Piaget de Gaia

III International Congress of Sports Physiotherapy

A two-day international congress dedicated to scientific update, clinical practice, networking and the development of Sports Physiotherapy.

Registration information Abstract submission
3rd edition A new stage in the international consolidation of Sports Physiotherapy at Piaget.
2 days Scientific programme, workshops and professional networking opportunities.
Workshops Practical moments focused on assessment, rehabilitation, taping, technology and sports injuries.
20 participants Maximum capacity per workshop, with registration accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
About the congress

Sports Physiotherapy with science, clinical practice and international cooperation.

Sports Physiotherapy is one of the most recognised areas of physiotherapy today, with a direct role in health promotion, injury prevention, rehabilitation and the performance of athletes and active populations.

The III International Congress of Sports Physiotherapy by Piaget brings together professionals, researchers, students and institutions connected to sport, creating a space for scientific updating, clinical reflection and cooperation between academia and professional practice.

Applied knowledge

Sessions focused on sports physiotherapy, rehabilitation, injury prevention, clinical reasoning and performance support.

National and international participation

Speakers and participants from different professional contexts, including academia, clinical practice, sport, medical structures and institutional bodies.

Practical workshops

Hands-on workshops dedicated to assessment, rehabilitation resources, taping, groin pain and technology in athlete evaluation.

Scientific sharing

Free communications, oral presentations, e-posters, best abstract award and contact between professionals, students and researchers.

Congress objectives

A congress designed to strengthen decision-making, networking and institutional cooperation.

The III edition reinforces Sports Physiotherapy as a field of advanced practice, scientific updating and professional collaboration.

Objective 01 Education and empowerment

Educate and empower physiotherapists working in sports settings to support better clinical and professional decision-making.

Objective 02 National and international networking

Provide opportunities for contact, exchange and networking between professionals, researchers, students and institutions.

Objective 03 Institutional partnerships

Promote institutional partnerships that strengthen scientific, academic and professional cooperation.

Call for e-poster abstracts

Researchers, professionals and students are invited to submit scientific work for presentation as e-poster. The submission deadline is 10 June. Accepted abstracts will be included in the digital abstract book with ISSN and ISBN.

View submission guidelines Submit abstract Contact the organisation
Programme

Two days of congress, science and practice.

Programme subject to updates by the organisation. Workshop registration is limited to 20 participants per workshop and accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached.

09h00 – 09h30

Secretariat opening

Reception and participant registration.

09h30 – 10h00

Table 1 – Opening of the Congress

Institutional opening with Dr. Rui Tomás, Câmara Municipal de Gaia, Pedro Harry Leite, Margarida Ferreira, Joana Pinto and João Noura.

10h00 – 11h00

Table 2 – International Sports Physiotherapy

Session moderated by Manuel Paquete, with Paulo Barreira, Tiago Gamelas and Mário Jorge.

11h00 – 11h30

Coffee break

Networking and informal contact between participants.

11h30 – 12h30

Working in Elite Football

Session by Ruben Ferreira.

12h30 – 13h30

Table 3 – Rehabilitation of Specific Conditions

Moderated by Bernardo Martins, with Willem Heijboer, Diego Hidalgo and André Mendes. Topics include groin pain in athletes, ACL management and ankle syndesmosis.

13h30 – 14h30

Lunch

Break before the afternoon programme.

14h30 – 15h15

Blood Flow Restriction in Rehabilitation

Workshop by António Silva.

15h15 – 16h00

Functional Taping in Sports Physiotherapy

Workshop by Bernardo Martins.

16h00 – 16h15

Coffee break

Short break before the final afternoon workshops.

16h15 – 17h00

Assessment of the Athlete with Groin Pain

Workshop by Willem Heijboer.

17h00 – 17h45

Dynamic Strength and Jump Testing

Workshop by VALD.

After-hours

Congress Dinner

Social moment associated with the congress programme.

09h30 – 10h15

Table 4 – Different Settings in Sports Physiotherapy

Moderated by Pedro Leite, with Carlos Costa and Mariana Romão. Includes tennis and surf contexts.

10h15 – 10h30

ISEPA Presentation

Presentation by Despoina Ignatoglou.

10h30 – 11h00

Oral presentations

Presentation of selected works within the scientific programme.

11h00 – 11h15

Thematic coffee break

Networking moment associated with the scientific programme.

11h15 – 12h15

Para Sports

Session by Paula Peralta.

12h30 – 13h30

Table 5 – Different Stakeholders around Sports Physiotherapist

Panel with Joana Quintas, Joana Resende, Paulo Duarte and Tiago Morais.

13h30 – 14h25

Lunch

Break before the afternoon programme.

14h25 – 14h30

Best Abstract Award

Recognition of selected works submitted and presented at the congress.

14h30 – 15h30

Table 6 – Different Knowledge in Sports Physiotherapy

Moderated by Rogério Pereira, with André Romão, Emma Brockwell and João Vaz. Topics include exercise prescription, pelvic health in female athletes and complex systems.

15h30 – 15h40

Sponsor Giveaway

Moment dedicated to sponsors associated with the congress.

15h40 – 16h00

Coffee break

Short break before the closing panel.

16h00 – 17h00

Sports Physio Future

Moderated by João Noura, with João Pedro Araújo, ISEPA, the Order of Physiotherapists and Dr. José Pedro Marques from the Portuguese Medical Association.

Workshop capacity is limited to 20 participants per workshop. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until full capacity is reached.
Speakers and participants

Names included in the scientific programme.

The list below follows the programme supplied by the organisation. Photos, countries, institutional titles and biographies should be completed when final validated information is available.

Opening

Dr. Rui Tomás

Opening of the Congress

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Opening

Câmara Municipal de Gaia

Opening of the Congress

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Opening

Pedro Harry Leite

Opening of the Congress

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Opening

Margarida Ferreira

Opening of the Congress

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Organisation

Joana Pinto

Vice-President of the Organising Committee

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Organisation

João Noura

President of the Organising Committee and moderator

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Moderator

Manuel Paquete

Moderator of International Sports Physiotherapy

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Online

Paulo Barreira

Physiotherapist and PhD in Sports Sciences, biomechanics

Professional with experience in rehabilitation and football performance in Portugal, England and the United Arab Emirates.

View biography
Physiotherapist since 2004 and PhD in Sports Sciences, biomechanics, since 2017. He has worked in rehabilitation at clubs including Moreirense FC, Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC, Al-Ahly FC and Al-Jazira SC. Since 2020 he has worked in football performance, connected to training monitoring and physical performance at Sporting CP.
Online

Tiago Gamelas

Physiotherapist in high-performance athletics

Professional focused on elite athletics and international competitive contexts.

View biography
Professional practice in high-performance athletics, focused on elite athletes and international competitive settings. Since 2025 he has been in Italy, working with Gianmarco Tamberi and collaborating with Wintecare Performance Division. He has international experience in the United States and with the Chinese national sprint team, as well as previous experience with Sporting CP and Juventude Vidigalense.
Sports Physiotherapy

Mário Jorge

International Sports Physiotherapy

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Elite Football

Ruben Ferreira

Coordinator of the Rehabilitation Unit at Sporting CP and co-founder of Football Medicine

Physiotherapist with experience in elite football in Portugal and the United Arab Emirates.

View biography
Coordinator of the Rehabilitation Unit at Sporting CP since 2018/19. Previously worked as physiotherapist at Al Jazira Sports Club, Al Ahli FC Dubai and SC Braga B. Co-founder and administrator of Football Medicine.
Groin Pain

Willem Heijboer

Physical therapist, researcher and lecturer in sports medicine

Specialist in sports medicine and longstanding groin pain in athletes.

View biography
Physical therapist, researcher and lecturer with extensive expertise in sports medicine. He completed a PhD at the University of Amsterdam on the diagnosis of longstanding groin pain in athletes and worked at the Aspetar Sports Groin Pain Centre in Doha, Qatar, between 2018 and 2020.
ACL

Diego Hidalgo

Physical therapist, journalist and owner of SkepticalPhysio

Physical therapist and communicator with experience in orthopaedic and sports settings.

View biography
Bachelor in Physical Therapy and Journalism, with three years of experience in an orthopaedic and sports-based setting. He is the owner of SkepticalPhysio, established in 2021, and author of works including The Fallacy of Osteopathic Anatomical Possibilism and Roots of Chaos.
Ankle Syndesmosis

André Mendes

Rehabilitation Coach and Exercise Physiologist at Lion City Sailors

Specialist in rehabilitation and return-to-play in elite professional football.

View biography
Rehabilitation Coach and Exercise Physiologist at Lion City Sailors, working in elite professional football. He specialises in rehabilitation and return-to-play across short- and long-term injuries, with a performance-driven approach and experience in the Saudi Pro League, Portuguese football leagues, gymnastics and basketball.
Rehabilitation

António Silva

Blood Flow Restriction in Rehabilitation

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Taping

Bernardo Martins

Functional Taping in Sports Physiotherapy; moderator

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Tennis

Carlos Costa

Different settings in Sports Physiotherapy

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Surf

Mariana Romão

Different settings in Sports Physiotherapy

Awaiting information from the organisation.

ISEPA

Despoina Ignatoglou

MSc Physiotherapist, Owner of PhysioExperts and Head of Marketing at ISEPA

Physiotherapist connected to sports physiotherapy, football, professional associations and ISEPA.

View biography
MSc Physiotherapist, owner of PhysioExperts, Level 2 Sports PT, senior physiotherapist of the Greek National Women Football Team U19/U17/U16, Public Relations Manager of the Sports Section of the Panhellenic Physiotherapists’ Association and Head of Marketing at the International Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy Association.
Para Sports

Paula Peralta

Specialist Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist, Australian Institute of Sport

Specialist Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist with over twenty years of elite sport experience.

View biography
Specialist Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist, FACP, with over twenty years of elite sport experience. She is National Performance Support Lead, Physical Therapies, for the Australian Institute of Sport and has participated in multiple Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games with Australian teams.
Stakeholders

Joana Quintas

Different Stakeholders around Sports Physiotherapist

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Stakeholders

Joana Resende

Different Stakeholders around Sports Physiotherapist

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Stakeholders

Paulo Duarte

Different Stakeholders around Sports Physiotherapist

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Stakeholders

Tiago Morais

Different Stakeholders around Sports Physiotherapist

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Exercise Prescription

André Romão

Physiotherapist and strength and conditioning professional in basketball, athletics and private practice

Physiotherapist connected to basketball, athletics and strength and conditioning in sports settings.

View biography
Physiotherapist of the Portuguese Basketball Federation and Portuguese Athletics Federation. Strength and conditioning coach at Sporting CP in men’s senior basketball and athletics, athletics coach at Sporting CP, and physiotherapist and strength and conditioning coach in private practice.
Pelvic Health

Emma Brockwell

Pelvic Health in Female Athletes

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Complex Systems

João Vaz

Complex Systems

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Future

João Pedro Araújo

Sports Physio Future

Awaiting information from the organisation.

Sports Medicine

José Pedro Marques

Sports and Exercise Medicine physician, Hospital da Luz Lisboa and Portuguese Medical Association

Sports and Exercise Medicine physician connected to Hospital da Luz Lisboa, FPF and the Portuguese Olympic Committee.

View biography
Specialist in Sports and Exercise Medicine, director of the Sports Medicine Department at Hospital da Luz Lisboa and president of the College of Sports and Exercise Medicine of the Portuguese Medical Association. He was team physician for the Portuguese Football Federation men’s youth teams between 2015 and 2025 and is connected to the Portuguese Olympic Committee.
Scientific and organising structure

A committee prepared for an international congress.

Final composition of the Organising Committee, complemented by a Scientific Committee with institutional and academic representation.

Organising Committee

The III International Congress of Sports Physiotherapy is supported by a structured organising team, with presidency, vice-presidency and dedicated departments for finance, logistics, marketing and communication.

PresidentJoão Noura
Vice-PresidentJoana Pinto
Finance DepartmentPatrícia Rebelo, André Ferreira and Rodrigo Ferreira
Logistics DepartmentMafalda Morais, Diana Silva, Núria Silva, Joana Diaz, João Américo, João Silva, Pedro Pinto and Verónica Abreu
Marketing DepartmentBernardo Martins, Luana Rodrigues, Sérgio Pereira and Luís Vasquinho
Communication DepartmentCatarina Côrte-Real and Afonso Neutel

Scientific Committee

The Scientific Committee reinforces the congress as a space for scientific quality, multidisciplinary reflection and knowledge transfer to clinical practice.

Pedro Harry Leite
Manuel Paquete
José Luís Sousa
Fernando Ribeiro
Rui Soles Gonçalves
Ângela Bonaparte Vieira
Paulo de Carvalho
Sponsors and partners

Entities associated with the congress.

Sponsors, partners, support entities and official logos are awaiting information from the organisation.

Awaiting information from the organisation.
Awaiting information from the organisation.
Awaiting information from the organisation.
Awaiting information from the organisation.
Frequently asked questions

Practical information for participants.

This information follows the latest material supplied by the organisation. Access, parking, registration fees and group conditions should be added when validated.

It is an international congress dedicated to Sports Physiotherapy, focused on clinical decision-making, scientific updating, networking and the creation of institutional partnerships.
The congress takes place on 19 and 20 June 2026 at Auditório de Gulpilhares, Rua Nuno Álvares 62, Gulpilhares, 4405-672 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
The formal language of the event is Portuguese. Lectures will have translation into English or Portuguese when applicable, particularly in the case of international speakers.
Abstracts must be submitted through the official Germinare platform. Authors must register or log in to submit their work and follow the published submission guidelines.
The deadline for e-poster abstract submission is 10 June.
Each workshop has a maximum capacity of 20 participants. Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until full capacity is reached.
Digital certificates will be sent by email after the event.
For additional information, contact the organisation by email at icspt@ipiaget.pt.

Take part in the congress

An international meeting for professionals, students, researchers and institutions connected to Sports Physiotherapy, performance, rehabilitation and sport.

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