Environmental Physiotherapy Project

Description

Environmental Physiotherapy - A new forest for physiotherapy practice, research and education

This project aims to develop content related to the many links between human health, functioning, physiotherapy and our planetary environment. To date, particularly our planet’s natural environment has been thought of as separate and unrelated to physiotherapy practice, research and education. Ongoing environmental degradation and increasing associated health impacts are now clearly showing that this is no longer a tenable position. With the Environmental Physiotherapy Content Development Project, we seek to inspire thinking and develop content about the many different ways that the environment is related to virtually every aspect of physiotherapy practice, research and education.

The project is open to anyone around the world interested in exploring the diverse relationships between physiotherapy and the environment. Although not a strict requirement, it is recommended that those wishing to contribute to the project take the Plus course: An Introduction to Environmental Physiotherapy prior to developing their contributions. Through editorial collaboration with the Environmental Physiotherapy Association (EPA) you will be developing evidence-based articles exploring the links between physiotherapy and the environment across all aspects of our profession.

Project Dates

1 January 2021 - 31 December 2023 (ongoing)

Project Coordinator

Filip Maric (PhD) - Email: [email protected]

Srishti Banerjee

Introduction

As an entirely new 'forest' or 'jungle' in physiotherapy, this is true pioneering and require extensive and inclusive collaboration. We suggest thinking of environmental physiotherapy as a new forest or jungle, firstly, because it reaches across established physiotherapy specialty 'fields', as well as below and beyond them and, secondly, because it is unruly. It is not something we can cultivate and claim ownership and dominion over as we have with our planet for so long, but in some ways quite the contrary, environmental physiotherapy is about learning about something that we cannot entirely, or ever, rule and conquer, but have to learn to follow and be-with because it has profound implications for our health.

With this in mind, contributors are welcome to suggest new articles to be added to the project, changes to articles, and any other ideas that might come up in the process. This is a very important point: We hope and expect that the sections and article we have tentatively suggested here will change as new ideas emerge and we grow in our understanding, skills and expertise in environmental physiotherapy. We are grateful for your efforts and contribution to this emerging and urgent new forest in physiotherapy. In return for your efforts, you will receive a certificate of completion to help you evidence your learning through your involvement with this project.

Project Objectives

• To inspire thinking and exploration about the many different links between human health, function, physiotherapy and our planetary environment.
• To develop visionary Physiopedia articles on environmental physiotherapy
• To inspire and advance environmental awareness and responsibility across physiotherapy practice, research and education

Instruction to Contributors

It is recommended that those wishing to contribute to the project take the Introduction to Environmental Physiotherapy course on Plus prior to developing their contributions.

1. Choose an article from the list below that you would like to develop. Be sure that the article doesn't already have a name next to it.
2. At this point, you should email us to let us know that you would like to join the project and which page you would like to work on. Please feel free to ask any questions that you have in relation to this project e.g. if you feel a new page needs adding to the list.
3. You will receive an email from the project coordinator to confirm your participation in the project and also to confirm the page that you will develop.
4. Once you have received this confirmation you are free to get on with working on your page (See content criteria below). You should be complete your work in a word (or similar) document. If you are comfortable working in Physiopedia we are very happy for you to work directly in Physiopedia instead of producing a word document.
5. Once you have completed your article, please email the project coordinator.
6. Your article will be reviewed by the project coordinator and you will be emailed a response of approval or of amendments to be made.
7. Once the article has been finally approved, it will be published and you will receive your certificate of completion.

If you have any questions please do email us at [email protected]

Content Criteria

Please review our Quality Standards and Content Review Guidelines to guide you in your content development

1. Word Count - there is no specific word count for pages, some pages can be short (as in this example) and some will need to be longer (as in this example).
2. Formatting - please have a browse of the site and previous content development projects to get an idea of how we present the content.
3. Required Content - the content of your article must include:

a. Evidence (where appropriate and possible)

b. References (see referencing guide)

c. Images and videos (where appropriate and possible)

d. A list of open online resources, such as guidelines and protocols, that we can link to (where appropriate and possible)

If you have any questions please do email us.

CPD/CE Certification

The authors of all articles that are published will be offered a completion certificate to evidence their contribution for their learning and professional development portfolio.

List of Articles

The list of articles here is predominantly meant to be indicative, suggesting possible themes, topics and subtopics that could be explored. They are grouped in broad thematic sections that appeared meaningful in a first conception of the project. Please contact the project coordinator to confirm the exact topic and title of the article you intend to write.

• An Introduction to Environmental Physiotherapy

Section 1 - Philosophical and Intersectional Foundations for Environmental Physiotherapy

In this section, we hope to produce articles on possible philosophical and practical foundations for an environmentally aware and responsible physiotherapy.

• Indigenous ways of life, the environment and physiotherapy (e.g.):
  • Maori definitions of health and the body
  • Sami understandings of healthcare and related practices
• Philosophical perspectives on environment and physiotherapy
• Environmental ethics and physiotherapy
• Environment and gender in physiotherapy
• Environmental justice and physiotherapy
• Definitions of the environment in the ICF and their application in clinical practice

Section 2 - Environmental Foundations of Human Health, Function and Wellbeing

• The ecological foundations of human life on planet Earth (Draw on earth evolution, nature’s contribution to people and ecological determinants of health)
• Anatomy and Physiology: The environmental composition of the human body (oxygen exchange, cell composition, nutrients, microbiome, etc.)
• Nutrition
  • Relevance of nutrition in physiotherapy
  • Muscle function and protein
  • Sports Nutrition
    • Exercise and protein supplements
  • Culinary Medicine for Health and Disease Management
  • Vitamins, Minerals, Electrolytes
    • Electrolytes
      • Hypocalcemia
      • Hypokalemia
        • Hypokalemia case-study
      • Hypomagnesemia
    • Minerals
      • Heavy Metal Poisoning
      • Iron
        • Hemochromatosis (Iron storage disease)
      • Osteomalacia / Rickets (ineffective bone mineralization in children)
    • Vitamins
      • Vitamin B12 Deficiency
      • Vitamin C Deficiency (Scurvy)
      • Vitamin D Deficiency

Section 3 - Environmental Issues and Their Health Impacts

• Global environmental issues and their health impacts: An introduction to global environmental changes and their health impacts
  • Biodiversity and Physiotherapy
  • Climate Change
    • NCDs
  • Air pollution
    • COPD, Asthma
    • Effects of Air Pollution on Neurodegeneration: Implications for Physiotherapy
  • Ocean Acidification
  • Land-system change
  • Plastic pollution (e.g. microplastics in food and water)
  • Extreme weather events, climate migration and associated physical and mental trauma
• Local environmental issues and their health impacts
  • Subdivide by country or similar depending on contributors context

Section 4 - the Causes of Global Environmental Change and Related Health Issues

Beliefs and values, colonialism, industrialism, capitalism, racism…

• How these relate to health and ill-health
• How they relate to physiotherapy
  • How we perpetuate them, and
  • How we might help to address them directly

Section 5 - the Environment in Clinical Practice

• Patient perspectives and experiences of engagement with natural environments
  • CLBP
  • MS
  • Quadruplegia
• Nature-based interventions in physiotherapy (outdoor exercise, greenspace exposure)
  • Benefits for mental and physical health
  • Sunlight, Outdoor Light, and Light Therapy in Disease Management
• Physiotherapy clinical environments
  • Exclusion of nature
  • Natural environments as clinical setting
• Cities, physical activity and physiotherapy
  • Physical activity and the built environment
  • Urban planning and physiotherapy
  • Active transport as environmental physiotherapy intervention (Adam Toner)
• Environmental care and restoration as physiotherapy intervention
• Global challenges relating to the refugee experience: Climate migration
• Work environments
• Virtual reality
  • Virtual reality treatment for multiple sclerosis
  • Virtual reality for individuals affected by stroke
  • Virtual reality and Parkinson's

Section 6 - the Environment in Physiotherapy Specialty Fields and Related Pathologies

• The environment and musculoskeletal physiotherapy
• The environment and physiotherapy for mental health
• The environment and neurological physiotherapy
• The environment and paediatric physiotherapy
• The environment and cardio-pulmonary physiotherapy
• The environment and physiotherapy in occupational health and ergonomics
• Thermotherapy
• Hydrotherapy / Aquatic Physiotherapy
  • Hydrotherapy for Children with Cerebral Palsy
  • Hydrotherapy in ACL rehabilitation
• Space Physiotherapy

Section 7 - Physiotherapy and the Other-Than-Human

• Microbiome
  • Gut Brain Axis
  • Microbiome and Movement
  • Traumatic Experiences: Vagus Nerve, Microbiome, Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Effects of Exercise
• Bacterial infections
  • Antibiotics
• Communicable Diseases
  • Viral infections
    • Antiviral drugs
  • Parasitic infections
  • Zoonotic diseases
    • Zoonotic diseases (alphabetic listing)
      • Anthrax
      • Coronaviruses
        • COVID-19
      • Filariasis
      • Leptospirosis
      • Parasitic infections
      • Rabies
      • Tularemia
      • Zika Virus
• Septic (infectious) arthritis
• Vaccines
• Animals in Physiotherapy
  • Animal-assisted physiotherapy
  • Animal physiotherapy (physiotherapy for animals)
    • Introduction to animal physiotherapy
    • Modalities used in animal physiotherapy
      • Equine physiotherapy / Hippotherapy
        • Equine husbandry
        • Basic equine handling, restraint and training
        • Equine assessment
          • Anatomy and Common Injuries of the Equine Forelimb
          • Physiotherapy Assessment and Treatment of the Equine Forelimb
        • Equine First Aid
      • Canine physiotherapy
        • Basic canine handling, restraint and training
        • Assessment of the canine patient
        • Anatomy of the canine spine
        • Anatomy of the canine front limb
        • Managing disorders of the canine front limb
• Plants in Physiotherapy
  • Plants in clinic rooms and their role in physiotherapy and rehabilitation
  • Plants in client lives and living spaces and their contribution to health
  • Plants as nutrition, medicine, clothing, shelter, therapy
• Tools and other objects in physiotherapy
  • Types of tools (alphabetical list)
    • Acupuncture
      • Waste reduction in Acupuncture
    • Cupping Therapy
    • Walking Aids
      • Canes
      • Crutches
      • Walkers
      • Walking poles
    • Wheelchairs
      • Role of the Wheelchair
      • Wheelchair design
      • Wheelchair services
        • Introduction to wheelchair service provision
  • Prosthetics
    • Prosthetic rehabilitation
  • Robotics
    • Robotic rehabilitation for the lower extremity
    • Upper extremity rehabilitation using robotics
  • Their contribution to the clinical environment of physiotherapy
  • Their role and impact as used resources
  • Digitalisation, AI and sustainability

Section 8 - Physiotherapy and Sustainability

• The UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
• The concept of sustainability and its relation to physiotherapy
• Sustainable healthcare and environmental physiotherapy
  • How PT is environmentally more sustainable than other approaches
  • How PT can be even more environmentally sustainable
    • In clinical practice
    • Education
    • Research
• Environmental stewardship, activism and advocacy as physiotherapy interventions

We look forward to exploring this emerging and urgent new forest in physiotherapy with you!