Rome – The Lazio Order of Physiotherapists is funding physiotherapy research at Sapienza University of Rome. Annamaria Servadio, President of OFI Lazio, explains.
“The intent of the Board of Directors, which is obviously proceeding with all the objectives assumed in its mandate, is to promote research in Physiotherapy as a full exaltation and development of the profession towards the future.
Our intention is to establish an ongoing and fruitful collaboration with Sapienza University to promote the growth of the profession through physiotherapy research and innovation in educational content for basic and post-basic training programs.
In this complex action we intend to involve not only the University La Sapienza but the many universities present in the Lazio region, 5 of them and all prestigious, to promote research doctorates, scholarships and advanced training courses. We need to prepare the Physiotherapists of the future by adapting them to the new emerging health needs”.
It is precisely in this framework of professional development for our discipline that OFI Lazio promoted and concluded the funding of research in Physiotherapy at this large and important university, which took place during 2024 and promulgated through a Call for a research grant, established by the University in collaboration with our Order with the aim of carrying out and publishing studies relating to the specific discipline”.
" Research ," Servadio recalls, "is in fact the fundamental means for increasing disciplinary knowledge, enabling the scientific community to improve the quality of care provided and, consequently, outcomes, with a certain impact in terms of efficiency and effectiveness on the entire healthcare system."
“I believe that it is essential to make the training of the physiotherapist profession increasingly up-to-date - continues Annamaria Servadio - intercepting the changes in the ever-evolving healthcare context, working alongside and in support of University Institutions”.
The appointment of Lazio's first RTT in the field of physiotherapy, Dr. Giovanni Galeoto, further demonstrates the importance of research and training. "It was truly a pleasure to return to Sapienza," commented the head of Italy's largest Order of Physiotherapists, "and to simultaneously participate in the appointment of Dr. Galeoto, the first physiotherapy researcher, at the Department of Human Neurosciences.
"This is the first position we've advertised for this professional," emphasizes Professor Giovanni Fabbrini , full professor of Neurology and director of the Department of Human Neurosciences at Sapienza University of Rome, "a university researcher in physiotherapy. Sapienza offers numerous degree programs for healthcare professions, and it was absolutely essential to make resources available for this purpose."
"In this Department there are neurologists, child neuropsychiatrists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, psychologists and forensic doctors. We believe - he adds - that in a Department like this, physiotherapy plays a fundamental role, both in research activity and for teaching and assistance. Returning to the words of Dr. Servadio, thanks to the support and projects shared with OFI Lazio, we will be able to further develop post-basic training courses such as doctorates and scholarships for physiotherapy. Today, finally, a call for a research grant funded thanks to the contribution of OFI Lazio exclusively dedicated to physiotherapy is underway".
The President concludes: I thank La Sapienza University, the Rector, Professor Antonella Polimeni , and the Director of the Department of Human Neurosciences, Professor Giovanni Fabbrini , for having welcomed and shared with OFI Lazio the vision of a strong Physiotherapy profession that only through training and dedicated research will be able to provide citizens with the best answers to their health needs".
