Welcome to the International Acupuncture Association of Physiotherapists (IAAPT).

IAAPT – a specialty group of World Physiotherapy

About us

The subgroup consists of academics and clinicians from member organisations (associations in each country). It promotes the dissemination of ideas by means of a journal produced three times a year and ongoing social media posts.

IAAPT encourages a broad approach to the practice of acupuncture, being aware that members need to conform to the rules and regulations that govern registration in their own countries/territories.

Standards of practice for basic safety have been established and accepted by member organisations. IAAPT is continuing to work towards an accepted international basic training.

Current members

History

This organization was founded in 1991 and became the acupuncture and dry needling subgroup of World Physiotherapy in 1999. It was formed by a core group of physiotherapists from parts of the world where physiotherapists had been practicing acupuncture since the early 1980s – Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sweden and the UK.

Since becoming a subgroup in 1999, membership has grown and currently includes member organizations in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Why join?

By becoming a member of IAAPT you will be able to:

receive the latest acupuncture and dry needling information through our quarterly Meridian Newsletter
benefit from international networking
influence developments in your profession
get links to information sources
contribute to the direction of needling-related training in physiotherapy and receive training information
have access to the most up to date safe acupuncture and dry needling guidelines for physiotherapy practice (updated biennially)
engage in ongoing debates over acupuncture mechanisms
help establish a foundation for good research, relevant to acupuncture as it is used by physiotherapists

Membership

IAAPT has four categories of membership:

Full Membership

An acupuncture clinical interest group recognised by their own physiotherapy association. The association needs to be a full member of World Physiotherapy.

Member Elect

An acupuncture clinical interest group who are applying for recognition by their physiotherapy association, or where the physiotherapy association is not yet a member of World Physiotherapy.

Associate

Individual physiotherapists with an interest in acupuncture who are members of a World Physiotherapy member organisation, but do not have an acupuncture and/or dry needling special interest group.

Honorary

Awarded to individuals who have supported the work of IAAPT and have given outstanding service to the development of acupuncture in physiotherapy.

Only full members have the right to vote on constitutional resolutions.

If you require a membership application form please contact our secretary at secretary@iaapt.wcpt.org