wcpt congress: event of a lifetime - World Confederation for Physical ...

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NEWS & VIEWS FROM PHYSIOTHERAPY NEW ZEALAND | AUGUST 2011 

Physiotherapy for arthritis: 

free resource pack coming your way 

WCPT CONGRESS: 

EVENT OF 

A LIFETIME

CONTENTS 

AUGUST 2011 

Cover: WCPT Congress: 

Event of a lifetime 

Image courtesy of Antim 

Wijnaendts van Resandt for 

WCPT www.wcpt.org 

Editorial 3 

WCPT: the experience, 

the ideas, the challenges 

Your National Office at Work 4 

Commentary 

Your chance to raise awareness 

On the ground 

Face to face with other chief executives 

Raising Awareness 5 

Physiotherapy for arthritis: 

Free resource pack heading your way 

Professional Issues 6-9 

Arthritis: The physiotherapists who treat it 

Developments in the Health and Disability Sector 10-11 

Health Equity: the Marmot symposium; What the 

restructured Ministry looks like; Post-census survey on 

disability; Making a Difference Fund; No more tobacco 

displays; WHO report on disability; Global health data 

available from WHO. 

Research Column 12-13 

Osteoarthritis; Lymphoedema; Prescribing exercise. 

WCPT 14-17 

The event of a lifetime 

Physiotherapy Where? 18-19 

Striving for success - the 18th World Transplant Games 

ACC News and Views 19 

Changes to ACC Workers Account; Vocational 

Rehabilitation; Primary health care matters. 

Of Special Interest 20 

High standard recognised 

Branching Out 21 

Otago: A proactive Branch 

Business 22 

Recruitment is a two-way process 

Tomorrow’s Profession 23 

What will it look like? (from Otago) 

Letters to the Editor 24 

General Notices 25 

Welcome to New Members 25 

Professional Development Calendar 26-28 

Professional Development – Advertisements 29-36 

Vacancies 37 

Products and Services 37-44 

Contact Details 42 

Editorial & Advertising 

Editorial items 

Email the Editor, Ailsa Cornell: ailsa.cornell@physiotherapy.org.nz 

Letters to the Editor are limited to 250 words. Letters may be edited, and will not 

be published if they are objectionable, offensive, or factually incorrect. 

Advertisements and course information 

Email the Administration Officer, Amy Macklin: nzsp@physiotherapy.org.nz 

Classified advertisements 

For vacancies (including new graduates available), practices for sale/lease, and 

equipment for sale/to buy – are now published online only. All display ads are 

published in Physio matters and online. 

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Rates for advertising in Physio Matters are available on our website (Resources and 

Publications/Advertising): https://www.physiotherapy.org.nz/Category;jsessionid=2 

F3EB19D7951A4A3E2FF6599040DE041?Action=View&Category_id=263 

Month of Newsletter Editorial deadline Advertising deadline Publication (mailout) 

February 2011 Tuesday 18 January Monday 31 January Monday 14 February 

March 2011 Friday 18 February Monday 28 February Monday 14 March 

April 2011 Friday 25 March Thursday 31 March Monday 18 April 

May 2011 Wednesday 20 April Friday 29 April Monday 16 May 

June 2011 Wednesday 25 May Tuesday 31 May Monday 20 June 

July 2011 Friday 24 June Thursday 30 June Monday 18 July 

August 2011 Friday 22 July Friday 29 July Monday 15 August 

September 2011 Thursday 25 August Wednesday 31 August Monday 19 September 

October 2011 Friday 23 September Friday 30 September Monday 17 October 

November 2011 Friday 21 October Monday 31 October Monday 14 November 

December 2011 Friday 18 November Wednesday 30 November Monday 12 December 

Physio Matters on our website 

Members can read Physio Matters on our website – in a pageflip version or 

a PDF file. For workable links, use the PDF version. 

The Editor reserves the right to edit material for space and clarity, and to withhold 

material from publication. Individual views expressed in this publication are not necessarily 

those of the Physiotherapy New Zealand. Inclusion of product or service information 

or of links to external websites does not imply PNZ endorsement of the product, 

service or website unless specifically stated. While every endeavour is made to ensure 

the accuracy of information, no responsibility is accepted for inaccurate information. 

Follow the links 

Website addresses given in here are often too long and meaningless to copy. 

However on our website (under Publications/Physio matters) there is a PDF version 

of each Physio matters where you can click on workable hyperlinks. There is also a 

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Phone: +64 4 801 6500 | Fax: +64 4 801 5571 | www.physiotherapy.org.nz 

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EDITORIAL 

WCPT: the experience, 

the ideas, the challenges 

GILL STOTTER 

PRESIDENT 

PHYSIOTHERAPY NEW ZEALAND 

It was a privilege to represent Physiotherapy 

New Zealand at the World 

Confederation for Physical Therapy 

Congress in Amsterdam in June. 

With over 5000 delegates from 105 

countries, this was an exciting, diverse 

and multicultural experience. We had 

opportunities to meet new friends, 

share experiences and generate ideas 

that can change professional thinking. 

The Moving Physical Therapy Forward 

theme was promoted through complementary 

sessions on global health, 

professional issues and practice, education 

and research in different forums – 

including symposia, discussion panels, 

networking sessions, seminars, and 

over 1500 poster presentations. 

The main focus on global health 

issues highlighted that the message is 

similar throughout the world but we 

have region-specific issues and needs. 

Our Asia Western Pacific region is 

culturally diverse and geographically 

challenging, extending from the Middle 

East across to Japan and south to New 

Zealand, including 22 representative 

countries. Dr Margot Skinner has 

worked enthusiastically and tirelessly 

for our region as representative on the 

executive council of WCPT for the last 

four years. She was commended and 

acknowledged for her support and 

dedication and has been re-elected for 

this position. We are very proud and 

appreciative of her role. 

How are we going to manage the 

demands and reduce the risks 

associated with the ageing population 

and increase in chronic 

diseases? Physiotherapists are key to 

addressing this challenge. We must 

develop preventative strategies with 

an increased understanding and 

awareness of predictive factors. 

Government priorities will determine 

change. We can influence health policy 

by a clear unified message presenting 

solutions: physiotherapy interventions 

to address population health needs, 

enabling people to help themselves 

prevent or manage chronic conditions 

rather than create a drain on services. 

Such interventions must be evidencebased, 

supported by robust economic 

evaluation to demonstrate their 

cost effectiveness. 

WHO has published global recommendations 

on physical activity, which 

point out the public health dangers 

of sedentary behaviour. Our role in 

prevention, decreasing sedentary 

behaviour, promoting healthy exercise 

and being actively involved in consultation 

in environmental design is vital. 

We must understand the needs and 

Dr Margot Skinner 

risk factors of our communities, and 

the importance of behavioural and 

healthy living changes. 

Collaborative practice makes a difference 

to health outcomes. A knowledge 

synthesis study by a group of interprofessional 

health researchers, reviewing 

literature published between 2004 

and 2009, revealed that interprofessional 

interventions involving physical 

therapists produced improvements in 

workplace quality, provider satisfaction, 

the number of students in rural placements, 

and recruitment of graduates 

to rural and underserved communities, 

as well as reducing costs of patient 

care. The research concluded that interprofessional 

interventions at education, 

practice and organisational levels 

can improve human health resource 

planning and management strategies. 

There were examples of this 

from around the globe. 

A couple of other international 

developments stand out in my mind. 

Patient groups in the UK are combining 

their efforts, speaking with the same 

voice, for maximum influence. The 

Bermuda Physiotherapy Association is 

working to increase public awareness 

of the unique value of physiotherapy, 

and concentrating on delivering an 

effective quality service. 

Finally I acknowledge our many 

members who presented at Congress 

and those who play an active role 

in representing the profession and 

their Special Interest Groups at an 

international level. I congratulate Dr 

Stanley Paris, on receiving the highest 

honour WCPT can bestow, and also 

Karen Keith for her award. Find more 

details within. 

Gill Stotter 

President 

PHYSIO MATTERS AUGUST 2011 | 03

YOUR NATIONAL OFFICE AT WORK 

COMMENTARY 

ON THE GROUND 

KAREN McLEAY 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 


Your chance to raise awareness 

Many members are enthusiastically 

and energetically 

supporting our work to 

raise awareness regarding 

the value and role of physiotherapy 

in the treatment 

of arthritis. This is very exciting 

for me to see. I now 

encourage all members 

to become involved. Find 

out how in the Awareness 

Raising column. 

Face to face with other 

chief executives 

Like Gill I have just returned from 

WCPT meetings and congress in 

Amsterdam. It was an extremely 

valuable experience for me, in that I 

achieved a real understanding of how 

other associations are operating and 

the different ways they address issues 

similar to ours. 

...others were keen to learn 

about our organisation as we 

are held in very high regard. 

One of our advantages is that 

as an organisation we are quite 

nimble and can respond to 

issues quite quickly if need be. 

I will focus here on one particular 

meeting that was incredibly useful 

for me. It was a meeting of all the 

chief executives of the WCPT member 

associations, lasting for most of a 

day. Currently they meet once every 

three months for one to two days in 

a different country each time, and 

I receive the notes. The meetings 

are primarily in Europe so I have not 

attended, but I do email them or some 

members from time to time, to keep 

up with the play. So this face-to-face 

meeting was essential, making future 

connections much easier. 

The others were keen to learn about 

our organisation as we are held in 

very high regard. One of our advantages 

is that as an organisation we 

are quite nimble and can respond to 

issues quite quickly if need be. Many 

of them were caught up in all sorts 

of complicated arrangements. 

Not surprisingly, the other associations 

had a much stronger focus on health 

than on accidents. Most of their 

members came from the public health 

system, whereas private practitioners 

make up slightly more than half 

of our membership, probably due 

to the introduction of ACC. 

Another clear observation was that 

most of the other physiotherapy 

associations were heavily involved 

in promoting the value and understanding 

of physiotherapy in their 

countries - something we are now 

concentrating on. There was a lot 

of discussion around the effectiveness 

of some of these campaigns 

so I believe we can learn a lot from 

their experience. 

Several were developing new websites, 

which is something that we clearly 

need to think about doing as ours 

is largely member-focused and needs 

to offer a more public face. 

The economic recession and changes 

in government policies around health 

issues hit many of the countries quite 

hard and they were grappling to adjust 

to the changes. We are not alone. 

I also learnt that the role of the advanced 

practitioner (or equivalent title) 

is key for the future of the profession. 

Karen McLeay 

Executive Director 

Some of us Kiwis with Stan Paris 

04 | PHYSIO MATTERS AUGUST 2011

RAISING AWARENESS OF PHYSIOTHERAPY 

Physiotherapy’s benefits: 

Free REsource pack heading your way 

JULIA ANDERSON 


World Physiotherapy Day this year 

(8 September) marks the start of PNZ’s 

nationwide push to raise awareness 

of the benefits of physiotherapy for 

people with arthritis – and we’re 

hoping you will get involved! 

We’ll make available a resource pack 

in the next couple of weeks to support 

you to get the word out in your local 

area. Thanks to all the members who 

have put forward examples of patients 

to highlight as part of the publicity 

around this work – there were some 

great examples and we’re working 

through those at the moment. 

“Physiotherapy is crucial for 

people with arthritis who 

wish to enjoy an active and 

independent life” 

“Key messages” 

The main message we’ll seek to convey 

is that people with arthritis can enjoy 

an active and independent life despite 

their condition – and physiotherapy has 

a crucial role to play. 

We already know that research shows 

the benefits of exercise and stretching 

– of keeping moving – for people with 

arthritis. It makes them fitter, stronger, 

more flexible – and it reduces their pain. 

However, many people with arthritis 

have the impression that they just have 

to live with the pain and immobility – 

or that medication and invasive surgery 

are the only remedies. 

We’ll seek to convey that anyone 

with arthritis will benefit from having 

a physiotherapist as part of their 

treatment team. It’ll be important to 

emphasise that there needs to be the 

right balance between activity and 

rest and that a physiotherapist is best 

placed to work with the patient to set 

out a plan that’s right for their specific 

situation. This includes figuring out 

activities the patient will enjoy and can 

incorporate into everyday life, rather 

than them feeling it’s a chore or a bore. 

Another “key message” is that the 

physiotherapist aims to assist their 

patients to self-manage their condition. 

This includes the physiotherapist 

discussing the patient’s symptoms with 

them, and how these affect their life, 

and suggesting ways of managing 

these so the patient gains freedom 

and independence. 

Who are we trying to reach? 

We’ll primarily focus on men and 

women aged from mid 20s to mid 

50s, because awareness of symptoms, 

and early treatment and management, 

are important. 

Women are important influencers 

when it comes to matters of health. 

Research shows that in the majority of 

cases where people seek health advice 

for suspected arthritis, it was a female 

family member who encouraged them 

to take action. However, men are also 

an important audience and it’s vital that 

we reach them in order to give them 

information that provides them the 

opportunity to take early steps to seek 

health advice on arthritis symptoms. 

What channels will we use to get 

the message out? 

The publicity associated with this 

awareness work will target local and 

regional print and broadcast media; 

national broadcasters (radio and TV); 

national newspapers; and weekly/ 

monthly magazines targeted at women 

and men. We’ll also target online news 

sites and blogs. 

The publicity will aim to drive people to 

the PNZ website to find out more and 

to locate a physiotherapist in their area. 

We’ll be adding information to the 

PNZ website before the launch of 

the publicity, and this will include a 

couple of video clips telling the story 

of arthritis patients in New Zealand 

who value physiotherapy as part of 

their treatment. We’ll provide more 

information to you in the next two 

weeks so that you can link to this 

information on your website, or display 

the information on a laptop in your 

clinic. We’ll be sending out leaflets and 

posters as additional resources for you. 

Want to find out more? 

If you’ve got any questions or 

comments on the awareness-raising 

work, or if you’d like advice on how 

to attract publicity about your services 

for people with arthritis, please call 

me on 04 894 1686 or email me on 

julia.anderson@physiotherapy.org.nz 

Arthritis New Zealand 

awareness week 

Arthritis New Zealand will hold its 

annual fundraising drive from 20-26 

September. If you’d like to volunteer 

as a street collector, or to have a 

collection box in your clinic, please 

call Astrid Lee at Arthritis New Zealand 

on 04 472 5637 or email her at 

astrid.lee@arthritis.org.nz 

Julia Anderson 



PROFESSIONAL ISSUES 

ARTHRITIS: THE PHYSIOTHERAPISTS 

WHO TREAT IT 

Physios vital to managing arthritis 

Physical activity is key to 

quality of life for people 

with arthritis, and, “We 

should be the lead people 

in managing this,” Peter 

Larmer insists. 

Peter came to this conclusion through 

hard experience. With an arthritic hip, 

replaced last year, he realised that his 

GP could offer medication (not always 

appropriate, and not in his case) and 

referral to an orthopaedic surgeon 

for replacement – but had few other 

options and was not able to offer any 

advice on exercise, where there is good 

evidence of effectiveness. 

He’s Dr Peter Larmer, Head of the 

School of Physiotherapy at AUT 

University, and he’s now on the 

Board of Arthritis New Zealand. AUT 

physiotherapy students are now 

learning a different model for dealing 

with arthritis, and seeing the new team 

model exemplified in the AUT clinics. 

See May 2011 Physio Matters p.24-25. 

“The focus has changed,” Peter says. 

“Instead of incidental treatment when 

someone with arthritis happens to 

come to a physio for treatment, we’re 

focusing on long-term engagement 

with people who have arthritis. 

“We need to engage with them before 

their arthritis gets so bad that they 

break down and can’t cope. We can’t 

prevent arthritis, but we have a strong 

role in preventing disability.” 

Physiotherapists are the ideal people to 

monitor people’s physical impairment 

level, Peter emphasises. “This is our 

area of expertise, and I don’t think 

we should be shy about saying that. 

We modify their exercise programme 

so that they can learn to be active 

within their limits. We present different 

options for exercise, like swimming, 

cycling, or yoga. We educate them 

about all the known health benefits of 

exercise, and in particular weight loss 

to avoid overloading joints. We need to 

establish a different relationship with 

our clients. We should recall them in six 

months’ or a year’s time to see whether 

they’re maintaining their status or 

getting worse. This should be standard 

practice. We can then say, ‘You’re 

doing well with this,’ or ‘You’re getting 

stiffer here so you need to work on 

these areas and alter this aspect.’ 

“As soon as someone is diagnosed 

with arthritis, a physio should be part 

of their management.” 

Peter is delighted to have Physiotherapy 

New Zealand working in with the 

awareness raising efforts of Arthritis 

New Zealand, and he urges individual 

physiotherapists to display information 

about the campaign in clinics and 

departments. “When patients come in 

and see that, they realise that physios 

have a role in managing arthritis.” 

Physiotherapists have the training 

and skills to manage arthritis, Peter 

says, but a nationwide educational 

package would help update them on 

evidence-based research and achieve 

consistent management. 

The physiotherapist’s disease 

Before modern anti-inflammatory 

medications and newer biological 

drugs, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) was 

often known as “the physiotherapist’s 

disease”. Although medications have 

advanced and the medical management 

of patients with AS is now much 

more sophisticated than previously, 

there is no doubt that physiotherapy 

still makes a huge difference to the 

lives of those with the disease. International 

best practice guidelines highlight 

the need for a combined approach to 

treatment of AS incorporating both 

medical and exercise-based therapy for 

optimal patient outcomes. 

Physiotherapy and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal 

anti-inflammatory drugs) are 

first-line management for ankylosing 

spondylitis which must be used before 

patients can be considered for the new 

(and very expensive) biological drugs. 

Even for a patient on one of these new 

medications, exercising to maintain 

their range of motion remains essential. 

Inflammatory arthritis also increases a 

person’s risk of cardiovascular disease 

and osteoporosis, making regular 

activity even more important. 

Chronic inflammation in the spinal 

joints and ligament attachments can 

lead to joint deformity and eventually 

fusion if left untreated. “If we can get 

people stretching their spinal joints 

and ligaments regularly, this helps to 

counteract any thickening which occurs 

as part of the inflammatory process 

of AS,” says Jo Rae of the Wellington 

Regional Rheumatology Unit based at 

Hutt Hospital. Exercises that strengthen 

the postural muscles of the spine 

are also important to reduce excessive 

mechanical loading on inflamed 

spinal joints. 

Ankylosing Spondylitis Clinic 

Jo and a nurse run a clinic where 

patients with ankylosing spondylitis 

attend for up to an hour every six or 


twelve months – depending on their 

medication regime and/or how well 

controlled their AS is. 

After the patient has completed some 

questionnaires about their quality of 

life and symptom behaviour, the nurse 

leads a collaborative discussion with 

them, around the medical aspects of 

managing their AS. 

Jo then carries out a physical examination. 

She checks the patient’s range 

of motion and disease activity using 

specific ankylosing spondylitis measures: 

• The BASMI to measure spinal range 

of motion 

• An enthesitis index (MASES) 

• A tender and swollen joint count 

designed to look at disease activity 

in AS (ASAS 44). 

She spends time with the patient 

developing an individualised exercise 

programme and advising on activity 

management. An important part of 

patient education is how they can learn 

to exercise within their limits, listening 

to their own body and pacing their 

activity accordingly. 

“There’s a huge variation in how 

AS affects people. While some 

patients with AS can participate in 

most physical and leisure activities 

without significant modification, 

others can’t cope so wellwith exercise 

and activity. Given the variability in 

symptoms – both between patients 

and on a day-to-day basis within 

individuals – the exercises I prescribe 

must be flexible enough to respond 

to the patient’s evolving condition. 

“I teach patients who struggle with 

exercise that a little and often is the 

best way to go. This can be a difficult 

adjustment for patients who’ve 

previously been very active. This is 

where education’s so crucial in helping 

patients manage their own condition. 

Often they need to make a significant 

shift in behaviour, and I need to keep 

repeating messages about moderating 

their activity. 

The clinic is overseen by a rheumatology 

consultant. “It works really nicely 

to have a nurse and a physio together, 

with the backing of a consultant,” 

Jo comments. “We can ensure the 

patients are optimally medically and 

physically managed. The clinical picture 

for people with inflammatory arthritis 

can change so quickly. At any time they 

can be coming out of a flare or going 

into a flare. With everyone there on 

the spot, we can fill the consultant in 

on the clinical picture and have a good 

talk through what to do next.” 

At the clinic Jo also identifies patients 

who need more in-depth outpatient 

follow-up. Some she refers to a rheumatology 

hydrotherapy programme, 

either an Arthritis New Zealand one or 

her own pool class for regional rheumatology 

patients. 

Patients are delighted with the clinic. 

“Someone is taking their condition 

really seriously, sitting down and 

educating them.” 

Resources available 

Jo has developed a management 

guide for physiotherapists working 

with ankylosing spondylitis, including 

links to more useful resources. She 

has kindly provided this for members’ 

use, and it will be available on the 

Physiotherapy New Zealand website 

by the time the awareness raising 

campaign begins on 8 September. 


PROFESSIONAL ISSUES 

ARTHRITIS: THE PHYSIOTHERAPISTS 

WHO TREAT IT 

Fun with fitness 

For fourteen years she’s been taking 

an exercise class aimed at people 

with arthritis – and many of the same 

people are still coming! It’s a class of 

36, with usually about 20 at any one 

time, and includes a lot of husband 

and wife teams but no single men. 

The youngest participant is 50. 

“My goal is to keep them fit, not make 

money, says Sandy Juergens “– but I’m 

also getting my exercise.” 

All types of arthritis are represented: 

“Joint replacements, general OA, 

specific joints – a conglomeration. And 

it’s not limited to arthritis; a few others 

come along.” 

Twice a week Sandy runs this one-hour 

class in the Gospel Hall in Rangiora, 

charging $3 per class or $5 for two 

classes in the week. 

• 20 minutes: warm-up with stretches 

– more than for a regular class, more 

range of motion 

• 20 minutes: toning exercises – more 

balance and core exercises than in 

most exercise classes – many do 

them on the floor, some standing, 

some do the entire class sitting. “It 

doesn’t matter what stage they are 

at, they can benefit from the class.” 

• 20 minutes: cardio workout – low impact 

aerobic dancing, ending with a 

minute of posture exercises (low back 

extensions, backward shoulder rolls, 

chin tucks). As a former dancer, Sandy 

choreographs all the dances herself. 

• Sandy allows a few moments for 

instructions and questions, or stays 

on a little longer. 

Anyone joining the class completes 

a medical information form, and is 

given a handout. Sandy ensures that 

each participant takes their pulse twice 

during every class. 

The number one rule of the class is to have fun, Sandy tells her group. “That’s why 

they keep coming back. If it’s just hard work, people probably won’t keep it up.” 

Physiotherapy for haemophilia 

Physiotherapy management of 

haemophilia has changed considerably 

in recent times. A more proactive 

focus on this group of patients with a 

high-cost, chronic condition has been 

successful in the Auckland region. 

Once haemophilia’s vicious 

cycle of bleeding and adaptive 

musculoskeletal changes starts, 

it can be difficult to stop the 

accelerated arthritis which 

characterises this condition 

A Changing Population 

Young men growing up today are 

fortunate to have far less chronic 

joint damage than their older peers. 

Older men with haemophilia who 

did not have access to factor concentrates 

or prompt physiotherapy rehabilitation 

as children are characterised 

by severe, multiple-joint arthropathy 

and significant disability. 

A vicious cycle: historical 

management 

Once haemophilia’s vicious cycle of 

bleeding and adaptive musculoskeletal 

changes starts, it can be difficult to 

stop the accelerated arthritis which 

characterises this condition, explains 

Ian d’Young, who is employed by 

Auckland DHB as Haemophilia Physiotherapy 

Practitioner. 

Historically, once blood entered the 

joint cavity, a patient was sent to bed 

for a few weeks to rest and recover. 

Unfortunately this meant that muscle 

proteins were metabolised, flexion 

contractures would develop, and 

coordination and aerobic capacity 

would deteriorate. A vicious cycle of 

repeated bleeding, muscle shortening, 

weakness, proprioceptive and 

biomechanical changes then occurred 

while the patient was immobile and 

awaited physiotherapy management. 

Most young men with haemophilia 

had therefore developed severe joint 

damage by their early teens, resulting 

in life-long disability. 

New model of care 

The weaker, stiffer, less co-ordinated a 

patient, the higher the risk of bleeding. 

We know that while joint damage is 

proportional to the number of bleeds 

that have occurred, it is also proportional 

to the speed of rehabilitation. 


The new model of care involves 

encouraging “prophylactic” exercise 

to protect joints and where bleeds do 

occur to provide rapid rehabilitation. 

Restoring good muscle activation, 

strength, proprioception and wholelimb 

mechanics helps to protect the 

joint against further bleeding episodes 

and joint damage. 

Rapid treatment is now the norm. A 

patient will ideally be assessed by a 

physiotherapist within 24 hours after 

reporting a problem to any member 

of the team. 

Managing the arthritis and 

preventing further damage 

is generally exercise-based. 

Another advantage of providing a 

rapid service is to differentiate arthritic 

pain from pain related to a joint bleed. 

Patients with joint pain can have 

difficulty knowing whether the pain is 

caused by a new bleed or by arthritic 

damage, and may treat arthritic pain 

with expensive Factor inappropriately. 

Due to the high cost of Factor, long 

waiting times for musculoskeletal 

assessment can easily lead to many 

thousands of dollars being wasted if 

Ian d’Young 

the patient assumes that all joint pain 

is due to bleeding. 

Managing the damage 

The ADHB uses a comprehensive 

care team approach. Each member 

of the team brings an important set 

of skills to the group which includes 

haematologists, specialist nurses 

and physiotherapists. 

Managing the arthritis and preventing 

further damage is generally exercisebased. 

Low-impact, low-resistance 

rehabilitation includes aerobic training, 

weight loss advice, orthotic support 

and better analgesia for arthritic joint 

pain. Hydrotherapy can be a very 

useful rehabilitation environment 

for this group. 

Fits the goals 

Ian points out that the haemophilia 

service fits all the goals of Health 

Workforce New Zealand. Early results 

indicate that this model of care for a 

high-cost chronic condition has had 

a significant impact on the costs of 

management in the wider region. 

Contact details 

Ian is available for clinical support to 

any physiotherapist managing people 

with haemophilia in New Zealand. 

To contact Ian: iand@adhb.govt.nz 

Research supports physiotherapy 

for osteoarthritis 

“There remains an ingrained perception 

in people’s minds that joint replacement 

is inevitable in the end – despite 

research showing that it is not inevitable 

and that improvement is possible,” 

says Dr Haxby Abbott FNZCP, from the 

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 

Surgical Sciences, University of Otago. 

A systematic review (by Dr Dan Pinto, 

a PhD student working with Haxby) of 

physiotherapy and other non-surgical 

and non-pharmaceutical interventions 

indicates that some physiotherapy 

interventions for osteoarthritis (OA) 

are cost-effective. 

The results of Haxby’s own large-scale 

study (funded by the Health Research 

Council) of physiotherapy and manual 

therapy for hip and knee OA are awaiting 

publication. What Haxby can say 

is that his results are consistent with 

the review, and that physiotherapy 

is worthwhile from a clinical perspective 

and cost-effective from a health 

care perspective. 

Dr Haxby Abbott FNZCP 

Haxby also points to qualitative research 

by Jill Nalder for her Masters thesis, 

on the attitudes and expectations of 

people with arthritis, which shows very 

positive attitudes towards physiotherapy 

received for arthritis treatment. In 

particular, it shows that physiotherapy 

intervention gave people confidence, 

and decreased their fears that exercise 

would hurt them or that they would 

not get better. 

The HRC has just awarded Haxby the 

Sir Charles Hercus Health Research 

Fellowship, which provides him with 

a further $500,000 for the next four 

years to investigate how to optimise 

the cost-effectiveness of osteoarthritis 

management. He’s excited at the 

prospect. “There are some interesting 

surprises in the results of my research to 

date, that have got me thinking, ‘What 

if we do this?’ or ‘What if we do that?’” 

Ailsa Cornell 

Communications Officer 


HEALTH AND DISABILITY 

Developments in the health 

and disability sector 

Health Equity: 

the Marmot symposium 

Karen and I were fortunate to attend 

the Marmot symposium in Wellington 

in July, the key speaker being 

Sir Michael Marmot who has led a 

research group on health inequalities 

for the past 30 years. 

His two landmark publications are the 

2008 WHO report ‘Closing the gap in 

a generation: Health equity through 

action on the social determinants of 

health’ and the 2010 review in England 

‘Fair Society, Healthy Lives’ following 

an independent review into health 

inequalities in England. 

The seminar was opened by the Hon 

Tony Ryall, Minister of Health who gave 

a brief overview of the government 

health strategy. Unfortunately he had 

to leave following his presentation, 

thus missing the wide-ranging 

presentations and discussions during 

the afternoon. 

The seminar and Sir Michael’s visit were 

jointly sponsored by the New Zealand 

Medical Association to coincide with 

the release of their position statement 

on “Health Equity” available on http:// 

www.nzma.org.nz/sites/all/files/ 

HealthEquity.pdf. Dr Don Simmers from 

the NZMA talked about its inception 

giving graphic examples of health 

inequalities from two areas he had 

worked, Queenstown and the suburb 

of Newtown in Wellington. 

All of his points (listed right) were aptly 

demonstrated with examples from 

the UK and around the world. The 

next session involved six New Zealand 

speakers whose research supported 

the messages Sir Michael had made, 

providing New Zealand examples. 

• Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman 

on her ground-breaking work into 

housing and health inequality in 

New Zealand 

• Economist Professor Don Matheson 

bemoaning our obsession with 

growing GDP and our habit of 

continually comparing our growth to 

that of Australia 

• Associate Professor Paparangi Reid 

on the ongoing effects of colonialism 

on health inequalities for Maori 

• A Pacific perspective by Dr Debbie 

Ryan and Dr Ineke Meredith who 

discussed the success of pacific 

island health initiatives 

• Dr Russell Willis, Commissioner for 

Children who talked of the 

importance of children’s health 

as a national priority and the recent 

progress on immunisation rates and 

the B4 School checks 

• Professor Norman Sharpe from the 

Heart Foundation on our appalling 

rate of rheumatic fever, generally 

caused by poor housing 

• Michael Chen-Xu from the Medical 

Students Association who gave an 

impassioned speech on the need 

for change otherwise their generation 

would not be able to deliver 

equitable and effective healthcare. 

It was a thought-provoking afternoon, 

challenging everyone to do things 

differently in the future. 

Powerpoints of all presentations are on 

http://www.uow.otago.ac.nz/academic/ 

dph/research/HIRP/index.html 

There is a related NZMJ editorial 

- Blakely T, Simmers D, Sharpe 

N. New Zealand Medical Journal, 

2011;124(1338) on Inequities in 

Health and the Marmot Symposia: 

time for a stocktake. 

Janet Copeland 

Policy and Research Advisor 

The key messages from Sir Michael’s presentation were: 

1. Reducing health inequalities is a matter of fairness and social justice 

2. There is a social gradient in health – the worse a person’s social position, 

the worse his or her health 

3. Focusing solely on the most disadvantaged will not reduce health 

inequalities sufficiently – action must be universal but with a scale and 

intensity proportionate to the level of disadvantage 

4. Action taken to reduce health inequalities will benefit society in many ways 

5. Economic growth is not the most important measure of a country’s success 

6. Reducing health inequalities will require action on six policy objectives: 

- Give every child the best start in life 

- Enable everyone to maximise their capabilities and have control 

over their lives 

- Create fair employment and good work for all 

- Ensure healthy standards of living for all 

- Create healthy and sustainable communities 

- Strengthen the role and impact of health prevention 

7. Delivering these objectives will require action from everyone from 

the government down 

8. Effective local delivery requires effective participatory decision making 

at local level 


What the restructured 

Ministry looks like 

After its recent restructuring, 

the Ministry of Health has seven 

business units: 

• Policy 

• Clinical leadership, protection 

and regulation 

• Chief Nurse 

• Māori health 

• Sector capability and implementation 

• National Health Board 

• Corporate Services 

Find an organisation chart and 

more details about each unit on 

http://www.health.govt.nz/aboutministry/business-units 

Post-census survey on disability 

A disability survey after the 2013 

census will ask questions to work 

out how many people are disabled, 

their age range, sex and ethnicity, 

and how disabled people compare 

to non-disabled people socially and 

economically. The data will be used 

for reporting on the NZ Disability 

Strategy and the UN Convention on 

the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; 

supporting policy analysis, programme 

development and service delivery; 

and for advocating for the rights 

of disabled people. See www.stats. 

govt.nz/browse_for_stats/health/ 

disabilities/2011-disability-survey.aspx 

Making a Difference Fund 

Applications for the Making a Difference 

Fund – Round Two are due by 

2 September. The Fund is part of the 

campaign to improve attitudes and 

behaviours towards disabled people, 

and gives priority to projects that 

are collaborative, have support from 

across the community and have a 

well-thought-out plan to effect local 

change. See http://www.odi.govt.nz/ 

what-we-do/improving-attitudes-andbehaviours/index.html 

No more tobacco displays 

Tobacco products and advertisements 

will have to be kept out of sight in 

shops, under a legal change passed by 

Parliament on 14 July. Shops have until 

next July to make the changes. 

The bill also increased fines for selling 

tobacco products to under 18-year-olds 

from $2000 to $5000 for an individual 

and up to $10,000 for a business. 

Smokefree Enforcement Officers will 

be able to impose instant fines, rather 

than have to take offenders to court. 

The industry would not be able to 

include tobacco-related words in shop 

signage or conduct ‘’covert’’ sponsorship 

such as exclusive supply arrangements 

at outdoor music festivals. 

Hon Tariana Turia said the next step 

is plain packaging and a bill will be 

introduced to do that. 

WHO report on disability 

The World Health Organisation has 

produced a world report on disability, 

presenting evidence on what works to 

overcome barriers to health care, rehabilitation, 

education and employment 

for people with disabilities, and what 

can be done to support services and 

create environments for people with 

disabilities to flourish. 

See http://www.who.int/disabilities/ 

world_report/2011/report/en/ 

Global health data available online 

from WHO 

The WHO Global Health Observatory 

gives data and analyses of global 

health, including world health statistics 

from the 183 member states: 

www.who.int/research/en/ 

Ailsa Cornell 


A bill that prevents shops from 

displaying tobacco products is 

another step towards a smokefree 

New Zealand. 


RESEARCH 

THE LATEST RESEARCH, 

REVIEWS AND REFERENCES 

JANET COPELAND 

POLICY & RESEARCH ADVISOR 


Osteoarthritis 

The Ottawa panel consists 

of a group of health professionals 

based in Canada. 

In 2005 they published 

guidelines on physiotherapy 

management for osteoarthritis 

(OA). 

Recently they have published a new 

guideline specifically focusing on the 

needs of people with OA who are 

obese/overweight. The guideline focuses 

on the complex issues they often 

present with (Ottawa Panel, 2011). 

The guideline was based on a literature 

review conducted using the Cochrane 

Collaboration search techniques. 114 

articles were found but only 10 meet 

the rigorous inclusion criteria. 

An overriding finding was that a 

physical activity programme combined 

with dietary advice produced greater 

benefits for pain relief and improved 

functional status than either intervention 

alone. This has implications for 

physiotherapy practice and supports 

the move from physiotherapists working 

in isolation to working as part of a 

healthcare team. 

The study also found the interventions 

produced significant improvements in 

quality of life. This was thought to be 

due to the beneficial effects on mental 

health of participating in physical 

activity, including for many the 

social contact involved. The physical 

activity programmes included a combination 

of aerobic, strength and 

resistance training. 

Although this article is not yet open 

access the earlier guidelines are: 

(Ottawa Panel, 2005) http://ptjournal. 

apta.org/content/85/9/907.full.pdf+html 

To coincide with our promotion of 

the role of physiotherapy in the treatment 

of arthritis, towards the end of 

August we will put onto our website 

resources including articles supporting 

the efficacy of our interventions. Also 

remember to check out some of the 

latest research on arthritis using the 

EBSCO database. Access to EBSCO 

can be gained from a button on our 

website home page. 

Lymphoedema 

The provision of lymphoedema services 

in New Zealand is rather haphazard, 

with services being organised through 

the Cancer Society in discussion with 

individual DHBs. An article in the BMJ 

(Girgis, Stacey, Lee, Black, & Kilbreath, 

2011) would suggest the same 

problems occur in Australia. 

Women who were identified as having 

lymphoedema were asked to identify 

their current unmet needs. The main 

needs identified by participants were 

improved access to consistent information 

on the causes of lymphoedema, 

the treatment options and then how 

to access treatment. The women 

felt there was a need for all health 

professionals to take their condition 

seriously and to be fully informed so 

they could provide the women with 

the necessary information. 

This article is open access: 

http://www.bmj.com/content/342/ 

bmj.d3442.full.pdf 

Prescribing Exercise 

An editorial in the BMJ (Khan, Weiler, 

& Blair, 2011) discusses the value 

of exercise in the prevention and 

treatment of many of the chronic 

diseases that have become the leading 

causes of morbidity and mortality 

in the 21st century. The article is 

directed to doctors, suggesting that at 

each consultation they ask questions 

regarding the patient’s activity levels, 

and stating that activity levels have 

become the 5th vital sign (the other 

four are temperature, pulse, blood 

pressure and respiratory rate). They 

suggest 2 activity screening tools that 

can easily be implemented in general 

practice: the General Practice Physical 

Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ), and 

the Exercise Vital Signs questions (Sallis, 

2011). Information on both of these is 

easy to Google. 

We are well placed to ask our 

patients about their activity 

levels as part of a routine 

assessment and provide them 

with advice. 

Although doctors were the authors’ 

prime audience, the article makes 

equal sense to physiotherapy. We are 

well placed to ask our patients about 

their activity levels as part of a routine 

assessment and provide them with advice. 

For some this may include further 

physiotherapy assessment and a structured 

exercise programme to get them 

started; for others encouragement and 

providing information about community 

resources and facilities may be 

sufficient. Many of these are low cost, 

and walking is free. It is useful to have 

available in the practice information 

on community resources. Whatever 

approach is taken, it is important to follow 

up with the patient at subsequent 

visits. One of the authors (Sallis) based 


For some patients prescribed exercise may include a structured programme, and for others 

encouragement to build activities such as walking into their daily life may be sufficient. 

in the USA pointed out the irony that 

as a family physician he could refer his 

obese patient for bariatric surgery with 

all the inherent costs that involves, but 

not to a fitness professional as part of 

the healthcare team (because insurance 

would not cover such a referral). 

He concludes: “Exercise is medicine 

and we need to do all we can to get 

patients to take it!” 

A problem often mentioned when 

discussing implementing an exercise 

programme is the behavioural changes 

needed for long-term maintenance 

of the programme. Professor Stuart 

Biddle, one of the speakers at our 

conference next year, will be holding a 

pre-conference workshop provisionally 

titled: “Move more, sit less – promoting 

physical activity and reducing sitting 

time”. Behavioural changes form one 

focus of his research. 

Further information on the workshop 

will be on our website soon. 

The Sallis article is open access: 

http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/45/6/ 

473.full.pdf 


Policy and Research Advisor 

References 

Girgis, A., Stacey, F., Lee, T., Black, 

D., & Kilbreath, S. (2011). Priorities 

for women with lymphoedema after 

treatment for breast cancer: population 

based cohort study. BMJ, 342. 

Khan, K. M., Weiler, R., & Blair, S. N. 

(2011). Prescribing exercise in primary 

care. BMJ, 343. 

Ottawa Panel. (2005). Evidencebased 

Clinical Practice Guidelines for 

Therapeutic Exercises and Manual 

Therapy in the Management of 

Osteoarthritis. Physical Therapy, 85(9), 

907 - 971. 

Ottawa Panel. (2011). Ottawa Panel 

Evidence-Based Clinical Practice 

Guidelines for the Management of 

Osteoarthritis in Adults who are Obese 

or Overweight. Phys Ther, 91(6), 843 - 

861. 

Sallis, R. (2011). Developing healthcare 

systems to support exercise: exercise 

as the fifth vital sign. Br J Sports Med, 

45(6), 473 - 474. 


WCPT NEWS 

THE EVENT OF A LIFETIME 

People have returned from 

the WCPT meetings and 

Congress in Amsterdam 

excited, stimulated, overwhelmed, 

eager to pursue 

the ideas raised. 

5,274 physiotherapists 

attended. Over three days 

they could choose from 

140 sessions and 1675 

poster presentations. 

If you couldn’t go, you 

can still benefit from it. 

Find a wealth of information 

on http://www.wcpt. 

org/congress – abstracts, 

posters, presentations, 

the daily newspapers 

WCPT published during 

the Congress, and about 

200 photos. 

Physiotherapists from all over the 

world were treated to an impressive 

visual spectacle. 

Images courtesy of Antim Wijnaendts 

van Resandt for WCPT www.wcpt.org 



WCPT NEWS 

Celebrating 60 years of WCPT 

by continuing to grow 

The New Zealand Society 

of Physiotherapists was 

a founding member of 

WCPT in 1951. 

Eight new member organisations were 

admitted to WCPT during the General 

Meeting, bringing the total to 106. 

The new physical therapy associations 

are from: 

• Argentina 

• Macau 

• Mauritius 

• Pakistan 

• Paraguay 

• Ukraine 

• Oman 

• Slovakia 

There are now twelve WCPT specialist 

subgroups, including five new ones 

accepted at the General Meeting: 

• International Association of Physical 

Therapists in Animal Practice 

(IAPTAP) 

• International Confederation of 

Cardiorespiratory Physical Therapists 

(ICCrPT) 

• International Neurological Physical 

Therapy Association (INPA) 

• International Organization of Physical 

Therapists in Mental Health (IOPTMH) 

• International Society for Electrophysical 

Agents in Physical Therapy. 

Geoff Maitland, Stanley Paris, Freddy Kaltenborn and Gregory Grieve at the 

inaugural IFOMPT meeting at Montreal 1974 

5,274 physiotherapists attended this 

year’s WCPT Congress in Amsterdam 

Highest honour for Stanley Paris 

Stanley Paris, one of our Honorary 

Fellows, was presented with the 

Mildred Elson Award at the WCPT 

60th anniversary Gala dinner. This is 

the highest honour obtainable from 

WCPT, honouring sustained and 

continuous leadership over a career 

and a significant contribution to the 

development of physical therapy at 

an international level. 

Stanley was instrumental in setting up 

our Special Interest Group, the 

NZ Manipulative Physiotherapy Asso- 

ciation (NZMPA) and is a life member 

of it. He ”has influenced the world of 

physical therapy through his writing, 

teaching, clinical practice, and advocacy 

efforts”, as the WCPT Congress 

News put it. He currently lives and 

works in the USA, as President of the 

University of St Augustine for Health 

Sciences, which he founded. He was 

the founding Chairman of the International 

Federation of Orthopaedic 

Manipulative Physiotherapists 

(IFOMPT), and its second President. 

He founded the Journal of Manual 

and Manipulative Therapy. 


Karen Keith honoured 

for IAAPT work 

At the end of the WCPT 

General Meeting, Karen 

Keith MPNZ received an 

award for her service as 

Chair of the International 

Acupuncture Association 

of Physical Therapists. 

She has served IAAPT for twelve years, 

four as Vice Chair and eight as Chair. 

“I haven’t quite sneaked out,” she 

says, because she is now Past President 

as well as Research Officer. 

Karen says that this work has widened 

her outlook considerably, making her 

aware of the difficulties physiotherapists 

in other countries have to face. 

She has made friends all around the 

world. Communications have become 

much easier, especially now with Skype 

free and available to all – although time 

zones means some have to get up early 

or stay up late for meetings. 

In May Karen graduated MPhty (Acup) 

– the first Masters tagged with acupuncture. 

She is Professional Practice 

Fellow at the School of Physiotherapy, 

Otago University. She has a caseload of 

patients, looks after undergraduates in 

women’s health, and teaches postgraduate 

acupuncture. 

She has been to four WCPT Congresses, 

at Yokohama, Barcelona, Vancouver and 

Amsterdam – and hopes to attend more! 

Next time 

Maybe you can make it then? The next 

WCPT Congress will be hosted by the 

Singapore Physiotherapy Association in 

Singapore in 2015. 

Ailsa Cornell 



PHYSIOTHERAPY WHERE? 

Striving for Success! 

Report from the 18th 

World Transplant Games, 

Gothenburg, Sweden 

In late June I was physiotherapist 

for the New 

Zealand transplant team 

at these Garmes. 

For over twenty years the World 

Transplant Games Federation has 

been staging international sporting 

events for transplant athletes in order 

to demonstrate the physical success 

of transplant surgery and to raise 

awareness of organ donation. 

The Summer World Transplant 

Games take place every two years. 

This year nearly one thousand 

transplant recipients (aged 8-82) 

from 54 countries competed at an 

extraordinarily high level. Some came 

simply to enjoy taking part at their own 

pace and welcomed the opportunity to 

meet with other transplant recipients in 

an atmosphere of fun and friendship. 

Part of my role at the Auckland 

District Health Board involves the 

early rehabilitation of heart and lung 

transplant patients while they are 

staying at our specialist unit “Hearty 

Towers” following discharge from 

Auckland City Hospital and before 

returning home. My role at the 

Transplant Games is more varied. 

While monitoring the athletes’ health 

and supporting the team manager 

with organisation of the team, I was 

also responsible for managing their 

musculoskeletal needs and providing 

treatments to help them achieve their 

best in their chosen events. 

My passion for transplant rehabilitation 

started when I wrote the dissertation 

for my first degree. I was encouraged 

by a family member who was a 

pioneering UK kidney transplant 

surgeon. Transplant patients are 

Kirsty Johnson with an athlete at the World Transplant Games. 

the soul of my job, and it is difficult 

to explain my feelings seeing them 

progress from such frailty pretransplant 

to blossoming following 

surgery and rehabilitation. Then of 

course there are the emotions when 

we finally say goodbye. They are such 

a pleasure to work with, developing 

strength and character as their new life 

begins and progresses. Going to the 

Games is the icing on the cake – to see 

what they can achieve is humbling. 

Notable successes 

While the team was smaller this year 

due to the distance and cost of travel, 

we still managed to come home with 

seven medals, finishing 30th out of 54 

countries in the medal table. Our junior 

liver transplant patient received four 

medals: two golds in the 100m sprint 

and ball throw, silver in squash and 

bronze in ten pin bowling. There was 

also a bronze in the petanque doubles 

and bronze medals for two of the heart 

transplants that played golf. 

We had competitors in other events 

including tennis, badminton, table tennis, 

swimming, athletics, road cycling 

and time trial races, and volleyball. I 

was personally involved in the early 

rehabilitation of three participants, 

and have been closely monitoring and 

guiding their training for participation 

in this event. It is humbling to see them 

compete at such a high level, which 

highlights the value of the World Transplant 

Games programme as a motivational 

and supportive tool for patients 

trying to restore cardio-respiratory 

fitness and maintain an active lifestyle 

following surgery. 

Lessons from previous years 

I had a treatment table with me this 

year, which I learnt from the event 

two years ago was a must! After 

discussion with physiotherapists from 

the UK at the last event in 2009 where 

I provided my own supplies, this year I 

approached 3M, who kindly supplied 

us with some strapping tape, which 

was in great demand. 


ACC NEWS & VIEWS 

The latest information 

and opinions on ACC issues 

I was required by the team to manage 

muscle strains and sprains, while 

attempting to help injured athletes 

who were determined to continue 

participating in their events. In addition 

to the soft tissue injuries you might 

expect from sporting participation, I 

also managed iliotibial band problems 

and back and neck pain, and gave 

advice and support regarding dietary 

and fluid intake and hyperventilation 

disorder. Needless to say I provided an 

awful lot of massage and soft tissue 

therapy to aching limbs! 

One really positive aspect was helping 

to identify issues with participants and 

putting together istrategies for our 

athletes’ long-term use. I found that 

the Games setting was an excellent 

environment to engage with patients 

and motivate them to maintain an 

active lifestyle. 

The Future 

There is a role for me before the next 

games, in Durban, South Africa in 

2013. I am looking forward to assisting 

in prevention of injuries and providing 

advice for those transplant patients 

who want to progress with their sports. 

Acknowledgements 

I would like to thank ADHB A+Trust, 

Greenlane Educational Fund, the Heart 

and Lung Transplant Service and the 

New Zealand Transplant Games Association 

www.transplantnewzealand. 

org.nz for funding my attendance and 

supporting the team, and the Allied 

Health Department, ADHB for authorising 

my leave to attend. 

Kirsty Johnson-Cox BSc MPNZ 

Cardio-Respiratory Physiotherapist, 

Green Lane Clinical Centre 

Auckland District Health Board 

KAREN McLEAY 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 


Changes to ACC Workers Account 

Just before I left for 

Amsterdam, a number 

of ACC issues emerged. 

One of the two most 

significant was the 

consultation document 

put out by the Department 

of Labour on “Increasing 

choice in workplace 

accident compensation”. 

If you have not read this document 

you must, or at least scan it, as it will 

impact on nearly all of you – whether 

public or private or contractors. See 

http://www.dol.govt.nz/consultation/ 

increasing-choice/summary.asp In 

short, it outlines how the accredited 

employers programme will change 

and open up to a wider group, plus 

detailing how the workers account will 

open to the private insurance market. 

Vocational Rehabilitation 

The other significant ACC changes 

are in the vocational rehabilitation 

sector. On 15 July I emailed to all 

members PhysioXpress 6, giving 

details a more detailed email to 

you all on these changes a couple 

of weeks ago so please if you have 

not read this. In case you can’t find 

it in your email it’s on our website: 

https://www.physiotherapy.org.nz/ 

Folder?Action=View%20File&Folder_ 

id=131&File=PhysioXpress%206.pdf 

These changes are a forerunner 

of other changes likely to occur in 

other contracts. 

• ACC is rolling many contracts into 

one contract. 

• There will be preferred suppliers for 

the contracts. 

• Clear outcomes will be expected 

(payment in accordance with 

outcomes is possible in the future). 

• There will be a requirement for 

you to work as part of a wider 

interdisciplinary team. 

The Request for Information (RFI) 

deadline has been extended 

from 25 July to a date yet to 

be notified. 

Primary health care matters 

On 27 July Gill Stotter and I went to 

a meeting at ACC to discuss a couple 

of primary health issues that ACC 

wanted some guidance on. In particular, 

how they were going to implement 

the changes from the recent elective 

surgery review. Attending this meeting 

were representatives of GPs, nurses, 

physiotherapists, private insurance 

companies, private and public hospitals, 

and orthopaedic surgeons. 

We will be working further with ACC to 

ensure physiotherapy is enabled to work 

alongside the orthopaedic surgeons. 

Karen McLeay 



OF SPECIAL INTEREST 

High standard recognised 

ACUPUNCTURE 

The keynote speaker for our combined 

PAANZ/ MASNZ (Medical Acupuncture 

Society) conference in Auckland 

this year was Jay Shah, a medical 

acupuncturist from America. One of Jay 

Shah’s research projects has involved 

sampling by microdialysis, through 

a fine gauge needle, the “chemical 

soup” from within both active and 

latent trigger points. The response to 

dry needling of these points can then 

be demonstrated by the same process. 

The conference focus was strongly 

based in the western acupuncture 

paradigm and a timely neurophysiology 

review for many of us. 

Our intention now is to bring in one 

or more high calibre overseas speakers 

each year. It is of course ever so much 

easier to bring one of them to us 

than take all of us to them. Next year 

Elizabet Stener-Victorin and Thomas 

Graven-Neilsen are both presenting, 

so expect excellent quality. 

The Upskilling course is a great success, 

ably supported by our mentoring 

programme (also available for 

members in other contexts). 

PAANZ has accumulated a wealth of 

case studies, which we will put on 

our website with a search facility for 

condition treated. Please check in on 

our website – it’s an excellent resource 

for both our members and the public. 

Guy Bailey 

President, Physiotherapy Acupuncture 

Association of New Zealand 

www.paanz.org.nz 

The PAANZ and MASNZ presentations 

were also to a high standard and very 

relevant to working in the New Zealand 

health system. It was particularly 

nice for me to see Dr Mike Anderson 

presenting again as he was a very 

sound mentor to a lot of us in PAANZ 

in his days of acupuncture tutoring. 

Di Turnbull, who has travelled extensively 

over the last decade to overseas 

courses run for physiotherapy acupuncturists, 

commented that our Kiwi 

standards of knowledge and skill in 

acupuncture are very high. 

Below: Who said a conference 

workshop is a serious business? 


BRANCHING OUT 

Otago: a proactive Branch 

SPS6 

With the end of the year rapidly 

approaching, we invite you all to 

the 6th Southern Physiotherapy 

Symposium (SPS6). The philosophy 

of the SPS6 is to combine clinically 

relevant, evidence-based content with 

a weekend of fun and social activities. 

This year’s event is being held at the 

Heritage Hotel in Queenstown on 

November 4th - 6th and offers an 

exciting, dynamic mix of nationally 

and internationally recognised 

speakers addressing the diversity of 

contemporary clinical practice. The 

programme is headed by Professor Bob 

Haennel (Canada), Professor Gwen Jull 

(Australia), Jenny McConnell (Australia) 

and Associate Professor Lisa Harvey 

(Australia), as an impressive panel of 

keynote speakers. In addition, we are 

delighted to welcome local presenters 

Dr Tony Schneiders, Dr Cath Smith, 

Pete Gallagher and Associate Professor 

Joanne Baxter as invited speakers. 

The eclectic programme is yet to be 

finalised but includes pre-conference 

workshops, a cocktail function, and 

a few surprise events. 

The 2011 SPS6 promises to be an 

exciting experience not to be missed! 

Early-bird registration closes at the 

end of August and in support of our 

regional neighbours we are offering 

Canterbury members the same rates as 

Otago-Southland members (for more 

details please see our advertisement in 

this edition of Physio Matters). 

Awareness raising 

This year we have decided to run a few 

advertisements to promote the diversity 

of services offered by physiotherapists, 

in conjunction with other groups’ 

awareness raising campaigns. In May, 

we collaborated with the Asthma 

Foundation by publishing an advertorial 

in a local paper which is widely read in 

Dunedin. It was entitled “Physiotherapy 

and Breathing”, and expertly penned 

by Dianne Body, a hospital-based 

physiotherapist with extensive skills 

and experience in the field of cardiorespiratory 

physiotherapy. The advertorial 

included information on topics such as 

clearing sputum, asthma, and chronic 

obstructive pulmonary disease, and 

emphasised how physiotherapy can 

assist people with chronic lung disease, 

both by keeping them active and helping 

them to cope with breathlessness. 

We are in the process of planning a 

similar feature to tie in with World 

Physiotherapy Day. 

Good topics, good attendance 

Sue Mirkin, a recipient of the 2010 

Otago Branch Education Fund Award, 

presented some of her research on 

fascia at our April meeting. 

Dale Radford and Chris Higgs, who 

have both recently undertaken some 

voluntary work on the “Hearts and 

Hands for Haiti” project, spoke at our 

Dale and Chris serving “Hearts and Hands for Haiti” 

mid-winter pizza meeting. This project 

is a local initiative, co-ordinated by 

Robyn Couper from Oamaru, and 

presents physiotherapists with a unique 

opportunity to use their knowledge 

and skills in a very challenging yet 

rewarding environment. 

Stephanie Woodley 

Chair 


BUSINESS 

Recruitment Is 

a two-way process 

We tend to think always 

that recruitment is all 

about the employer finding 

the right person for 

the job. And while that is 

certainly the employer’s 

top priority, the applicants 

equally are deciding where 

and for whom they want 

to work. 

If you are applying for 

a position, you must do 

your homework. This will 

include checking out the 

prospective employer 

through their website or 

word of mouth, how they 

advertise, etc. If you really 

want to be in sports 

physiotherapy, make sure 

you’ve checked whether 

this is a significant part of 

their work or not. 

Send off a CV that you have read 

and checked thoroughly. Include a 

covering letter addressing the skills and 

competencies sought and impressing 

the employer that you are the right 

person for the role. CVs without a 

covering letter, or with errors or that 

appear generic and not personalised 

to the role sought, will not impress an 

employer that you genuinely want the 

job. It can be worthwhile delivering 

your application in person. That way 

you get a chance to see the practice 

and gain some first impressions. 

When your impressive application 

results in shortlisting and being invited 

to an interview, it’s time for more 

preparation. Know where the practice 

is and be sure you can get there on 

time. You may be asked to start by 

telling a little about yourself – don’t 

waffle and ramble. Decide what 

you’ll say and keep your introduction 

succinct. You may be asked behavourial 

questions, for example “Tell us about 

a time when you …”. In this scenario 

the employer is wanting examples of 

how you have dealt with or reacted in 

given situations. Past behaviour is an 

indicator of future performance. You 

may be asked about your strengths and 

weaknesses. Don’t be afraid to disclose 

a weakness. We all have them, and to 

say you don’t is unrealistic. Having a 

weakness won’t eliminate you as an 

applicant. And think about one or two 

questions you want to ask. Do not use 

the opportunity to ask what you’ll be 

paid. Discussions about salary come 

later when you are offered the job. 

Good recruitment practices on 

the part of both the prospective 

employer and the prospective 

employee will give greater 

surety of a lasting, fulfilling 

employment relationship. 

The interview process is your opportunity 

to assess fully if with this employer 

and practice is where you want to be, 

just as it is the employer’s chance to 

assess if you are right for them. 

When you are offered the role, you 

must now be given an employment 

agreement to consider. You should 

either be told, or receive a covering 

letter advising, that you have the right 

to seek independent advice on the 

employment agreement. Take time to 

read the agreement carefully and to 

seek advice from someone you trust 

before you sign it. 

If you negotiate a change to the 

employment agreement, the employer 

must give you a fresh updated copy for 

signing, and the employer will retain 

on your file all copies of employment 

agreements, even the draft ones. This 

is a legal requirement. 

The final agreement may include a trial 

period. This is permitted under law. A 

trial period of up to 90 days again gives 

both parties the opportunity to be certain 

you are the right person for the 

role and that you will be happy working 

in this practice and for this employer. 

Make sure the employer gives you the 

employment agreement ahead of time 

and that you sign your employment 

agreement before commencing work. 

Good recruitment practices on the 

part of both the prospective employer 

and the prospective employee will give 

greater surety of a lasting, fulfilling 

employment relationship. 

Joanne Lentfer 

Business Manager 

Physiotherapy Business : NZPPA 


TOMORROW’S PROFESSION 

Tomorrow’s Profession – 

what will it look like? 

Semester 2 is well underway 

at the University of 

Otago School of Physiotherapy, 

and within the 

next four months there 

will be a new cohort of 

physiotherapists to welcome 

into the profession. 

What does the future hold for our 

bright, enthusiastic young professionals? 

Where will they be working in 10 

or 20 years and what will the suburban 

or hospital clinic look like then? Of 

course we can only speculate at this 

time, but based on the success of the 

World Physical Therapy Congress held 

in Amsterdam in June, it is certainly 

clear that we are part of a very vibrant 

profession, and the opportunities our 

new graduates will have to move physiotherapy 

forward are exciting. 

Community-based physiotherapy 

in the future is likely to involve 

a much greater use of technology 

and the social media 

such as Facebook and Twitter. 

One of the responsibilities the School 

has in preparing our new graduates 

is to ensure that the entry-level 

curriculum is dynamic, and provides 

students with the knowledge, skills, 

and attitudes that prepare them for 

practice in Tomorrow’s Profession. 

This means that academic staff and 

colleagues who support clinical 

supervision need to provide students 

with every opportunity to experience 

a range of conditions covering the 

lifespan, and placements representing 

the work environment that will be most 

prevalent in the future. 

The community is one such environment. 

One outcome of the recent 

earthquakes in Christchurch is that 

there has been a dramatic change 

in emphasis on physiotherapy in the 

community. The trend towards more 

community-based healthcare has been 

in the long term plans of funders 

and providers. However the timeline 

for implementation has shortened 

in Christchurch as a consequence of 

the damage to the infrastructure and 

subsequent reorganisation of services. 

Otago students along with staff have 

had to cope with the changes amidst 

the stress, but in the end the soon-tobe 

graduates may be likely to be more 

receptive to change in management 

structures, and better equipped to provide 

physiotherapy services in the community, 

than some of their colleagues. 

Community-based physiotherapy in 

the future is likely to involve a much 

greater use of technology and the 

social media such as Facebook and 

Twitter. Whilst the School needs to 

enable students to communicate 

in these media, we also stress the 

importance of professional/personal 

delineation, and that students need to 

understand what comprises acceptable 

professional behaviour whilst ‘online’. 

In parallel with this, students need to 

have a say in their future, for example 

by taking the opportunity to contribute 

to the consultation process on the 

proposed revised Code of Ethics and 

Professional Conduct (1). It is also 

beneficial to draw their attention 

to real life examples of professional 

behaviour that are not acceptable: one 

such example, summarised in a health 

report published in The Telegraph in 

the United Kingdom, (2) was brought 

to the attention of all our students. 

Another aspect of the preparation of 

students to take the lead as Tomorrow’s 

Profession is to ensure that they can 

place physiotherapy in New Zealand 

within its global context. Part of that 

learning involves an understanding 

that there are a number of important 

guidelines relevant to physiotherapy 

entry-level education and best practice 

that the global profession and schools 

can all share. At the 17th General 

Meeting of the World Confederation 

for Physical Therapy held in June, the 

following guidelines were ratified by 

the member organisations: 

• WCPT guideline for standard 

evaluation process for accreditation/ 

recognition of physical therapist 

professional entry level education 

programmes 

• WCPT guideline for delivering quality 

continuing professional development 

for physical therapists 

• WCPT guideline for qualifications 

of faculty for physical therapist 

professional entry level education 

programmes 

• WCPT guideline for physical therapy 

records management: record keeping, 

storage, retrieval and disposal 

• WCPT guideline for the clinical 

education component of physical 

therapist professional entry 

level education 

The guidelines can all be located on 

the WCPT website (www.wcpt.org). 

They have invariably drawn on the best 

models across the world, and their use 

will assist in continuing to raise the 

standards of physiotherapy education, 

practice and research. 

Dr Margot Skinner 

Deputy Dean, Associate Dean Clinical 

Studies, School of Physiotherapy, 

University of Otago 

References 

(1) The Physiotherapy Board of New 

Zealand Consultation document 

Revised Code of Ethics and Professional 

Conduct 17 June 2011 http://www. 

physioboard.org.nz/docs/Code_of_ 

Ethics_consultation.pdf downloaded 20 

July 2011 

(2) Beckford M. Health News: Facebook 

warning for nurses. The Telegraph 12th 

July 2011. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ 

health/healthnews/8630712/Facebookwarning-for-nurses.html 

downloaded 

20th July 2011 


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 

Members express their views 

Embracing integration 

I read with interest the latest editorial 

commenting on the projected changes 

to the health workforce, and the direction 

of the Heath Workforce NZ service 

reviews. Finding more effective ways 

of utilising the available health workforce 

to cater for burgeoning need is 

a worldwide challenge. A recent WHO 

report (2010) recognises interprofessional 

collaboration as an important 

factor in managing the global health 

workforce crisis, resulting in stronger 

health systems and improved health 

outcomes. Yet how many of us have 

a clear understanding of just what 

“interprofessional collaboration” 

actually means? 

Physiotherapists have always 

been innovative and worked 

well alongside other professions. 

As the editor noted, the 

challenge now is to “embrace 

the integrated approach” and 

adapt to both the challenges 

and benefits to be gained from 

collaborative working. 

The recent opening of the National 

Centre for Interprofessional Education 

and Collaborative Practice at AUT 

University demonstrates the commitment 

to embedding collaborative training 

into undergraduate programmes. 

However, it is unknown what happens 

when these newly trained colleagues 

enter a workforce untrained in collaborative 

skills and where professional 

patch guarding has too often been 

the norm. 

To explore this further, I am currently 

undertaking a PhD qualitative 

study into collaborative practices in 

community-based teams, with the aim 

of exploring how community-based 

health care workers view collaborative 

practice and how they work together. 

Interprofessional collaboration and 

devolving health services into the 

community have been identified as 

the way of health care in the future. 

By exploring current practices I hope 

to add knowledge that can inform future 

service provision, team functioning 

and training. 

Physiotherapists have always been 

innovative and worked well alongside 

other professions. As the editor noted, 

the challenge now is to “embrace the 

integrated approach” and adapt to 

both the challenges and benefits to 

be gained from collaborative working. 

Pauline Penney MPNZ 

Enthusiastic UK fundraiser 

for Christchurch 

The following letter was published in 

Frontline, the newsletter for the (UK) 

Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, 

on 20 July. Reproduced with permission 

from Frontline. 

I would like to thank Alison Taylor, 

Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, 

Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon 

for a tremendous effort in fundraising 

for the Red Cross Christchurch 

Earthquake Appeal. 

Alison is a New Zealand trained 

physiotherapist who I met some years 

ago in Invercargill, NZ. Following our 

devastating earthquake she started 

baking “Quake Cakes”; which she 

sold at work and raised an astounding 

£1300.44. 

The earthquake has had a profound 

effect on us all here in Christchurch 

with most of us knowing people who 

lost family and friends on February 

22nd. Thankfully our hospitals 

were largely undamaged, however 

the service infrastructure of many 

parts of Christchurch was severely 

damaged and at Burwood Hospital 

staff and visitors were required to use 

“portaloos” for 3 months after the 

February Quake. Travelling around 

the city was challenging initially as 

many roads were in need of repair 

and removal of liquefaction. Our city 

centre is slowly being demolished in 

preparation for rebuilding and there 

are a large number of internet sites 

with photos of central Christchurch 

before and after the quakes. 

We have lost our Rugby World 

Cup games and our beloved 

Cathedral is in ruins but the 

city is open to visitors and 

Christchurch is still a great 

place to start a tour of New 

Zealand or to come and work. 

Our physiotherapists have proved resilient 

through these past months, many 

have damaged houses and some have 

had to move. We have since welcomed 

some new therapists to Christchurch - 

after the quake our hospitals returned 

to “business as normal” as soon 

as possible. 

A large part of Christchurch is undamaged 

and those of us living in the 

western suburbs are very grateful that 

life is relatively normal. We have lost 

our Rugby World Cup games and our 

beloved Cathedral is in ruins but the 

city is open to visitors and Christchurch 

is still a great place to start a tour of 

New Zealand or to come and work. 

A big thank you to Alison and all her 

colleagues at Hinchingbrooke. 

Liz Wilkinson MPNZ 

Clinical Manager Physiotherapy 

Burwood Hospital, Christchurch, 

New Zealand 


GENERAL NOTICES 

OPPORTUNITIES 

& REMINDERS 

Physiotherapy Business opens to 

more members 

We have been working with Physiotherapy 

New Zealand on making our 

services available to more PNZ members. 

Physiotherapy: Business: NZPPA has 

been viewed as open to owners of 

private practices only. However we 

have now restructured our membership 

categories and introduced two new 

categories specifically aimed at 

employees and employers who want 

access to business assistance without 

the cost of full membership. 

PNZ members who join our Special 

Interest Group as an Affiliate or 

Associate will not receive all the 

benefits of full members, but will enjoy 

our most valuable resource – advice, 

guidance and support through our 

0800 number and email. The most 

frequently sought help is with human 

resource matters. We can help with 

recruitment and CVs, employment 

agreements, employment relations 

matters, etc. Affiliates and associates 

can keep up with what’s happening 

in the world of business, whether 

you are thinking of getting a job in a 

private practice or aspiring to become 

a business partner or owner. 

Joanne Lentfer 

Business Manager, 

Physiotherapy Business : NZPPA 

Join us on Facebook 

Join us on your Physiotherapy New 

Zealand Facebook page: facebook. 

com/PhysiotherapyNZ Like us to be 

alerted to new developments. Join in 

the discussions. 

You can see our Facebook page whether 

or not you are joined up to Facebook. 

However, to Like the page or make 

a comment you need to have joined 

Facebook. The joining process is simple, 

and you do not need to make any details 

public that you do not want to. 

Easy access to research 

A button on our home page www. 

physiotherapy.org.nz takes you straight 

through to the extensive, reputable 

EBSCO databases, which Physiotherapy 

New Zealand pays for you to access: 

Rehabilitation Reference Center; 

MEDLINE® with Full Text; SPORTDiscus 

with Full Text; CINAHL® Plus with 

Full Text; AMED – The Allied and 

Complementary Medicine Database. 

Scholarships available 

Physiotherapy New Zealand Scholarship 

Trust Fund – applications due 20 Sept. 

Find forms and information regarding 

this and other scholarships on 

https://www.physiotherapy.org.nz/ 

Category?Action=View&Category_ 

id=109 

Help physiotherapy research 

in New Zealand 

Contribute to the Scholarship Trust Fund 

so that more members can be supported 

to undertake research and gain new 

knowledge of value to your profession. 

Your donation or bequest, however 

small, will be on ongoing benefit. 

Remember to Report 

Adverse Reactions 

Physiotherapy New Zealand asks that you 

report all adverse reactions which require: 

• cessation of the treatment causing 

the reaction, or 

• follow-up observation, or 

• treatment of the adverse reaction, or 

• referral to another health practitioner 

These may include: 

• skin reactions 

• blisters/burns 

• fainting/dizziness 

• nausea/vomiting 

• headache 

• subluxation/dislocation 

• severe aggravation of symptoms 

• significant new symptoms 

The information is reported anonymously 

but you should retain a copy 

of each completed form for your health 

and safety records. 

Download the form: https://www. 

physiotherapy.org.nz/Category;jsessioni 

d=019F92614484A40D0AC53DDAE99 

13005?Action=View&Category_id=299 

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS 

Auckland 

Elizabeth Kelsey 

Alexandra Couling 

Rachel Horsey 

Katie Burton 

Kellie Greer 

Canterbury 

Andrew Fairbairn 

Angela Toemen 

Hawkes Bay 

Phil Watson 

Jon Lush 

Leigh Morrissey 

North Shore 

Michael Lee 

Sarah Tappin 

Ali Gibson 

Otago 

Stephanie Freeman 

Marc Pesant 

Waikato / 

Bay of Plenty 

David Shearer 


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

CALENDAR 

Title Type Date Location College Contact Details 


Conference 2012 4-6 May 2012 Wellington www.physiotherapy.org.nz 

BRANCHES 

Otago Branch 

Southern Physiotherapy Symposium 6 5-6 Nov 2011 Queenstown sps6@xtra.co.nz 

Hawkes Bay Branch 

Contemporary Neurodynamics, Essential Testing and Treatment 29-30 Oct 2011 Hawkes Bay rachel.kyle@xtra.co.nz 

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS 

MANIPULATIVE PHYSIOTHERAPY | NZ Manipulative Physiotherapists Association 

Foot and Ankle, Review Lower Quartile C 8 & 9 Oct 2011 Auckland Y www.nzmpa.org.nz 

Foot and Ankle, Review Lower Quartile C 15 & 16 Oct 2011 Wellington Y www.nzmpa.org.nz 

Elbow and Neurodynamics C 10 & 11 Sept 2011 Christchurch Y www.nzmpa.org.nz 

Wrist and Hand, and Review of Upper Quartile Pathologies C 5 & 6 Nov 2011 Christchurch Y www.nzmpa.org.nz 

Biennial Conference: The role of exercise in the management of C 27 & 28 Aug 2011 Rotorua Y admin@nzmpa.org.nz 

musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction 

IFOMPT 2012: Redez-vous of Hands and Minds C 30 Sep–30 Oct 2012 Canada www.ifomptconference.org 

BUSINESS | Physiotherapy New Zealand | Business (NZPPA) 

Webinar – Performance Reviews, Remuneration S 22- 26 Aug 2011 Nationwide N office@nzppa.org.nz 

Webinar – Topic TBC S 19- 23 Sept 2011 Nationwide N office@nzppa.org.nz 

ACUPUNCTURE | Physiotherapy Acupuncture Association of NZ 

Cupping & Moxa W 20 August 2011 Nelson www.paanz.org.nz 

Ear Acupuncture W 30 Oct 2011 Dunedin www.paanz.org.nz 

Thomas Graven-Nielson 7 May 2012 Wellington www.paanz.org.nz 

Elizabeth Steiner 24-25 May 2012 Auckland www.paanz.org.nz 

Register Day 21 July 2012 Queenstown www.paanz.org.nz 

Headaches – Jill McDowell 22 July 2012 Queenstown www.paanz.org.nz 

Pregnancy – Karen Keith 22 July 2012 Queenstown www.paanz.org.nz 

Sport Acupuncture 22-23 Sept 2012 Dundedin www.paanz.org.nz 

PAEDIATRIC 

If you Can’t Breathe, you can’t function Introductory Course 16-19 Nov 2011 Christchurch craigaela@gmail.com 

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 

OHSIG 2011 Conference C 26-28 October 2011 Wellington www.ohsig.org.nz 

SPORTS Physiotherapy New Zealand 

Symposium “Prevention, Practice, Performance” 17 -18 March 2012 Tauranga www.nzsopa.org.nz 

EDUCATION 

New Patient Education& Behaviour Change 3 Sept 2011 Auckland renetempleton@xtra.co.nz 

Reflective Practice Course 10 Sept 2011 Whangarei Eleanor.fearn@aut.ac.nz 

Embodiment 11 Sept 2011 Whangarei Eleanor.fearn@aut.ac.nz 

HAND THERAPY | NZ Association of Hand Therapists 

Conference 2011 – The Wrist 4-6 November Napier www.nzaht.org.nz/ 

courseconferences.php 

Type: C = Conference; L = Lecture; M = Meeting; S = Seminar; W = Workshop; D = Distance Taught 

College accreditation: Y = Yes; N = No; S = Accreditation being sought 



PHYSIOTHERAPY GROUPS 

McKenzie Institute of New Zealand 

Part B: The Cervical & Thoracic Spine W 18-21 Aug 2011 Auckland Y minz@mckenziemdt.org.nz 

Part D: Advanced Cervical & Thoracic Spine & Extremities – Upper Limb W 29 Sep-2 Oct 2011 Wellington Y minz@mckenziemdt.org.nz 

Credentialing Examination W 19 Nov 2011 Wellington minz@mckenziemdt.org.nz 

SCHOOLS OF PHYSIOTHERAPY 

Auckland University of Technology 

Postgraduate Programmes S 2011 Auckland www.healthpostgraduate.aut.ac.nz 

University of Otago 

Postgraduate Programmes S 2011 Dunedin emma.tumilty@otago.ac.nz 

Postgraduate Programmes S 2011 Christchurch veronica.mcgroggan@otago.ac.nz 

Rehabilitation Teaching & Research Unit D 2011 Wellington rehab.wsmhs@otago.ac.nz 

Occupational Health Workshop 2-3 Sept 2011 Christchurch karen.elliot@otago.ac.nz 

EXTERNAL PROVIDERS/ORGANISATIONS 

The Asthma Foundation – New Zealand Respiratory Conference 1-2 Sept 2011 Wellington http://asthmafoundation.org. 

nz/_8.php 

APA Conference C 27-30 Oct 2011 Australia www.physiotherapy.asn.au 

National Community Physiotherapy Conference 20--21 Oct 2011 Nelson pam.blair@xtra.co.nz 

The Public Health Association’s Conference 31 Aug-2 Sept 2011 Canterbury http://nzphaconference.info/ 

registration 

Spinal Behaviour Therapy 16-17 Sept 2011 Hamilton nicky@thebackclinic.co.nz 

Postural Patterning ‘common sense for your body’ 18 Sept 2011 Wellington curry.nik@gmail.com 

ANZACA 2011 Conference 8-9 Dec 2011 Dunedin http://anzaca.otago.ac.nz/ 

anzaca_2011.htm 

Flawless Motion, Shoulder Instability 24 Sept 2011 Wanaka lakehaweaphysio@gmail.com 

Flawless Motion, Sporting Shoulder 8-9 Oct 2011 Auckland steph_winstone@hotmail.com 

Movement Analysis and Motor Control retraining 

5-6 Nov 2011 Tauranga jenlochray@hotmail.com 

for the Lumbar Spine 

Movement Analysis and Motor Control retraining 

10-11 Dec 2011 Tauranga jenlochray@hotmail.com 

for the Sacroiliac Joint and Pelvis 

NZ Bobath Ass: 2011 Paediatric Foundation Course A 29-16 Sept 2011 sue@neurorehab.co.nz 

NZ Bobath Ass: 2011 Paediatric Foundation Course B 16-3 Feb 2012 sue@neurorehab.co.nz 

NZ Bobath – Adult Basic Bobath Course Part 1 30 Jan-10 Feb 2012 Auckland louneuro@gmail.com 

NZ Bobath – Adult Basic Bobath Course Part 2 19-23 Mar 2012 Auckland louneuro@gmail.com 

Reaching Potential: Upper Limb Neurological Rehabilitation 18-19 Nov 2011 Auckland Y suzie@neurorehab.co.nz 

Disability Studies: Every Body In Conference 27-30 Nov 2011 Dunedin www.otago.ac.nz/ 

disabilitystudiesconference 

Health of the Health Professional Conference 3-5 Nov 2011 Auckland www.hohp.org.nz 

Manual Handling in Healthcare W 23 & 24 Sept 2011 Hamilton training@smoothmovers.co.nz 

Smoothmovers loads workshop W 26 & 27 Aug 2011 Hamilton training@smoothmovers.co.nz 





CALENDAR 


EXTERNAL PROVIDERS/ORGANISATIONS 

Strength Training in Neurological Conditions 26 Aug 2011 Wellington sue@nreg.co.nz 

The NZ Pain Society Scientific Meeting “A Head of Pain” 12-15 April 2012 Wellington www.nzps.org.nz 

1st World Congress on Healthy Ageing 19-22 March 2012 Malaysia www.healthyageingcongress.com 

MHANZ/AAMPH Combined Conference 

21-23 March 2012 Auckland www.mhanz.org.nz 

for the Safe Handling of People 

Australian Physiotherapy Webinar Program 30 Aug 2011 N/A www.apwp.net.au 

Australian Physiotherapy Webinar Program 1 Sept 2011 N/A www.apwp.net.au 

Australian Physiotherapy Webinar Program 14 Sept 2011 N/A www.apwp.net.au 

Advanced Vestibular Course 3-4 Sept 2011 Paraparaumu angela.woodman-aldridge@ 

ccdhb.org.nz 

APPI Health Group Pilates Matwork Course Level 1 24-25 Sept 2011 Auckland info@totalphysiotherapy.co.nz 

DMA Clinical Pilates Level 1 19 – 20 Aug 2011 Taupo www.clinicalpilates.com 

DMA Clinical Pilates Level 2 21 – 22 Aug 2011 Taupo www.clinicalpilates.com 

DMA Clinical Pilates Level 1 11 – 12 Nov 2011 Wellington www.clinicalpilates.com 

DMA Clinical Pilates Level 2 13 – 14 Nov 2011 Wellington www.clinicalpilates.com 

Stott Pilates Intensive Cadillac, Chair & Barrels 24 August 2011 Auckland www.corepilates.co.nz 

Stott Pilates Lower Extremity – Gait Assessment: The Mechanics of 

28 August 2011 Auckland www.corepilates.co.nz 

Walking & Pilates Programming 

Stott Pilates Advanced Intensive Cadillac, Chair & Barrels 6 Sept 2011 Auckland www.corepilates.co.nz 

Stott Pilates Therapeutic Foundations & Applications to Lumbo- 

4 Sept 2011 Auckland www.corepilates.co.nz 

Pelvic Stability 

Stott Pilates Matwork for Breast Cancer Rehab 4 Sept 2011 Auckland www.corepilates.co.nz 

Back In Motion Pilates Machine Course Level 1 3-4 Sept 2011 Auckland admin@backinmotion.co.nz 

Back In Motion Pilates Machine Course Level 2 5-6 Nov 2011 Auckland admin@backinmotion.co.nz 

Back In Motion Neuro Course 5-6 Nov 2011 Dunedin admin@backinmotion.co.nz 

Stability Plus Pilates Mat Level 2 (intermediate) 20-21 August 2011 Auckland www.stabilityplus.co.nz 

Stability Plus Pilates Mat Level 3 (advanced) 8-9 Nov 2011 Auckland www.stabilityplus.co.nz 

Stability Plus Pilates Exam Dates 12-13 Nov 2011 Auckland www.stabilityplus.co.nz 

Steel Pilates Certification Course 4-6 Nov 2011 Auckland www.steelpilates.com 

Steel Pilates Certification Course 11-13 Nov 2011 Melbourne www.steelpilates.com 




COURSE PROGRAMME 2011-2012 

ACUPUNCTURE 

Course Programme 2011 

Course Date Time Venue Tutor / Speaker 

Ear Acupuncture 30 October 2011 8.30 am – 5pm Dunedin Karen Keith 

Course Programme 2012 

Date Time Venue Tutor / Speaker 

Upskilling Course March 2012 TBC TBC TBC 

Minimum numbers required before course confirmed. Register your Interest now... 

Have you either? 

• Attended modules of a PAANZ introductory course but did not sit the PAANZ assessment 

• Attended an overseas introductory acupuncture course and are registered to practice acupuncture overseas. 

Then – attendance at this Upskilling Course would provide a pathway to PAANZ Post Basic courses and towards becoming 

PAANZ Registered Physiotherapy Acupuncturist. Mentors are available to assist you with required course preparation. 

Womens Health 

Endocrinology 

Immune Systems 

24-25 March 2012 TBC AUT Akoranga, 

Auckland 

Elizabet Stener-Victorin 

Programme TBC 7 May 2012 TBC Wellington 

Thomas Graven-Nielson 

(after PNZ conference) 

Register Day 21 July 2012 TBC Queenstown Variety of Speakers 

Headaches 22 July 2012 TBC Queenstown Jill McDowell 

Pregnancy 22 July 2012 TBC Queenstown Karen Keith 

Sport Acupuncture 22-23 September TBC Dunedin TBC 

These are Post Graduate courses and a minimum of 

80 hrs of Acupuncture study is a prerequisite. 

Course fees: 

One day course – $320 Non member 

Two day course – $500 Non member 

One day course – $250 PAANZ member 

Two day course – $400 PAANZ member 

For more detailed information on course content and 

tutors, visit our website: www.paanz.org.nz 

Register to attend and download registration forms from the 

website, or email: PAANZ@xtra.co.nz with any questions. 

The Physiotherapy Acupuncture Association of New Zealand 

PO Box 27 386, Wellington 

Phone: 04 894 1685 Fax: 04 801 5571 



2011 Sequential Education Programme: 

Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy® 

The NZ College of Physiotherapy requirement for Membership 

(MNZCP) through Route C includes completion of a 

substantial, high quality course of study. McKenzie Institute 

Parts A - D meet this requirement. 20 College points are 

granted for Parts A, B, C and D (4 days) 

When Venue Facilitator Course Fees (incl GST) 

Part D: Advanced Cervical and Thoracic Spine & Extremities – Upper Limb (4 days) 

29 September – 2 October 2011 Wellington Greg Lynch $625 MINZ members; $750 Non-members 

Credentialing Examination (1 day) 

19 November 2011 Wellington Greg Lynch $450 MINZ members; $550 Non-members 

For registration forms and further information, 

please contact: 

Melonie de Roo, Course Coordinator 

The McKenzie Institute New Zealand 

PO Box 2026, Raumati Beach 5255 

Phone: 04 299 6645, Fax: 04 299 7010 

Email: minz@mckenziemdt.org.nz 

Course Fees (incl GST) 

Part A 

$625.00 (includes automatic MINZ 

membership until 31 March 2012) 

Part B MINZ members $625.00 

Non-members $625.00 

Part C MINZ members $625.00 


Part D MINZ members $625.00 


Cred Exam MINZ members $450.00 


Package deals: 

Parts A, B 

Parts B, C 

Parts C, D 

Parts A, B, C, D 

$1,150 (must be completed in 12 mths) 



$2,150 (must be completed in 3 years) 

30 | PHYSIO MATTERS JUNE 2011

Sports Physiotherapy Symposium 

Call for Papers 

“Prevention, Practice, Performance” 

SPNZ Sports Physiotherapy Symposium -Sebel Trinity Wharf Hotel 

Tauranga 

March 17 th and 18 th 2012. 

Sports Physiotherapy New Zealand hosts biennial symposiums to portray the breadth of 

knowledge associated with Sports Physiotherapy. The symposiums are largely practically 

based with presentations having a ‘take home’ message. The focus is on “I can use this in my 

practice tomorrow” 

The education committee is currently looking for speakers for long (30 min) and short 

(15min) presentations that will fit the direction of the symposium. 

If you are interested in presenting please submit an abstract and brief CV to: 

Hamish Ashton, Symposium Chairman help@nzsopa.org.nz 

Over 20 years clinical application experience 

Cutting edge patient specific treatment/ 

exercise programs 

Proven Evidence Based Approach 

Measurable Functional Outcomes 

Valid Prediction for patient subgrouping 

At the forefront of research and 

clinical intervention 

clinical pilates education 

where art meets science 

course schedule matwork/theraband 

Taupo 

Lv 1 19 / 20 Aug 

Lv 2 21/ 22 Aug 

Wellington 

Lv 1 11/12 Nov 

Lv 2 13 /14 Nov 

Enrolments/Information/Enquiries 

www. clinicalpilates.com 

courses@clinicalpilates.com 

NZD $620 

per Level

APPI Health Group Pilates Matwork Courses 

Book 3 Places and get the 4th FREE 

One of the world’s most popular Pilates training programs is finally here in New Zealand! 

APPI Health Group post-graduate Pilates training is different from other courses, providing: 

Exceptional instructor teaching with great cueing ideas and facilitation techniques 

Modified exercises for the clinical population with a clear explanation of clinical relevance 

Explanation of traditional exercises, their origin and application in practice 

Specific modified exercises, targeting each area of application 

Exceptional evidence based application 

Use of case studies and specific exercise classifications 

Opportunities to join our worldwide network 

Matwork Level One 

24th & 25th September 2011, Auckland, $620 

This is the foundation course for all modified Pilates teaching courses, introducing the Pilates technique, relevant research, 

beginner level exercises and contra-indicated exercises. Based on up to date evidence of spinal stability, pelvic stability, 

strength and conditioning and pain, this is the essential Pilates training tool for all health professionals. 

Book 3 places now and get the 4th place FREE on this course! 

Fully Certified Matwork Instructor Feedback - 

“I have found all the material I have learnt in your courses really useful and I use it everyday in clinical practice” 

For bookings and further enquiries call Becky Nassif 

on 021 0820 3622 or email info@totalphysiotherapy.co.nz 

www.appihealthgroup.com 

A P W P 

Australian Physiotherapy 

Webinar Program 

Learn from specialist 

clinicians, educators and 

researchers from 

anywhere in AUS or NZ! 

All you need is a computer with 

sound and access to the internet to 

join a live webinar 

"Brilliant concept. I will definitely be 

tuning in for more in the future" 

- Suzie Winch, Sydney NSW 

www.apwp.net.au 

for registration 

Coming up soon: 

DR. MAL CUSI 

DR. PHU 

MARGARET BANFF 

A P W P 

Australian Physiotherapy 

Webinar Program 

Phone: 1300 969 380 

Fax: 1300 969 471 

Upcoming Webinars 

Tues 30 th Aug 7pm AEST 

Dr. Mal Cusi 

Sport & Exercise Medicine Physician 

“Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction 

and Treatment” 

Weds 1 st Sept 7pm AEST 

Dr. Phu 

Neuroscience Researcher 

“Spasticity, Fatigue, Falls and 

Exercise. An Update on MS” 

Weds 14 th Sept 7pm AEST 

Margaret Banff 

Titled Specialist Sports Physiotherapist 

“Rehabilitation of Groin & 

Hip Injuries”

Adult - Basic Bobath Course 

2012 

The Assessment and Treatment of Adults 

with Neurological Conditions. 

This three week, split course is accredited 

by the International Bobath Instructors 

Training Association (IBITA) and includes 

lectures on neurosciences and the Bobath 

Concept, practical sessions on normal 

movement, patient demonstrations and 

workshops and patient treatment sessions. 

An assignment will be completed in 

between part 1 and 2 of the course. This 

course will be led by Gerlinde Hasse an 

IBITA Senior Instructor. 

PTs and OTs who work with adults with 

neurological conditions may apply. 

Limited to 12 participants. 

Part 1: 30 th January to 10 th February 2012 

Part 2: 19 th March to 23 rd March 2012 

Venue: Rehab Plus (ADHB), 

54 Carrington Road, Pt Chevalier 

, Auckland 1025 

Course Fees (3 Weeks): 

NZBA Member Fee - $2,250 incl GST 

(Current NZBA members only) 

Non-Member Fee - $2,450 incl GST 

For information and an application form 

contact: 

Louise Taylor louneuro@gmail.com 

4-6 May 2012 

Wellington 

Convention Centre 

Call for abstracts 

You are invited to submit an abstract 

for the conference. The closing date 

is 9 December. We welcome abstracts 

from researchers and clinicians. Further 

information is available on our website. 

If anyone has any queries regarding 

submitting an abstract please contact: 

janet.copeland@physiotherapy.org.nz 

For more information go to 

www.physiotherapy.org.nz 

and click on the Conference button

Flawless 

Motion 

Shoulder 

Courses 

Shoulder Instability: 

Wanaka: Sept 24. $200 

A review of shoulder instability, with case studies, 

discussion and the latest in research and treatment ideas. 

Contact Kaz Armstrong Ph: 03 443 8446 or 021 996 506 

Email: lakehaweaphysio@gmail.com 

Sporting Shoulder: 

Auckland Oct 8-9. $500 

Combine the latest knowledge with Margie’s wealth 

of knowledge and passion for shoulder rehabilitation. 

Confidently examine the shoulder girdle, provide 

appropriate treatment and management. 

Contact: Steph Kotua Ph: 021 766 064 

Email: steph_winstone@hotmail.com 

Download application forms, learning outcomes and course 

outlines from the website. 

www.flawlessmotion.com 

Physiotherapist 

(18 hours per week – flexible) 

Greater Wellington 

Be a part of an innovative programme aimed at assisting people 

to remain independent in their community. 

We are looking for a physiotherapist with previous experience in 

the support of older people within a community setting in our 

residential homes. 

As part of a multi-disciplinary team, you will provide physiotherapy 

assessments and recommendations for rehabilitation programmes 

for our clients in their own homes and provide moving and 

handling advice within our hospitals. You will have the opportunity 

to work with autonomy within a restorative framework, enjoy and 

promote a supportive team environment and participate in ongoing 

professional development. 

The successful applicant must be Enable registered and hold 

a current driver’s licence. 

Enliven Community Support is a not-for-profit service specialising 

in the support of people at home. For more information visit 

our website: www.psc.org.nz/jobs or phone 027 687 5353 or 

(04) 439 4973 quoting reference no: wgph2. Only those with the 

legal right to work in New Zealand may apply. 

Applications close: Sunday, 21 August 2011 

www.psc.org.nz

0800 237 834 www.theathletesfoot.co.nz

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www.smith-nephew.com/nz 

® Registered Trademark SN8736 (07/2011) 

Smith & Nephew Pty Ltd

CONTACT DETAILS 

WWW.PHYSIOTHERAPY.ORG.NZ 

Branch Contacts 

Special Interest Groups 

Join us on Facebook 

Northland 

Ben Gray 

Ph: 0275 344 227 

ben@momentumhealth.co.nz 

North Shore 

Jenny Mercer 

Ph: 09 419 2014 

021 959 533 

jennymercer@clear.net.nz 

Auckland 

Sandie Alexander 

Ph: 09 524 0537 x 806 

mjsa@ihug.co.nz 

Waikato BOP 

Julia Williams 

Ph: 027 309 0429 

s.j.williams@xtra.co.nz 

Hawkes Bay 

Di Mackie 

diana.mackie@hawkesbaydhb.govt.nz 

Middle Districts 

Sharon Taylor 

smtphysio@xtra.co.nz 

Wellington 

Meredith Perry 

meredith.perry@otago.ac.nz 

Nelson 

Tracey Wilton 

Ph: 03 541 9749 

lon.trace@xtra.co.nz 

Canterbury 

Deidre Crichton 

Ph: 03 383 6833 x 99729 

Deidre.crichton@cdhb.govt.nz 

Otago 

Amanda O’Reilly 

021 022 15878 

aoreilly29@gmail.com 

Southland 

Kathryn Blain 

C/- Ph: 03 218 6583 

Kathryn@stephensonmurray.co.nz 

Cardiothoracic 

Fiona Dunford 

fydunford@xtra.co.nz 

Continence & Women’s Health 

Acting Secretary 

Carol Ramsden 

pramsden@clear.net.nz 

District Health Board Leaders 

(formerly PALMS) 

Kristine Nicol 

kristinen@adhb.govt.nz 

Hand Therapists 

Marlene Pouri-Lane 

Ph: 07 854 8949 

mpourilane@xtra.co.nz 

Neurology 

Louise Taylor 

Ph: 09 815 5606 

LouiseTa@adhb.govt.nz 

NZ Manipulative Physiotherapists 

Association (NZMPA) 

Ingrid du Toit 

Ph: 09 476 5353 

0800 646 000 

Fax: 09 476 5354 

admin@nzmpa.org.nz 

www.nzmpa.org.nz 

Occupational Health 

Kirsty Powell 

Ph: 09 232 0467 

kirsty.powell@kpa.co.nz 

Paediatrics 

Bev Hoskins 

Ph: 07 850 8955 

bev.rick@xtra.co.nz 

The Physiotherapy Acupuncture 

Association (PAANZ) 

Administration Officer 

Diana Cox 

PO Box 27386 

Wellington 6141 

Ph: 04 894 1685 

Fax: 04 801 5571 

PAANZ@xtra.co.nz 

Physiotherapy Education Group 

Sonya Veale 

sororke69@hotmail.com 

Physiotherapy for the Older Adult 

Liz Binns 

liz.binns@aut.ac.nz 


Business (NZ Private 

Physiotherapists Association) 

Josephine Lange 

PO Box 5292 Wellington 

Ph: 04 232 6815 

0800 697 720 

Fax: 04 232 6801 

office@nzppa.org.nz 

www.nzppa.org.nz 

Sports Physiotherapy New Zealand 

(NZ Sports and Orthopaedic 

Physiotherapy Association) 

Mike Borich 

Ph: 09 378 6205 (H) 

mborich@ihug.co.nz 

www.nzsopa.org.nz 

Chairpersons Standing 

Committees 

Contact National Office 

Accident Insurance Committee 

Gill Stotter 

Tae Ora Tinana 

Lynda Kirkman 

Ethics Committee 

Andrew Jones 

Finance Committee 

Sheila Mann, Chairperson 

National Executive 

Committee 

President 

Gill Stotter 

PO Box 27386 

Wellington 6141 

Ph 04 801 6500 (National Office) 

president@physiotherapy.org.nz 

Executive Members 

Contact National Office 

Martin Chadwick, Vice President 

Karen Rasmussen 

Lynda Kirkman 

David Nicholls 

Denis Kelly 

www.facebook.com/PhysiotherapyNZ 

National Office 

Office Hours 8.30am - 5.00pm 

Level 5 

195-201 Willis Street 

PO Box 27 386 

Wellington 

Ph: 04 801 6500 

Fax: 04 801 5571 

nzsp@physiotherapy.org.nz 


Karen McLeay 

karen.mcLeay@physiotherapy.org.nz 


Ailsa Cornell 

ailsa.cornell@physiotherapy.org.nz 

DD 04 894 1681 

Policy & Research Advisor 


janet.copeland@physiotherapy.org.nz 

DD 04 894 1684 

Corporate Services Manager 

Christine Clapcott 

christine.clapcott@physiotherapy.org.nz 

DD 04 894 1683 

Administration Officer 

Amy Macklin 

nzsp@physiotherapy.org.nz 

Accountant 

Les Buttimore 

les.buttimore@physiotherapy.org.nz 

DD 04 894 1682 

NZ College of Physiotherapy 


PO Box 27386 

Wellington 

Ph: 04 801 6500 

Fax: 04 801 5571 

college@physiotherapy.org.nz 

Physiotherapy Earthquake 

Liaison and Support 

Nicola Green (based in Christchurch) 

Ph: 0508 446 622 (tollfree) 

Nicola.green@physiotherapy.org.nz

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