On The Move

Book your place now and save money for the event that's been nicknamed 'Glastonbury for therapists'

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More than 2,000 people will pack their bags and hit the road to Birmingham in November

The organisers have described the event as the ‘Glastonbury for therapists’ – though presumably the toilets will be in good nick and you won’t have to navigate your way through a quagmire to catch your favourite act on the main stage.

At least 100 speakers have been lined up to speak at this year’s Therapy Expo and Musculoskeletal (MSK) Conference at the NEC in Birmingham – many of whom would surely appear in anyone's Who’s Who of prominent physiotherapists practising in the UK today.

Tickets for the two-pronged event, which runs from 22 to 23 November, are currently priced at £115 (plus VAT) – a saving of more than £180 compared to paying on the door to enter the event itself.

Among the highlights listed on the event website are two demonstration zones, an ultrasound workshop, a Rocktape Movement Summit and a Venn Innovations in Shockwave Theatre.

Attendees are also promised an opportunity to log more than 70 hours of accredited continuing professional development in their personal portfolios, while also gaining access to more than 150 exhibitors displaying their products and the latest innovations in the therapy field.

Speciality areas covered

MSK; sports injuries; strength and conditioning
performance; rehabilitation; massage
spinal injuries; neurology; respiratory (including long Covid)
human performance; stroke; orthopaedic
elderly care; women’s health

Lucy McCann, an advanced practice physiotherapist and first contact practitioner, is co-running a session titled ‘Joining the dots in inflammatory back pain and piecing together the jigsaw of axial spondyloarthritis'

Physios are 'on board'

A number of high-profile physiotherapists are listed as being members of the Therapy Expo advisory board, helping to ensure the content is highly relevant to event goers from a variety of sectors. Members include consultant physiotherapist Amanda Hensman-Crook, who is a visiting lecturer at the University of Winchester and a fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Another physiotherapist board member is Chris Norris, who has a PhD in spinal rehabilitation and has written 13 books on exercise rehabilitation and injuries. Both Ms Hensman and Dr Norris will be running sessions during the event.

The MSK conference is backed by the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine, MSK Partners Network and the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society.

What the organisers say

‘Through leadership, commitment and collaborative working, we will build on our past successes to continue striving towards a sustainable and high-quality workforce to deliver MSK service transformation fit for the present and future.

‘This year our theme of “Working Together” will build on bringing the multidisciplinary MSK professions and sub-specialties together to demonstrate how integrated care across the healthcare system, with NHS and independent sectors in synergy, can transform MSK care ensuring that what matters most to the service user is at the heart and centre of our focus.

'By learning from each other and sharing our knowledge, skills, and interests, we aim to create a platform for high quality improvement and transformation in MSK services.'

Speakers at the MSK Conference include physiotherapist Neil Langridge, director of clinical and rehabilitation services at AECC university College in Bournemouth, and Christopher Mercer, co-chair of the UK National Physiotherapy Consultant Network.

Trio tackle the 'jigsaw of axial spondyloarthritis'

Lucy McCann, an advanced practice physiotherapist and first contact practitioner (FCP) with South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, is lined up to run a session titled ‘Joining the dots in inflammatory back pain and piecing together the jigsaw of axial spondyloarthritis’.

Like her two co-presenters Jenny Elkins, a clinical specialist physiotherapist and FCP with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, and James Holland, an FCP with Viaduct Care, Ms McCann is a champion in primary care with the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society.

The trio are taking part in a two-year quality improvement and leadership programme, working towards reducing the time it takes for people to be diagnosed in axial SpA.

Visitor testimonial

‘This is the first time I have been to Therapy Expo; I think it is a great event. There are loads of different speakers that offer something different, and there is a lot of variety. Having been to one of the seminars I have been inspired to look at booking a day course with the speaker who gave the demonstration.'

Alison Cole, physiotherapist, Harpenden Physiotherapy and Osteopathy Clinic