On September 8, the World Physical Therapy Day (World PT Day) is celebrated worldwide, the event promoted by the World Physiotherapy that each year highlights the contribution of physiotherapy to people’s health and well-being and provides an important awareness-raising opportunity for citizens, institutions, and professionals.
The theme chosen for the 2026 edition is devoted to the role of physiotherapy in the prevention, management, and rehabilitation of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, two among the leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Through this year’s campaign, World Physiotherapy highlights how physiotherapists can make a decisive contribution to promoting cardiovascular health, functional recovery, and an improved quality of life for people.
A Benchmark for Healthy Aging
The physiotherapist is a key professional reference in the assessment and management of functional decline in older adults, focusing mainly on conducting detailed physical evaluations and implementing targeted interventions to enhance mobility, strength, and balance. Their expertise lies in recognizing physical impairments and designing individualized exercise programs to promote physical function and prevent further decline.
With the aging of the population, the primary goal of physiotherapists, alongside other health professionals, is to identify older adults at high risk and intervene effectively to halt or slow functional decline and the health risks associated with the aging process.
In daily practice, physiotherapists develop personalized exercise programs aimed at boosting mobility, strength, balance, and endurance, essential elements for maintaining independence as age advances. They also educate patients on proper body mechanics and injury prevention, further contributing to health and long-term functional capacity. By integrating these specific aspects into practice, physiotherapists can contribute to improving the quality of life and overall well-being of older adults.
A Support in Case of Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. The physiotherapist supports patients in managing these conditions, reducing the likelihood of future cardiac events, such as a heart attack, through:
- identifying the main individual risk factors and promoting behaviors aimed at adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle over time;
- proposing tailored exercise programs, helping people overcome any fear of physical exertion;
- therapeutic education on the best strategies to prevent further cardiac problems;
- improving physical fitness, encouraging people to stay active and enjoy a better quality of life;
- support and guidance to learn to manage one’s health condition independently.
Stroke Prevention and Post-Stroke Rehabilitation
Physiotherapists play a pivotal role in reducing stroke risk, primarily by helping people become more physically active and manage chronic long-term conditions. Just thirty minutes of exercise five times a week can reduce risk by 25%.
Rehabilitation is a central part of the recovery journey after a stroke. It guides the person in gradually resuming daily activities, improves quality of life, and supports achieving the greatest possible level of independence. Typically, rehabilitation should begin within the first 48 hours, as soon as the patient’s medical condition is stable.
Early initiation supports recovery and can boost confidence in one’s abilities. The pathway involves a healthcare team that, in addition to physiotherapists, may include physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. It is essential to define a personalized therapeutic plan built around the individual’s needs.
Regular physical activity not only prevents stroke onset, but also reduces the likelihood of recurrence after a first event. National and international guidelines recommend regular and adequately intense physiotherapy as an integral part of post-stroke care, tailored to each person’s goals and abilities.
Toward Multimodal Programs
Given its capacity to influence multiple physiological and functional domains, structure-based physiotherapy grounded in physical activity is increasingly explored as a strategy for managing frailty. Physiotherapy thus encompasses a wide range of modalities that include resistance training, aerobic exercise, balance training, as well as multimodal programs targeted at the physiological and functional mechanisms underlying frailty.
A recent review, published in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation, evaluated the effectiveness of structured physical-activity–based physiotherapy programs in reducing frailty and enhancing physical, cognitive, and emotional outcomes in adults aged 60 and older. The researchers distinguished the effects of the intervention according to established frailty models (phenotype-based and deficit-accumulation models). The review used PRISMA criteria and the PICOS framework to identify relevant articles published between January 2002 and December 2025.
The majority of research found that resistance training increased muscle strength and reduced frailty by 20%-35%. Balance exercises reduced fall risk by 25%-35%, while aerobic training optimized gait and cardiovascular fitness. Multimodal interventions reversed frailty in 41%-50% of individuals and produced positive cognitive and emotional effects. Physical performance, quality of life, and functional independence improved across all frailty models, according to weighted analyses. Structured physiotherapy interventions, particularly multimodal programs, reduce frailty and strengthen physical, cognitive, and emotional resilience in older adults, underscoring their value within a comprehensive geriatric care framework.
Sources
[1] Alhadi M. Jahan, Insight into functional decline assessment in older adults: A physiotherapist’s perspective, Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus, Volume 1, Issue 4, 2024, 100048, ISSN 2950-3078, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aggp.2024.100048.
[2] Rizvi MR, Sharma A, Kashoo FZ et al. Reversing frailty: The transformative effects of structured physical-activity-based physiotherapy on physical, cognitive and emotional health in older adults—An evidence-based systematic review. Eur J Clin Invest. 2026; 56:e70158. doi:10.1111/eci.70158.
Abbonati a Karla Miller
