Preparation and Organization of the Brazilian Physical Therapy for Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Introduction The Olympic Games is the major sport event in the world. [...]the Olympic Games are by several measures the world's premiere sports event for elite athletes (Wilson, 1996). The Rio 2016 Games showed a great commitment of the Brazilian PTs, 5,380 physiotherapy volunteers enrolled in the program, an incredible fact for a country that is not accustomed to volunteering. [...]PT services needed to be properly prepared for this challenge. (2013) showed that the distribution of PT post-graduation programs throughout the regions of Brazil were irregular and disproportionate, given that the southeast region presents a high concentration of programs, while the north and Midwest regions have significantly less programs in this area. [...]SONAFE-Brazil faced a big challenge to enhance sports PT knowledge around the country and prepare Brazilian physiotherapists for the Rio 2016 games. (2011) showed that 87.3% of Brazilian PTs had emergency care training in those sports. [...]70.9% used taping, 98% used electrothermal therapy and 62% used manual therapy. Considering the size of Brazil and the opportunity to reach as many physical therapists as possible, SONAFE-Brazil needed to organize a strategy to apply this course in cities all over the country. [...]to carry out the training course, theoretical and practical classes were prepared and taught by highly skilled physical therapists who engaged in the concept of volunteering proposed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and donated their time and expertise to develop the growth of Brazilian Sports Physical Therapy. Only 5.6% (n = 204) of the physical therapists were...