Objective: To illustrate how the APPDE promotes optimal physiotherapy expertise in Europe and the world in the care of people with Parkinson’s.

Background: The APPDE provides a platform where clinicians, researchers, multidisciplinary team members, patients, families and policy makers exchange their expertise. Enabling continue professional development (CPD). Challenges are the variation in physiotherapy provision worldwide, different training curricula, diverse health care systems, including different use of terminology.

Methods: Through strategic networks the APPDE collaborates with partners including, the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Health Professionals (Non Physicians) Special Interest Group, the International Neurological Physical Therapy Association(INPA), the World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT), national physiotherapy associations and interest groups.The European Guideline for Physiotherapy in Parkinson’s project team lead by ParkinsonNET, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, the Netherlands, The European Parkinson’s disease Association and the World Parkinson Coalition. CPD is supported by raising awareness of physiotherapy with Parkinson’s expertise, Guideline implementation initiatives, conference participation, mentoring, website development (www.appde.eu) and social media, like Twitter @euPhysioPD and FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/euPhysioPD.

Results: The APPDE promotes optimal physiotherapy practice in Europe and internationally, including Guideline implementation, working closely with ParkinsonNet. It delivers courses developed in partnership with institutions and organisations. First course was in Edinburgh in 2007. It contributed to the MDS Allied Health Professional Summer School of physiotherapy (the Netherlands 2013 and Portugal 2014). Joining an international network group, APPDE members were speakers at the INPA Network Session (WCPT congress, Singapore 2015). The session promoted discussions on how networking between neurological therapists could improve practice and enhance CPD. The presentation utilised projects and networking undertaken by the APPDE.

Conclusions: Being an active part of the health professionals’ international community creates bridges amongst multidisciplinary team members and promotes optimal physiotherapy practice for people with Parkinson’s internationally.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/promoting-optimal-physiotherapy-practice-worldwide-role-of-the-association-of-physiotherapists-in-parkinsons-disease-europe-appde/