Key Contacts

 

Primary contact, Secretary

Susan Kohut (New Zealand)

contact@iaapt.physio

Susan is a New Zealand registered physiotherapist with a master’s degree in acupuncture from Auckland University of Technology (AUT). She now leads the postgraduate Western acupuncture papers for allied health professionals at AUT, and practice physiotherapy, including acupuncture, in private practice. She is on the Executive Committee and teaches for the Physiotherapy Acupuncture Association of New Zealand, and is the Secretary of the International Acupuncture Association of Physiotherapists (IAAPT). IAAPT is the World Physiotherapy acupuncture and dry needling specialty group. The aim of IAAPT is to promote acupuncture (both traditional Asian acupuncture and biomedical/Western – including dry needling) practices within physiotherapy.

My work

I realize that within acupuncture worldwide, physiotherapists practicing acupuncture are somewhat of a minority, with “dry needling” being the common terminology within physical therapy scopes. However, within many countries, acupuncture, including dry needling, is very much within the physiotherapy scope of practice.

As a physiotherapist, acupuncture complements promotion of tissue healing, pain relief, and quality of life, thus enabling better participation in rehabilitation. I wouldn’t be without my toolbox of needles.

My teaching initially focuses on the critical analysis of acupuncture’s integration within healthcare worldwide, with robust discussions on the varying paradigms of needling practices. This includes their differences, yet similarities, those “paradoxes” of acupuncture research. Then there is the learning of acupuncture. Acupoints are learned, including their innervation. That enables the reading and better understanding of acupuncture research and a shorthand to write treatment notes! Chinese medicine theories are taught at basic levels to comprehend the origins of practice, however most teaching is neuroscience- and clinical reasoning-based. The research over the past decade in relation to acupuncture in anti-inflammation and autonomic processing has taken acupuncture far past the notion of it being only a treatment for pain.

Thoughts on Research

In healthcare research, it is crucial to demonstrate mechanisms of action as well as to drive evidence-based practice. The early statements within Western medicine of acupuncture being only placebo, and that there is no evidence for it are slowly being eroded, but colonial biases still exist.

Memorable research includes Paterson and Dieppe’s 2005 paper on characteristic and incidental placebo effects in complex interventions such as acupuncture. It focused on pluralistic components involved in treatment and opened doors to think beyond the randomized controlled trial. Moreover, I must note Hugh MacPherson’s work (with many others) in developing acupuncture beyond needling and highlighting the multiple dimensions of complex interventions such as acupuncture.

President

Kerry Fung (Hong Kong)

 

Kerry is a Registered Physiotherapist (HK, UK, AU) and a Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner (HK, AU). He graduated from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Physiotherapy, Manipulative Therapy, Health Care Research), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University (Chinese Medicine), Hong Kong Baptist University (Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture), University of Liverpool (Exercise and Nutrition Science), the University of Hong Kong (Sports and Health Sciences) and John Wernham College of Classical Osteopathy (Classical Osteopathy).

Kerry has served as the Vice President of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association, the Chairman of the Registration Committee of the Physiotherapists Board of Hong Kong, and is now the Chairman of the International Acupuncture Association of Physiotherapists (IAAPT). He is working as a physiotherapist and Chinese medicine physician in private practice and is the Dean of the Institute of Holistic Healthcare. He has been teaching manual therapy, manipulative physiotherapy, acupuncture, sports physiotherapy and other professional development programs of Physiotherapy and Chinese medicine in Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China and East Asia for over two decades.

His major mission now is to promote the development of the physiotherapy profession in China and to engage physiotherapists around the globe to use acupuncture and related techniques in the context of physiotherapy.

George Georgoudis (Greece) – Vice President

He is a full Professor in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy & Pain Management at the Physiotherapy Department of the University of West Attica (UNIWA), Greece. He is the elected Director of the Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory at UNIWA since 2017, and he is the Director (Greek side) of the Greek TaiJi Health Center and Confucius Institute at UNIWA.

He has completed his PhD (2003) and MSc (1996) studies at the University of Manchester, UK with specializations in Orthopedic Medicine Rehabilitation, Pain Management and Biomechanics. He was awarded his BSc(hons) (1995) by the School of Physiotherapy, University of Applied Sciences (TEI of Athens), Athens Greece.

He has worked in a number of hospitals in UK (Hope hospital & Manchester Royal Infirmary, Stockton-on-Tees General) and in Greece (Tzaneio General Hospital) for a total of 10+ years. Since 2000, he is leading a private practice group of clinics (two physiotherapy clinics and a medical rehabilitation center) in Greece (Piraeus & Athens). He is in academia since 1998 and in 2008 was elected as an Assistant Professor of Physiotherapy at UNIWA. He is a full Professor since 2019, teaching in the undergraduate Bachelor in Physiotherapy, in many MSc programs and he has supervised and participated in more than 7 PhDs.

His research interests are focused on pain assessment & management, musculoskeletal disorders, telerehabilitation, biomechanics, acupuncture and sports injuries. He is participating in Horizon research projects (SUN, Rehabotics) and in a number of funded research projects in Greece, Cyprus and UK. He has published in major journals and in a variety of topics with more than 1200 citations of his published work.

He is the Scientific Coordinator and Director of two Lifelong-Learning programs at UNIWA: the 300hrs education program on “Biomedical and Traditional Acupuncture for Physiotherapists and Doctors”, which is running successfully for more than 15 years, and the 180hrs program on “Therapeutic Exercise for Physios and Doctors using the Clinical Pilates Method”.

He is the president of the scientific non-profit educational organization of the Hellenic Physiotherapy Society of Algology and he holds the Vice-president post since 2015 at the International Acupuncture Association of Physical Therapists (IAAPT), subgroup of World Physiotherapy professional body.

Len Kiroplis (Canada) – Website/Social Media

Len has worked primarily in private practice throughout his physiotherapy career and completed his Health Sciences degree at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada after obtaining an undergraduate Biology degree at Queen’s University. He worked and completed additional training in the United States before returning to Canada where he has co-owed and managed a variety of multi-disciplinary health clinics.

He has been involved in teaching and program development for acupuncture, dry needling and associated courses since 2011 for three Canadian educational programs: Advanced Physical Therapy Education ADN, the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Meridian Health Education.

Len was a executive member of the Acupuncture & Dry Needling Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association from 2012 to 2020 as newsletter editor, social media rep and chair. In 2019, he joined the executive committee of IAPPT and has helped with website creation and maintenance, social media and the development of an international webinar series platform.

He enjoys learning from fellow needling enthusiasts and contributing to the improvement of acupuncture and dry needling awareness, education and safety within the physiotherapy world. He has been pleased to see ongoing advances in acupuncture and dry needling research to better understand the effects on healing and pain. When he’s not in the office or clinic, you’ll find him on the ski slopes, on a forest hike, or when possible, at the seashore.

Anny Luty (Switzerland) – Treasurer
 

Anny trained as a physiotherapist in Switzerland over 35 years ago. She worked several years in Scotland for the NHS and did her first acupuncture course in the UK 25 year ago. She then moved to New Zealand where she completed a MHPrac in Western Acupuncture and has been a member of PAANZ (Physiotherapy Acupuncture Association New Zealand) since 2002. After returning to Switzerland she completed training as a Certified Dry Needling Therapist. 

She now works as a physiotherapist in her co-owned private practice in the East of Switzerland. In 2024, she completed a post as a lecturer at SUPSI (Scuola Universitaria professionale della Svizzera Italiana) teaching physiotherapy students (Scientific English).

Anny sees acupuncture and dry needling as an invaluable addition to her skills as a manual therapist and pain specialist. Furthering the understanding and acceptance of acupuncture within physiotherapy is dear to her heart.   

Mary Pender (Ireland) – Newsletter

I am a member of ISCP working in private practice in Dublin, Ireland. I have been involved in acupuncture education for almost 40 years. My role in IAAPT is editor of the Meridian and my job is to ensure that news is disseminated to all members every three months.

Jenny Lucy (Australia)
 

Jenny has been practicing physiotherapy in Australia since 2014, working as Senior Physiotherapist self-employed at Wheatbelt Health Network, Northam Western Australia.

Jenny was the New Zealand A.F.L.(Australia Football League) Squad Physiotherapist from 2000-2014, and South Pacific A.F.L. Squads Physiotherapist 2010- 2013.

Jenny holds a postgraduate diploma in Cardio-Thoracic Physiotherapy (1984 C.H.B.) and has been a Physiotherapy Acupuncture Association of New Zealand Registered Physiotherapy Acupuncture practitioner since 1998.

Jenny has been a tutor on the Australian Physiotherapy Association ( APA ) WA Dry Needling Level 1 workshop since 2021 and tutored on the Integrative Acupuncture Training Level 1 course in 2022, and Level 3 in 2023.

Jenny is the current ex-officio as past Chair of the National APAs Acupuncture & Dry Needling Group( ADNG) and the APA ADNG IAAPT representative.

Jenny’s clinical practice is influenced by a wide range of clinical approaches, Dr Sahrmann’s Functional Movement Systems, gaining Kinesio taping practitioner certification in 2008, Trigenics Practitioner registration in 2010 and Ridgway Method training for six months in 2017. Jenny uses all of these post-graduate treatment approaches in her clinical practice, predominantly muscle balancing, acupuncture & dry needling.

Jenny Lucy has practiced Tai Chi for over 35 years, teaching three forms, the Chan Lee form, Dr Paul Lams Modified Tai Chi for Arthritis for Falls Prevention form & the Sun style form. 2018 Jenny purchased Moh Tappers Physio-Chi rehabilitation modified Tai Chi form. Jenny teaches 4 hours of Physio-Chi per week, and since purchasing Physio-Chi copyright form has annually run workshops teaching this modified Tai Chi to Physiotherapists, OT’s, and their assistants to run classes in their facilities.

2023 Jenny was part of the expert panel for MyJoint Tai Chi research group-Melbourne University, Australia.

Michael Vaad Kristensen (Denmark)
 

He is a senior lecturer and assistant professor in physiotherapy at UCL Denmark, and works as a physiotherapist in private practice.

He is also member of the Danish association for acupuncture in physiotherapy (DSA-F).

Member of the arranging committee for NMAC (Nordic congress for medical acupuncture). 

Mail: mvkr@ucl.dk

Other Executive Committee Members

Spyridon Sotiropoulos (Greece) – Bio to come


Previous Executive Committee Members

Lucy Ireland (New Zealand)- Treasurer

Nikos Zeniou (Cyprus)

Alexandros Sideris (Greece)

 

Current members