiotherapy Association
M (+61) 412 793 736
E This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About the APA and its members

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is the peak body representing the interests of over 12 000 physiotherapists and their patients. APA members are registered with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, must act in accordance with the APA Code of Conduct, are expected to use the latest research in practice and often have further and/or specialist qualifications. As first contact practitioners, a doctor's referral is not necessary to see a physiotherapist. Physiotherapists work with, educate and customise exercise programs for people affected by a wide range of conditions and symptoms.

Click here to download this media release