Knowledge about foot-specific foot falls risk factors and exercise among physiotherapists in the UK and Portugal: A cross-sectional survey.
Monserrat Conde, Gordon J Hendry, Jim Woodburn and 1 others
PMID 35689829WHAT IT FOUND
UK physiotherapists reported inspecting feet and prescribing exercises more frequently than Portuguese colleagues, despite both groups rating foot health as important.
UK therapists felt more confident in screening and delivering falls prevention programmes. Portuguese therapists were more likely to feel their basic training was sufficient.
Key findings
01UK physiotherapists reported inspecting older patients' feet and providing footwear advice more often than Portuguese colleagues, and felt more confident screening for foot health.
02UK physiotherapists were significantly more likely to implement evidence-based exercise programmes, including foot and ankle exercises, and to recommend home-based exercises compared to Portuguese physiotherapists.
03Most physiotherapists in both nations perceived that their older clients had little knowledge about footcare, foot-specific fall risk factors, or foot and ankle exercise interventions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sample was recruited via convenience and snowballing methods, not random sampling, so it may overrepresent therapists with a specific interest in falls and ageing. The study relied on self-reported knowledge and behaviour, which is subject to social desirability bias and reference bias; actual clinical practice was not observed. Response rates could not be calculated accurately due to multiple recruitment routes, though UK response was low (12.1% of emailed addresses). The findings are preliminary and cannot be generalised to the wider physiotherapy population in either country. Portuguese therapists were more likely to have a caseload of older adults in the sample than the UK group, or vice versa? Actually, UK therapists had a greater percentage of older patients (86% vs 70%). The subgroup analysis for those with >=70% older adult caseload showed similar trends to the full sample, but the overall sample composition differed.
Declared interests
One author is a Cascade Trainer for the Otago Home Exercise Program and chair of a Portuguese physiotherapy special interest group. Another author is a Director of a not-for-profit training organisation delivering exercise training.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that self-reported confidence and practice behaviour accurately reflect actual clinical competence or adherence. The study highlights perceived gaps and attitudes, not audited performance.