Geoffrey Douglas Maitland - Connecting his legacy to the future of musculoskeletal physiotherapy education

GEOFFREY DOUGLAS MAITLAND MBE: CONNECTING HIS LEGACY TO THE FUTURE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL PHYSIOTHERAPY EDUCATION

Presenter: Magarey ME

Geoffrey Douglas Maitland MBE was a leader, not only in the field of

manipulative physiotherapy (now musculoskeletal physiotherapy),

but also in advocating many aspects of physiotherapy that Australian

physiotherapists now take for granted but which, at the time when

Geoff first talked about them, were novel, far sighted and outside the

convention for physiotherapists of the day. With the demise of many of

the hallmark university-based programs in musculoskeletal physiotherapy,

the question must be asked – where to from here? It is difficult to believe

that a self-directed educational program such as that required to achieve

titled membership of MPA or other national groups could possibly achieve

the standards expected of a graduate of a formal masters program. For

Australia to remain at the forefront of musculoskeletal physiotherapy

education, research and practice, such issues must be considered.

How do we cope with the changing world of physiotherapy postgraduate

education and still maintain standards? How can the standards demanded

by IFOMPT be met by a self-directed program? Is the model currently in

use within the APA and through the accreditation/evaluation process of

postgraduate programs the best option available? Do we need to create

new options for consideration? In this paper, the legacy left by Geoffrey

Maitland in relation to physiotherapy standards, education and patient

centred-management will be explored in the context of contemporary

musculoskeletal physiotherapy education and where such education may

go in the future.

Key Practice Points:

• Achieve a new insight into the history of education within

musculoskeletal physiotherapy

• Be provided with an understanding of the development of postgraduate

education within musculoskeletal physiotherapy

• Be provided with a proposal for consideration for the future development

of education in musculoskeletal physiotherapy

CPD Points: 0.5