We have big news to share! Glenda recently returned from the 2025 World Physiotherapy Congress in Tokyo, inspired and energized after attending an outstanding Clinical Seminar on Occupational Health Physiotherapy. This important session brought together industry leaders to focus on promoting health at work, preventing injuries, and supporting successful return-to-work outcomes.

The session was a standout experience, with engaging presentations from experts across the globe. The seminar was chaired by Gayline Manalang (The Philippines) and featured speakers Rose Boucaut (Australia), Claudia Patricia Rojas Silva (Colombia), and Catherine Wambua Wambua (Kenya). Each presenter brought a unique and insightful perspective on how physiotherapists can actively partner with employers and employees to improve workplace health outcomes.

Gayline Manalang opened the session by comparing the occupational health landscape across four nations, emphasizing how laws, autonomy, and terminology vary yet align in key values. How incredibly validating to hear that despite these differences, physiotherapists globally are working with shared goals in prevention, education, and workplace intervention!

Rose Boucaut, President of the International Federation of Physiotherapists working in Occupational Health and Ergonomics (IFPOHE), shared an in-depth look at occupational health practice models. She explored interventions at the societal, organizational, and individual levels, highlighting physiotherapists’ advanced skills in hazard identification and risk management. And in a thrilling moment for us, Rose showcased Glenda’s own KEY Industrial Therapy Worker Care Spectrum during the session and encouraged attendees to use it in their own practices!

Claudia Rojas Silva discussed how job analysis in Colombia begins by taking an “X-ray” of the company, factoring in individual and organizational elements. With structured licensing and specialization pathways, Colombia’s approach demonstrated the importance of formal training in this field.

Catherine Wambua presented a global ergonomics program supported by the World Bank Group, showing how occupational health physiotherapy can scale to support tens of thousands of workers across 189 countries.

Glenda’s biggest takeaway? The world is ready for physiotherapists to play a larger role in workplace wellness, and the movement is already underway.

Stay tuned as Glenda continues to integrate this knowledge into our programs! Together, we are building healthier, safer work environments.