Key dates
COVID-19
Q: Will COVID-19 impact the congress?
A: The World Physiotherapy Congress 2021 will be an online event.
Abstract submission
Q: When will I hear if my abstract submission has been successful?
A: Authors of abstract submissions have been notified of the outcome.
Bursary programme
Q: Can I apply for a bursary?
A: Applications for the bursary programme closed on 5 February 2021.
Q: I have a question about my bursary application. Who can I contact?
A: Please contact [email protected] with any questions about the bursary programme.
Congress Update
Q: How can I sign up to receive the congress e-newsletter, Congress Update?
A: Join our mailing list to receive all the latest congress news. You can opt out at any time by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of all our newsletters.
Contact
Q: I have a question regarding congress, who should I contact?
A: If your question relates to your presentation or abstract submission, please contact [email protected]
All other congress related questions should be sent to [email protected]
Exhibition and industry partnerships
Q: Where can I find information on exhibition and industry partnerships?
A: Details on exhibition and industry partnerships can be found at https://congress.physio/2021/exhibition
Focused symposia
Q: If my symposium is accepted, when will I know the date on which I will present it?
A: All presenters will be notified of the time and date of their presentation on 1 March 2021.
Language
Q: What language will presentations be made in?
A: The official language of the congress is English and all session and abstract submissions must be submitted and presented in English.
However, the congress will, for the first time, provide a translation service during the live event that will give participants the opportunity to see and hear real time translations in a number of languages. The translation service will use new and emerging technology in the fields of artificial intelligence and simultaneous translation. More information can be found at: https://congress.physio/2021/programme/translation
Online congress platform
Q: How will I access content online?
A: A booking reference will be emailed to registered participants. You must use this booking reference to access the congress event platform.
Q: What technology do I need to access the congress event platform?
A: You will need a laptop, tablet or smartphone with an internet browser. Please note that Internet Explorer is not supported by the congress event platform.
If you use a desktop or laptop (including Apple computers), we recommend you use a recent version of Google Chrome.
If you use a smartphone, you will need iOS 11 or higher for Apple or version 7 or higher for Android.
Programme
Q: What is included in the online event?
A: Please visit the congress event platform to find out more about live and on demand content.
You can find details of the:
Q: During which time zones will the live content be available?
A: World Physiotherapy has reviewed global time zones, alongside a range of other factors, including location of member organisations, density of physiotherapists, original intended congress host location, and future planned congresses. In some sessions there are speakers with a 16 hour time difference, just as an example of the complexity of delivering across time zones.
The live scientific programme content will run from 10:00-16:15 UTC on Friday 9 April and 10:00-15:30 UTC on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 April. There will also be live industry workshops running after the scientific programme schedule finishing at 17:00 UTC on 9 April and 16:15 UTC on 10 April. The dates for the online congress have been moved to encompass Friday-Sunday to maximise participation. Whilst we recognise for some participants the hours will be less than favourable, if you are open to a few early starts or late nights over a weekend, you will be able to engage with at least three hours of live content. Most live content will be recorded and will be available on demand for three months so you will be able to watch at any time.
Rather than travelling to a congress and coping with jet lag perhaps a little online lag is acceptable to be able to engage with all that is on offer. You can check local times using this link.
Q: I have had an abstract accepted, why do I need to register to simply upload my presentation or ePoster?
A: The same policies apply, whether the congress is an in-person event or online. There are costs incurred in delivering the event, and prestige and professional recognition attached to presenting at an international congress. As a speaker, you get to engage with the profession globally, open up opportunities, and benefit from all the content. A requirement to register was clearly stated in the terms and conditions of the call for abstracts that all submitters confirmed when submitting their abstract.
Q: I am a chair/speaker in a session, why do I need to register?
A: The call for focused symposia and all session invites have made it clear that all chairs and speakers must register to participate in the online congress.
We receive many requests for reduced fees or free attendance for a variety of reasons. Reducing the rate for one group would mean that we have to increase it for others. Speakers, session chairs and participants all pay the same rate as all contribute to the congress outcomes.
Q: Will abstracts be published in a journal?
A: Abstracts presented at World Physiotherapy Congress 2021 online will not be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The abstracts and associated ePosters and platform presentations will be available on demand to all registered participants for a three month period via the online congress platform.
Participants will be able to search the platform by keywords and topic areas.
Q: I have an idea for the programme. Is there scope to add it?
A: The congress programme committee is working hard to ensure a comprehensive and interesting programme is offered and undertook a widespread consultation to help inform this. There is limited scope to add new ideas to the programme but we would still like to hear from you.
Please send your idea to [email protected] and if there is scope to include it we will contact you to discuss it further. Please note, the closer we get to the congress, the less flexibility we will have to introduce new ideas.
Registration
Q: When will I be able to register for congress?
A: Online registration is open, you can register at https://congress.physio/2021/registration
Q: When will I receive my certificate of attendance?
A: Certificates of attendance will be sent out after 13 April 2021. Participants viewing on demand content will receive a certificate of attendance at the end of the month of their login date.
Q: I am a member of my national physiotherapy association. Can I get a reduced registration rate?
A: You are only eligible for the "Member" rate if you are a member of your national physiotherapy association, which must be a World Physiotherapy member organisation. For a full list of World Physiotherapy member organisations, visit www.world.physio/our-members
Q: Am I a member of World Physiotherapy? How do I join?
A: World Physiotherapy is a confederation of over 125 national physiotherapy associations. We do not have a category for individual members. You are only eligible for the "Member" registration rate if you are a member of your national physiotherapy association, which must be a World Physiotherapy member organisation. For a full list of World Physiotherapy member organisations, visit www.world.physio/our-members
Q: Am I eligible for a reduced registration fee?
A: World Physiotherapy is a confederation of national professional membership organisations. Any physiotherapist who is a member of one of our member organisations is eligible for the member rate. In addition, we offer reduced rates for members of our member organisations in low and lower middle income countries/territories. These rates reflect the reduced fees paid by the member organisation to World Physiotherapy, determined by the World Bank country/territory ratings.
Recognising that even reduced fees are still cost prohibitive for some in these low and lower middle income countries/territories, World Physiotherapy offers a bursary programme providing a free registration, and the potential for a data support package, where required, to support members of our member organisations. Full details are on our website https://congress.physio/2021/registration/bursary. Applications to the bursary programme closed on 5 February 2021.
Q: Can I register for just one day at a reduced rate?
A: It is not possible to offer a one day registration option for an online congress. With the wealth of content available there is much to be explored and registration allows access for three months to make the most of this.
Q: Can groups register and get discounts?
A: Group registration is not an option.
Q: Are continuing education credits available for the online event?
A: Registered participants will receive 14 World Physiotherapy international physiotherapy continuing education units (WP IP-CEUs) for attending the online congress. [1 WP IP-CEU = 1 hour of content]
Q: Can I share my registration with others?
A: You will have a unique registration login. It can be used on one device and logging in on another device will be blocked. You may choose to share the content by connecting in one location and sharing on a screen for others to view. Please note that if you share the content with others only the registered participant will get a certificate of attendance and benefit from the continuing education units.
Q: The registration fee is very high and it is beyond the means of the average physiotherapist in my country. Does World Physiotherapy make some allowance for physiotherapists from low resource countries/territories?
A: We realise that the impact of the registration fee depends on specific circumstances and the economy of your country/territory. World Physiotherapy is in a position where it must cover the costs of its congress through registration fees. We have always aimed to do this. Fees are required to cover logistical, administrative, and technical expenses. The fees for the online congress are 70% cheaper than for the in-person meeting.
World Physiotherapy is a confederation of national professional membership organisations. Any physiotherapist who is a member of one of our member organisations is eligible for the member rate. This is a benefit of being a member of a World Physiotherapy member organisation. If you are not a member, we encourage you to look at membership options as, in many countries/territories, joining your national physiotherapy association and paying the member rate is cheaper than paying the non-member rate, and connects you to your professional association.
We offer a bursary programme providing a free registration, and the potential for a data support package, where required, to support members of our member organisations in low and lower middle income countries/territories. Full details are on our website: https://congress.physio/2021/registration/bursary. Applications to the bursary programme closed on 5 February 2021. World Physiotherapy is hoping to support at least 100 participants, far exceeding the number of people who received a congress bursary at previous events. We receive many requests for reduced fees or free attendance for a variety of reasons. Reducing the rate for one group would mean that we have to increase it for others. Speakers, session chairs and participants all pay the same rate as all contribute to the congress outcomes.
Q: I live in a country where the cost of living is high and salaries for physiotherapists are poor, although it is not a low or lower middle resource country/territory can I get a reduced fee?
A: Please see response to question above.
Volunteering
Q: Can I volunteer for congress?
A: World Physiotherapy will not have an open call for congress volunteers in 2021.
If you are interested in volunteering your services to help develop the physiotherapy profession internationally, please visit our World Physiotherapy Database of Volunteers and Experts page: https://world.physio/about-us/doves