The main theme for the 50^th anniversary conference of IFOMPT is “Crossing bridges” – Crossing bridges between research, clinical practice, education, patients’ perspectives and the needs of society. The many challenges and changes that musculoskeletal and manual physical therapy are facing, require critical reflection on the future from different perspectives. New practices and ways of thinking are emerging, and may provide reflection on our identity, new roles, refined ways to practice, and new models of care. The 2024 IFOMPT conference will be a key event to discuss, advocate and celebrate the diversity of musculoskeletal and manual physical therapy.

The conference will be divided into the following three main strands as described below:

1. Innovative models of care in musculoskeletal and manual physical therapy

This strand will cover new developments and ideas about crossing bridges between science, practice and patients’ experiences. This will include aspects relating to:

• Effective strategies to implement new knowledge into practice
• New models of care and innovative frameworks
• Different stakeholder’s perspectives to improve quality of musculoskeletal and manual physical therapy
• Proposing models of advanced practice and direct access

2. Physical therapy futures – emerging areas

This strand will explore questions of where we as musculoskeletal and manual physical therapists come from, where we are today, and where we are going in the future. This will include aspects relating to:

• Expertise, characteristics and core features of MSK physiotherapists
• New ways of thinking about different challenges in healthcare within higher, middle, and lower-income countries
• Our professional contribution for tackling the global burden of MSK diseases
• Thinking out of the box and calls for action by our profession
• Considerations for the education of next generations of physiotherapists
• Leadership, digital health, advocacy, patient and population engagement

3. Expertise in musculoskeletal and manual physical therapy

New developments and cutting-edge topics to underline the expertise of musculoskeletal and manual physical therapists will be presented in this strand. This will include aspects relating to:

• Best available evidence summarised by experts in the field
• Diversity of competencies needed by musculoskeletal and manual physical therapists
• Bringing together different approaches and experts from different research groups to bridge opposing perspectives – in this regards
• Patient’s voices and perspectives on their experiences
• Interdisciplinary perspectives