World Physiotherapy Day 2026: Helping Hearts and Rebuilding Lives

Every year on 8 September, World Physiotherapy Day celebrates the skilled professionals who help people restore movement, manage pain, recover from illness and remain as independent as possible.

The date marks the founding of World Physiotherapy in 1951. 

The theme for 2026 focuses on the role of physiotherapy and physical activity in preventing, managing and rehabilitating cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Although physiotherapy is often associated with sports injuries, back pain or recovery after an operation, its contribution to heart and circulatory health is equally important.

Movement as prevention

Regular physical activity can help protect the heart, improve circulation, maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of several long-term health conditions. However, becoming more active is not always as simple as being told to “exercise more”.

Pain, disability, breathlessness, poor balance, fatigue or anxiety may all make movement difficult. A physiotherapist can assess a person’s individual circumstances and help them find safe, realistic ways to become more active.

That might begin with gentle movements while seated, short supported walks or exercises designed to improve balance and confidence. Progress can then be adjusted according to the person’s health, abilities and goals.

The emphasis should be on appropriate movement rather than competition. Even small, sustainable changes can be valuable.

Recovering after a heart problem

Physiotherapists can also be part of cardiac rehabilitation teams supporting people after a heart attack, heart surgery or a diagnosis such as heart failure.

It is entirely understandable for someone to feel nervous about exercising following a heart problem. Carefully supervised rehabilitation can provide reassurance while helping people rebuild strength, stamina and confidence.

According to the NHS, cardiac rehabilitation is an important part of recovery. Programmes may include individualised exercise, health education and emotional support, delivered through group sessions, online classes or home-based programmes.

These programmes are not about pushing people beyond their limits. They are about helping each person return to everyday activities as safely and confidently as possible.

Physiotherapy after a stroke

A stroke can affect strength, sensation, coordination, balance and mobility. Some survivors may have difficulty walking or using an arm, while others experience fatigue, stiffness or a loss of confidence in their movement.

Physiotherapy can help a stroke survivor practise movements, improve balance, strengthen affected muscles and learn alternative ways of completing everyday activities. Rehabilitation may involve repeated exercises, mobility aids, positioning advice and support for family members or carers.

Recovery is different for everyone. It may continue for months or years, and progress is not always a straight line. The NHS guide to stroke recovery explains that rehabilitation plans can include physiotherapy and exercises to help with movement and physical difficulties.

Just as importantly, physiotherapists can help people recognise and celebrate improvements that might appear small to others but represent enormous personal achievements.

Celebrating the profession

World Physiotherapy Day is an opportunity to thank the physiotherapists working in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centres, care homes, community services and patients’ own homes.

Their work can help a person climb the stairs again, return to work, regain movement after a stroke or feel confident enough to take that first walk following heart surgery.

The official World Physiotherapy Day 2026 campaign reminds us that movement can be part of prevention, treatment and recovery. It also highlights an important message: physical activity should be accessible, adaptable and centred on the individual.

If you have a heart condition, are recovering from a stroke or have not exercised for some time, seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional before beginning a new exercise programme.

And on 8 September, let us recognise the physiotherapists who help people move more freely, live more independently and rediscover confidence in their own bodies.

Your local GP should be able to refer you for physiotherapy appointments. Some GP practices have their own physiotherapy departments. 

Extreme cold increases risk of cardiac arrest by almost 20%, new study finds

Temperatures below -9°C increase the risk of cardiac arrest by 18.9% for over two weeks, new research from Corvinus University of Budapest has revealed.

Alongside Semmelweis University, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, the University of Pannonia, and the National Ambulance Service, researchers analysed temperature data with over 116,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases over a five-year period.

The lowest risk for cardiac arrest was observed at 19°C, with the number of cases increasing as the temperature grew hotter or colder. 

While there was notable risk above 27°C, the largest rise in risk was linked to cold spells (-9°C and below) lasting at least two days. This impact did not differ between men and women.

The researchers also identified an important difference in how heat and cold affect the body. Heat acts quickly and only up to a week, while cold spells place a longer-term strain on the body, with effects appearing after three days and increasing the risk of cardiac arrest for over two weeks after the cold period has ended.

“Although the effect of the weather is weak, it affects us all. In recent decades, climate change has made our weather more variable, and our bodies must adapt to this. This is particularly challenging for those who are unwell. While we have learned to pay attention to heatwaves, research shows that we must also consider the effects of cold weather,” Brigitta Szilágyi, Associate Professor at Corvinus University and co-author told That's Health.

The researchers offer practical implications; during heatwaves, healthcare services need to respond rapidly, while cold periods require heightened readiness over longer periods. 

By incorporating these findings into regional warning systems, healthcare practices could also provide greater support, emphasising hydration during heat, and blood pressure management and appropriate clothing during cold periods.

These findings were first published in the journal Resuscitation Plus. The full paper is open access here 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666520425003315?via%3Dihub