I Dioscuri - Formazione continua in ambito sanitario

La scuola italiana di fisioterapia veterinaria

In 1999 we presented the S.I.F.V.’s (Italian School of Veterinary Physiotherapy) project to the competent authorities, whom enthusiastically adhered to the initiative and gladly gave their patronage (University of Parma, of Perugia, the Comune of Siena, the S.I.D.I. (Italian Society of Hippology), the S.I.V.E. (Italian Society of Equine Veterinaries), Physiotherapy Associations, the Veterinary Surgeons Association of the Province of Siena, the Comunità of San Patrignano).  In time, we realized that this particular initiative had aroused a lot of interest amongst the so-called “horses’ men and women”, people with no kind of title, but a lot of heart and experience gained in the field: to all these people we had to say NO…

Accordingly, we said NO to all those (and there’s a lot of them!) who have no titles:

• NO because without a Degree in Veterinary Medicine or a Degree in Physiotherapy it is NOT POSSIBLE TO PRACTICE NEITHER AS A VET NOR AS A PHYSIO
• NO because in a society where it is already extremely hard for those with a degree to find a suitable position, it would not be right to introduce new professional figures;
• NO for the protection of animals and owners alike.

The Italian School of Veterinary Physiotherapy (S.I.F.V.)

NORMATIVE Aspects

The S.I.F.V. places itself in the Italian formative scenario as a permanent continuing education activity for specialization and/or improvement, and NOT as a basic formative course, or as a real Specialization in Veterinary Medicine course (Public Health, etc).  Both basic education as well as post-graduate education have to take place inside Universities, and only in such an environment, with the full support of the NHS, it may exist and fully educate and form the various professions according to the Professional Profiles emanated by the Italian Ministry of Health (D.L. 502 and subsequent amendments, art. 6).  The recently issued normative (D.M. 741/94 – D.L. 251/00 – D.I. 2nd April 2001 n. 136) places, amongst these profiles, also Physiotherapy.

Physiotherapists have developed, through time, at an INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, a knowledge and an expertise in their specific sector, founding scientific study groups, also called “of specific interest”, including Veterinary (or Animal) Physiotherapy, both for small animals as well as horses, in particular:

• In England, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists have formed a specific interest group, counting more than 200 affiliates,  in Veterinary Physiotherapy, chaired by PT Ms Jackie Grant.  It is since 1966 that this association collaborates closely with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, who produced the guidelines Physiotherapists have to follow.
• In Holland, at Amsterdam, the Department of Physiotherapy, part of the Medical School, runs “summer”, and therefore optional, courses in Veterinary Physiotherapy, having previously agreed the didactic material with Utrecht’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
• In US, A.P.T.A.’s vice-president, PT David Levine, promotes an intense activity, both educational and scientific, in the small animal field, producing also noteworthy literature;
• In France, PT J.C. Coutant, with two other PTs whom also teach Physiotherapy at Vet School,   together with some Veterinary Surgeons have founded the French Institute of Animal Kinesitherapy, collaborating with Universities across the country as well as with private individuals and the industry.
• In Spain they have recently started an analogous initiative.

One shouldn’t have to point out that a PT working in this field, WILL NOT and CANNOT take the place of a Veterinary Surgeon; however, just as for Human PT, a Veterinary Physiotherapist may be a valuable and valued partner, working together with Vets as a team.

To clarify these issues, S.I.F.V. have introduced a preordained participation and intervention of qualified professionals to better illustrate and explain the contents of the above mentioned laws and the limits of the profession.  It is needless to emphasize that, because of today’s continuous cultural, educational and scientific development, one person alone cannot meet all of the needs that the various aspects of prevention, cure and rehabilitation entail in regards to the patient’s health, be it human or animal: this goes for all of the diverse health professions.  There was a time, in the medical field as well as in the rehabilitation field, in which specialization was limited to just one figure who would be responsible for both motor and cognitive problems; today things have changed, and from the one original figure (rehabilitation and speech therapist), five different professions have evolved, each with its own specific profile.

This cultural process has to go both ways, and this is the reason our courses are opened also to Veterinary Surgeons, so that, having gained new and valuable knowledge and insight in Physiotherapy, they may be able to better understand when and how a PT may help in the healing process as a whole.

RESEARCH

We’ve recently started working in the research sector, and our attendance, with POSTER PRESENTATIONS at the important Bristol University congress held in September 2002, at the CESMAS congress held in Saumur, France, in October of the same year, and at the congress held at Oslo, Norway, in 2004, are a concrete demonstration of our efforts in this particular sector.

Moreover, some of our Scientific Committee members are always present at International Physiotherapy congresses, such as the RVC Annual Veterinary Physiotherapy Conference which, since 2003, is held annually in London, England, the perfect place for a constant confrontation with International colleagues.

In charge of the Scientific Project of Veterinary Physiotherapy is Dr. Gianluigi Giovagnoli