Journal article
Updating the 300 standards of the International Sports Physiotherapy Competencies and Standards from 11 countries in 2005 to 38 countries in 2025: An International Delphi Study.
Physical therapy in sport, Vol.First online
05/12/2025
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Objectives: To update the 300 standards of the International Sports Physiotherapy Competencies and Standards document.
Design: A three-round Delphi study.
Setting: Online international survey. Participants: sports physiotherapists (SPTs) with a national registration/licensure recognised by their national SPT member organisation, at least 5 years of professional experience in SPT and/or equivalent teaching or research experience, and direct involvement with athletes in treatment, prevention or research contexts.
Main Outcome Measures: Participants rated each of the original 300 standards on a three-point scale (Agree, Disagree, Unsure). Consensus was defined a priori as ≥80% agreement.
Results: A total of 197 SPTs representing 46 countries were invited; 143 participants from 38 countries completed Round 1 (72.6% response rate), and 99 completed all three rounds (69.2% of Round 1 participants). After three rounds, 296 (98.7%) standards reached consensus. Four standards did not reach a consensus; all pertained to the Professionalism and Management competency, specifically aspects of financial and organisational management (Behaviour 1, item 2; foundational knowledge standards 7A:3 and 7A:5; and action/intervention standard 7E:2).
Conclusion: This Delphi study updated the 300 standards from the International Sports Physiotherapy Competencies and Standards with contributions from 11 countries in 2005 to 38 countries in 2025. Consensus on 296 of 300 standards affirms their continued global relevance. The four standards lacking consensus, all related to managerial roles.
Details
- Title
- Updating the 300 standards of the International Sports Physiotherapy Competencies and Standards from 11 countries in 2005 to 38 countries in 2025: An International Delphi Study.
- Creators
- Bruno Tassignon - Vrije Universiteit BrusselEmilie Dick - Vrije Universiteit BrusselJo Verschueren - Vrije Universiteit BrusselElke Lathouwers - Vrije Universiteit BrusselCarlo Ramponi - Kinè Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Center (Italy, Treviso)Maria Constantinou - Southern Cross UniversityMati Arend - University of TartuLaura Lepasalu - University of TartuArmi Hirvonen - JAMK University of Applied SciencesSanna Sihvonen - JAMK University of Applied SciencesSanna Paasu-Hynynen - JAMK University of Applied SciencesEleni Kapreli - University of ThessalyAristi Tsokani - University of ThessalyNikolaos Strimpakos - University of Thessaly (Greece, Lamia)Luciana De Michelis Mendonça - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
- Publication Details
- Physical therapy in sport, Vol.First online
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Grant note
- The authors would like to thank the European Commission (Erasmus+) for the financial support. The SportsComp project (project reference 2023-1-FI01-KA220-HED-000155843) is funded by the European Union.
- Identifiers
- 991013334228702368
- Copyright
- © 2025 Elsevier Ltd.
- Academic Unit
- Allied Health and Midwifery; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article