International Society for Electro Physical Agents : ISEPA
In 2007, at the 15th International WCPT Congress in Vancouver, Canada, Ah Cheng Goh PT, PhD chaired 2 meetings related to the formation of an ElectroPhysical Agents (EPA) subgroup within WCPT. These meetings were held in conjunction with a Focused Symposium on EPA jointly organized and presented by Luther Kloth (USA), Val Robertson (Australia), David Baxter (NZ), and Ah Cheng Goh (Japan).
A total of 41
representatives from 14 countries participated in lively and passionate discussions on the future of EPA for the Physical Therapy profession. There was unanimous support
from everyone present for the formation of an International Society for Electrophysical Agents (ISEPA) to serve the following objectives:
1 |
To realize the potential benefit and contribution of EPAs in the treatment of disease and improvement of health for all |
2 |
To represent the interests of the Physical Therapy profession in all matters related to the practice, education and research of EPA. |
3 |
To provide leadership for moving EPA forwards in an evidence-based practice environment. |
4 |
To foster research (clinical, animal, in vitro) that will add to the existing body of knowledge related to EPA technologies. |
5 |
To advocate clinical practice guidelines consistent with evidence-based practice |
6 |
To advocate educational curriculum guidelines for the teaching of EPA which are consistent with evidence-based practice |
7 |
To advocate a research model and prioritize a research agenda for EPA. |
8 |
To advocate the adoption of a common terminology and a set of safety |
9 |
To disseminate information pertaining to the appropriate usage and clinical effectiveness of the various EPA modalities |
10 |
To co-ordinate, liaise and co-operate with other clinical interest groups within WCPT |
In addition, Professor Luther Kloth was tasked with the organization of the first
ISEPA Congress in the USA. Professor Kloth and Dr. Karen Albaugh sought and
obtained approval of the American Physical Therapy Association in co- hosting the
ISEPA Congress together with the APTA Section on Electrophysiology and Wound Management as a Pre-conference symposium prior to Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) 2009.
The successful ISEPA Congress took place at the Mandalay Bay Hotel on February 8-9, 2009 and the new society was formed.
For information on how to join and participate in the ISEPA please contact Dr. Ah Cheng Goh at gohac@shinshu-u.ac.jp or Dr. Meryl Gersh at meryl.gersh@mail.ewu.edu.
Please post your ideas and questions about what ISEPA can accomplish for the practice, research and education of EPA around the world on our discussion board on the WCPT forum: http://www.wcpt.org/smfforum/index.php/board,68.0.html
