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Finnish Sport Physiotherapy Association (SUFT) Congress (2025)

Dr Jo Abbott SUFT Congress 2025

“The Next Best Interventions”

Welcome to the SUFT Congress 2025
June 6–7, 2025 | Helsinki, Finland

Join us in Helsinki for the SUFT Congress 2025, a dynamic two-day event hosted by the Finnish Association of Sports Physiotherapists (SUFT).

This annual gathering brings together researchers, clinicians, and professionals from across the field of sports physiotherapy and sports medicine. It’s a platform for collaboration, inspiration, and the exchange of cutting-edge ideas.


What to Expect


Thesis presentations from bachelor’s and master’s students
Groundbreaking PhD research
Real-world case studies
Innovative practices and technologies in sports physiotherapy
Whether you’re a student, practitioner, or researcher, SUFT Congress 2025 is your opportunity to connect, learn, and shape the future of sports physiotherapy.

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BRINGING HANDS BACK INTO EVIDENCE-BASED CARE AT SUFT

I’m thrilled to be attending the SUFT Congress in Helsinki as a speaker, where I’ll be presenting my latest research on HODA-A (Hands-On Data Acquisition and Analysis)—a modern framework redefining the value of manual therapy in musculoskeletal healthcare. It’s an honour to share the stage with passionate, forward-thinking clinicians and researchers committed to advancing physiotherapy practice. I’m especially excited to contribute to the conversation around evidence-based touch, performance medicine, and how we can reclaim the clinical power of hands in an increasingly hands-off world.

SESSION 4: MANUAL THERAPY IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL IN YOUR TOOL BOX

At 15:30 on Friday, Dr. Jo Abbott will open with her provocative presentation, “The White Elephant in the Room of Physiotherapy Practice: To Put Hands or Not to Put Hands On?”—tackling the polarising debate around manual therapy in contemporary physiotherapy. With social media and professional opinion often dividing the field, this talk reframes manual therapy as a critical, evidence-informed tool—especially within sport physiotherapy.

Dr. Abbott will explore when and how hands-on techniques benefit athletes, the physiological rationale behind their application, and where their limitations lie. She will also present “The Evidence-Based Paradox: How Manual Therapy Was Dismissed Before It Was Ever Validated”, challenging long-standing research flaws and highlighting new evidence that supports the clinical value of touch.

The session will conclude with an open panel discussion, encouraging diverse perspectives and fostering a more united, practical vision for manual therapy’s role in physiotherapy today.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain the methodological flaw in over 70 years of evidence-based research on hands-on manual therapy (HODA-A), specifically the omission of validity studies prior to reliability assessments.

  2. Describe how the COSMIN Risk of Bias (RoB) standards redefine appropriate study design for evaluating clinical measurement instruments.

  3. Recognize the ethical and practical implications of continuing flawed reliability research without prior validation.

  4. Understand the framework of HODA-A, including its eight constructs and how it functions as a complex system for MSK assessment.

  5. Explore a multidisciplinary approach—including neurophysiology, robotics, and phenomenography—to validating hands-on care in clinical practice.

SESSION 6: KEEPING THE ATHLETE IN THE GAME

When performance is on the line, physiotherapists often hold the decisive role in whether an athlete steps onto the pitch—or is pulled from play. This session explores the high-stakes decisions experienced sports physiotherapists make to keep athletes competing, manage risk, and support recovery in real-time.

At 11:45 on Saturday, Dr. Jo Abbott will present “Florence Nightingale: Keeping the Athletes in the Competition”—a compelling exploration of how the origins of hands-on care in war-time medicine have shaped modern performance physiotherapy. Drawing from her research into HODA-A, Dr. Abbott connects Nightingale’s legacy to today’s elite sport context, reinforcing the value of touch as both a diagnostic tool and a performance strategy.

From clinical judgment under pressure to the tactile intelligence needed to make the right call, this session unpacks what it truly means to keep athletes in the game.

Learning Outcomes for Physiotherapists:

  1. Understand Nightingale’s role in pioneering hands-on care in clinical settings.

  2. Connect historical hands-on practices to modern physiotherapy principles.

  3. Compare soldier recovery models with current sports injury rehab.

  4. Identify how HODA-A builds on tactile clinical skills in elite sport.

  5. Reinforce the value of touch as a diagnostic and performance-enhancing tool.

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Who are SUFT?

About SUFT

The Finnish Association of Sports Physiotherapists

SUFT is the specialist association for sports physiotherapy within the Finnish Association of Physiotherapists. We are dedicated to advancing excellence in physiotherapy for athletes through education, training, and international collaboration.

As a national leader in the field, SUFT:

Develops and coordinates professional training in sports physiotherapy across Finland

Hosts an international congress featuring respected speakers and global thought leaders

Is an active member of the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy (IFSPT)

Their Mission

We aim to enhance the skills and expertise of physiotherapists working with athletes, ensuring high-quality care from grassroots to elite levels.

Certification

Participation in SUFT training is a prerequisite for earning the title of Certified Sports Physiotherapist in Finland.

Key aspects of the SUFT Congress 2025

Focus: Sports physiotherapy and medicine.


Location: Urhea Olympic Training Center, Mäkelänkatu 47, 00550 Helsinki


Dates: June 6-7, 2025.


Purpose: To foster communication and collaboration among researchers and clinicians.


Content: Presentations of diverse research and clinical work.


Language: English

SUFT Speakers

Evert Verhagen (1976) is a human movement scientist and epidemiologist.

David Fevre MSc MCSP SRP is currently working as a freelance clinician/lecturer in physiotherapy and sports injury rehabilitation.

Caroline Bolling is a sports physiotherapist. She worked with elite athletes from diverse Olympic sports, was head therapist of Cirque du Soleil.

Amanda Johnson is a physiotherapist with over 40 years’ experience in a variety of roles but predominantly high-level sport.

Dr Jo AbbottA global researcher, educator, and integrative clinician with a background in clinical anatomy, functional medicine, and pain science.

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May 6, 2025

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