The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is calling for physiotherapy to be recognised within GLP-1 treatment pathways so people with identified clinical and functional needs can access support to maintain strength, mobility, physical function and independence. 

GLP-1 therapies represent an important advance in chronic disease treatment for people for whom they are clinically appropriate. As their use grows, the care must extend beyond the prescription and support the broader health and functional outcomes people need to remain independent and participate in everyday life. 

Decisions about whether GLP-1 therapy is appropriate remain between patients and their prescribing healthcare practitioners, and people must be able to access multidisciplinary care they need to maintain their physical health and function where these medicines form part of treatment. 

APA National President Dr Rik Dawson said treatment pathways should consider what patients need across the full course of their care. 

‘GLP-1 therapies are becoming an increasingly important part of chronic disease care. For people who are prescribed these medicines, treatment should support their overall health and wellbeing beyond the prescription,’ Dr Dawson said. 

‘That means helping people maintain and rebuild strength, mobility and physical capacity so they can remain independent, participate in everyday life and do the things that matter to them.’ 

Physiotherapists can support people before and during treatment, and as their physical and functional needs change over time. This can include assessing strength, balance, mobility, gait and functional capacity, managing musculoskeletal pain or injury, and safely progressing physical activity. 

This support can be particularly important for people living with pain, frailty, disability, mobility limitations or multiple chronic conditions, where individual assessment and tailored rehabilitation may be required. 

Dr Dawson said physiotherapy has a distinct role within multidisciplinary care. 

‘Success should be measured by people moving well, staying strong and being able to do the things they love. Physiotherapy combines musculoskeletal assessment and management with rehabilitation and the safe progression of physical activity. That capability should be recognised in national GLP-1 clinical guidance and models of care.’ 

‘If someone begins to lose strength or finds everyday activities harder during treatment, physiotherapy can help identify what is changing and put a plan in place to rebuild physical capacity. That might mean improving strength and balance, managing pain or injury, or helping someone safely return to walking, exercise and the activities that matter to them,’ he said. 

The APA is also calling on the federal government to expand access and flexibility under existing Chronic Condition Management arrangements through the Medicare Benefits Schedule. 

Current arrangements generally provide eligible patients with five individual allied health services each calendar year, shared across eligible providers. The APA says greater flexibility would allow GPs and patients to direct care according to identified clinical and functional need, rather than creating a separate pathway tied to a GLP-1 prescription. 

The position statement recommends: 

• physiotherapy be explicitely recognised in national GLP-1 guidance 

• referrals remain based on individual patient need and practitioner capability 

• function outcomes including strength, mobility, balance, participation, physical capacity and indepdence be incorporated into treatment planning and evaluation

• expanded access to allied health services under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Chronic Condition Management arrangements 

‘We have an opportunity here to build treatment pathways that supports a person’s long-term health, function and independence. Where physiotherapy is clinically indicated, it should be accessible as part of coordinated, patient-centred care,’ Dr Dawson said. 

Read the full position statement on the APA website.