Physiotherapy and Mental Health

Abstract

Physiotherapy in mental health care and psychiatry is recognized by the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) as a specialty within physiotherapy. Physiotherapy in mental health offers a wide range of interventions in regard of body functions, physical activity, exercises, sensory, body and movement awareness, stress and tense regulation and pain management, based on clinical and scientific evidence-based literature. Additionally, the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and “physio-education” (i.e. the process of providing education and information regarding specific physiotherapy related topics to patients and their family members) should be a responsibility of the physiotherapist. This paper gives a short overview of the interventions in the field of mental health to offer appropriate care to a specific vulnerable but growing group in our society.