APA Musculoskeletal Group March 2024 update (external client)

March 2024

IN BRIEF

National Chair report

Submitted by: Adnan Asger Ali MACP
APA Musculoskeletal and Pain Physiotherapist and National Chair

Happy New Year and welcome to 2024. We begin 2024 with some significant news, CEO Anja Nikolic is stepping down to take on a new role with the Australasian Institute of Digital Health. On behalf of the Musculoskeletal group committee, I’d like to thank Anja for all her help and support over the years. It was truly an honour working with you and we wish you all the best for this next step. The national committee looks forward to continuing its excellent working relationship with the APA leadership as we advocate for our members and for the profession as a whole. This year marks 50 years of the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists, which is celebrating this milestone by putting together an all-star line-up at its 2024 conference in Basel, Switzerland on 4–6 July. Check out the program and register.

The RESTORE trial was the talk of 2023 in the musculoskeletal world and InTouch clinical editor Cobie Starcevich APAM, has themed this issue around Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) theme, sharing with us the history, results and future directions of the trial. Be sure to check out the latest issue of InTouch.

This article is followed by firsthand descriptions of the experiences and perspectives of physiotherapists involved in the RESTORE trial. Kieran Bell APAM and Bridget Dean discuss their experience with the training, overcoming biases, and shifting their mindset to proficiently deliver CFT. I extend my gratitude to Kieran and Bridget for sharing their insightful, albeit challenging, journey.
Professor Dr Jonathan Hill, Gail Sowden and Professor Nadine Foster offer further insights into the RESTORE trial. The three emphasise that despite the extensive training required, the effectiveness of the intervention and its potential to profoundly improve patient outcomes should motivate everyone to overcome any hurdles and ensure that those in need can access comprehensive and effective care. 

There has been some recent movement within the Musculoskeletal Committee. James Lewin MACP, APA Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and former Chair of the WA chapter concluded his term in December last year. In the same month, ACT Chapter Chair, Alice Grellman MACP, APA Musculoskeletal and Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist, and her partner welcomed their son, Charles. Alice is taking a break from the committee to enjoy motherhood. We thank both James and Alice for their dedication and wish them the best in their future endeavours. As a result of Alice’s leave, the ACT chapter is looking for a new chair and members to join their local committee. If you or any of your colleagues are from the ACT and have a passion for advocacy and musculoskeletal physiotherapy, please reach out either to myself or to Jen Thomson to join this small but energetic committee.

As your national committee, we are working with the musculoskeletal steering committee and the APA to usher in a new suite of professional development in the near future. Stay tuned for updates.

Introducing Your 2024 APA Musculoskeletal Committee:

  • National Chair: Adnan Asger Ali MACP, APA Musculoskeletal and Pain Physiotherapist
  • National Chair Deputy: Nicolas Kendrick MACP, APA Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist
  • ACT Chair: Vacant
  • NSW Chair: Andrew Webster FACP, Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of
  • Physiotherapists in 2015)
  • NT Chair: Lee Corey MACP, APA Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
  • QLD Chair: Timothy Long APAM
  • SA Chair: Alexander Flood MACP, APA Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
  • TAS Chair: Lachlan Marwood MACP, APA Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
  • VIC Chair: Ellyse Plant APAM
  • WA Chair: Todd Teakle MACP, APA Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
  • Ex-Officio QLD: Curtley Nelson APAM
  • Ex-Officio QLD: Rod McLean FACP, Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2013)
  • Ex-Officio VIC: Richard Newsham-West MACP, APA Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist

This dedicated group of members plays a crucial role in ensuring the needs of our Musculoskeletal group members are well represented and communicated to the APA and the wider profession. If you are interested in becoming more involved, we would value your feedback and input. You can contribute by:

  • getting in touch by directly participating on the APA Musculoskeletal Facebook page
  • joining a Musculoskeletal state committee. 

 

Pain sensitivity banner

 

Professional Development

Looking for professional development opportunities? 

Easily search for musculoskeletal professional development face-to-face opportunities near you.

Or access online lecture recordings through cpd4physios website. 

If you have any suggestions for professional development online lectures or networking forums in 2024, email Jen Thomson.

 

Recent InMotion articles

Check out some of the latest articles available now:

October 2023 issue:

November 2023 issue:

December 2023 issue:

 

Conference – FOCUS24 The business of Physiotherapy 

FOCUS24 will be hosted in Perth Thursday 31 October to Saturday 2 November for a program showcasing the latest in business, education, leadership, and practice across all areas of physiotherapy. 

Abstract submissions are now open, download the abstract guidelines before submitting. This is an excellent opportunity to join the field of invited industry experts, to share your ideas, while encouraging innovation and professional development collaboratively amongst the physiotherapy profession.

VISIT THE FOCUS24 WEBSITE

 

Australian College of Physiotherapists

College Knowledge Exchange series

The College Knowledge Exchange (CKE) is a series of presentations delivered by Fellows of the Australian College of Physiotherapists (ACP) exclusively for FACPs and MACPs. Including a presentation followed by the opportunity for question and answer and peer-to-peer interaction, the CKE is a great opportunity to connect with the ACP, network and learn from the experience of your esteemed College peers.

The line-up for the 2024 CKE series is:

  • April 2024: Women’s, Men's and Pelvic Health Physiotherapist Anita Bir MACP
  • July 2024: Ivan Lin FACP, Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2021).
  • September 2024: Chloe Serrao FACP, Specialist Women’s, Men's and Pelvic Health Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2021)
  • November 2024: Anne Daly FACP, Specialist Pain Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2021).

Keep a look out for further information about the April event in subsequent e-communications and via APA and ACP social media (presenters are subject to change).

Virtual symposium — “The great debate — to operate or not to operate” (lumbar spine, shoulder and foot & ankle conditions)

The program of this virtual symposium was crafted by Jane Rooney FACP, Specialist Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2009) and the content is specifically aimed at experienced physiotherapists (titled and specialist physiotherapists). This event will be held on 16 March 2024. Find out more information about the symposium and register. 

Evidence Portfolio Pathway roll out

The Australian College of Physiotherapists is accepting titling applications via the Evidence Portfolio Pathway from 1–30 March 2024, with limited places available in the first intake.
In 2024, three intakes are scheduled:

  • Intake 1: March 
  • Intake 2: July 
  • Intake 3: September

The first intake will accept applications across the following disciplines:

  • Cardiorespiratory 
  • Gerontology
  • Neurological 
  • Occupational Health
  • Paediatric 
  • Pain
  • Sports and Exercise 
  • Women’s, Men’s, Pelvic Health (title-Continence and Women’s Health)

The application form and additional details will be available on the ACP titling webpage from 1 March 2024. For further assistance, please email the ACP team. 

 

Advocacy

Advocacy Matters and Valuing Skills 

Stay up-to-date with our advocacy efforts on the Advocacy Matters page. 

Check out the Valuing Skills Series where we highlight the value and role of physiotherapy in the healthcare system.

Removal of physiotherapist in SIRA update 

We would like to bring to your attention a significant development concerning the clinical care pathway in the low back pain model of care by the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA). 

SIRA has recently made a decision to replace the term 'physiotherapist' with 'physical therapies,' allowing non-Ahpra regulated and limited scope exercise providers to treat patients in NSW.

The APA is deeply concerned about the implications of this decision. We believe that SIRA has shown a concerning disregard for the feedback received during the public consultation process and a lack of consideration for the well-being of patients in this taxpayer-funded scheme. In response to this situation, we have issued a media release and an open letter to SIRA, expressing our concerns and urging them to reconsider their decision.

It is worth noting that nearly 200 physiotherapists, in collaboration with the APA, provided compelling evidence during SIRA's public consultation last year. We highlighted that this change represents a dangerous oversimplification of guideline-based care. Impressively, 77 per cent of the submissions received by SIRA during the consultation were from physiotherapists who shared our concerns about the potential risks to patient care in NSW. These risks arise when patients are referred to practitioners who may not possess the qualifications or meet Ahpra's regulatory standards.

The APA firmly believes that SIRA's decision lacks merit and undermines the expertise and qualifications of physiotherapists. We are concerned that this change not only deviates from evidence-informed care, which has been successfully tested with physiotherapists and medical practitioners, but also seems to be a step towards a model of 'insurer-managed care', disguised under the label of 'Value-Based Healthcare'.

This bureaucratic decision was made without a comprehensive understanding of how a simple change in terminology can impact a patient's health journey. Therefore, the APA has unequivocally opposed and de-endorsed the document in its current state, as it omits the terms 'physiotherapist' and 'physiotherapy' from the low back pain model of care.

We will keep you updated on our progress in addressing this matter. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email the Member Support team.

IFOMPT update

Visit the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT) website to learn about the world conference of musculoskeletal and manual physical therapy, access learning and research resources and much more.

The APA's LGBTQIA+ Hub is now online

The LGBTQIA+ Hub is now live. We would love to hear your thoughts about what else you would like to see hosted here for members including resources, information and any new ideas. Please don't hesitate to email Megan Ross or add your ideas to the APA's LGBTQIA+ Community on Facebook.

 

Podcasts

Physios on the MIC

Learn more about physical activity after cruciate ligament reconstruction by listening to episode two of Physios on the MIC. 

Conference Conversations

Learn more about the impact of labels on pain perception by listening to Episode 6 of the IGNITE series Conference Conversations.

This podcast is an initiative of the Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF).

 

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