In May 2025, we—Didier and Rina Hartmann—had the privilege of attending the World Physiotherapy Congress in Tokyo, an inspiring gathering of leading minds in physiotherapy from all continents. It was a deep and diverse exchange of ideas—rich in innovation, compassion, and fresh understanding.
The key message? There is no physical health without mental health. And physiotherapists are increasingly recognized as vital partners at this powerful interface between pain, mental processing, and healing.
Throughout the congress, one idea came up again and again: Movement is medicine—but only when we understand the human behind the muscles. That means giving clients space, choice, and compassion. It means acknowledging trauma, stress, and emotion—not pushing through it.
We heard about the concept of the “window of tolerance”—the zone where clients can both feel and think at the same time. Trauma often narrows this window. Our job, as therapists, is to work within it—not just with hands, but with words, presence, and awareness.
Some highlights that really stuck with us:
Explaining matters. We must explain not just what we do, but why—why movement helps with stress, why posture influences mood, and why mental barriers often hold people back more than physical ones.
Movement quality and body awareness are key not just for posture or rehabilitation, but also for attention, emotional regulation, and behavior change.
Physical activity therapy has effects comparable to psychotherapy or medication for mood and depression. That’s powerful. That’s measurable. That’s our role.
In many countries, it’s now policy to prescribe physiotherapy to anyone with less than 150 minutes of weekly activity. And in Australia, physiotherapists are recognized at the center of both physical and mental health care.
It was encouraging to see that our integrative approach—combining posture, mindfulness, movement, and self-awareness—is truly in line with global trends.
The call is clear: we must become more conscious leaders, aware not just of biomechanics but of the full human experience. At the congress, we actively exchanged with fellow physiotherapists from around the world about the evolving field of biopsychosocial medicine—a relatively young, yet crucial approach that integrates body, mind, and social context into patient care. This is not only part of our daily practice, but also the foundation of Didier’s book on the subject, published in German 2017. Our commitment to this model continues to grow as research confirms its relevance and impact.
We left Tokyo energized. The theme was global, but the application is deeply personal and local. We are already incorporating many of these insights at CrossPhysio in our practice here in Japan.
Because at the end of the day, healing isn’t just about fixing posture or working on muscles—it’s about understanding how everything is connected: your social being, your personal values, beliefs, and goals. It’s about learning to navigate life with a sense of empowerment—moving through it in a way that makes you feel energized, challenged, or even thrilled. That’s where real satisfaction and happiness begin.