Call for abstracts: A new Critical Physiotherapy anthology
Following the success of the first two critical physiotherapy collections (Manipulating Practices and Mobilizing Knowledge), we’re now ready to announce the call for abstracts for the 3rd book, with a working title Exploring physical therapy’s range of motion/movement.
The editors for this 3rd edited collection will be:
Clair Hebron Principal Lecturer, University of Brighton, UK
Roshan Galvaan, Professor, University of Cape Town
Karen Synne Groven, Professor, Oslo Metropolitan University, VID Scientific University, Norway
Patricia Thille, Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy, University of Manitoba
For the third anthology of critical physiotherapy scholarship, the editors invite critical interrogations and transformative explorations of the ‘range of motion/movement’ within physical therapy. As critical thinkers committed to being a positive force for an otherwise physiotherapy, we hope this book provides another excellent opportunity for contributors to explore new territory, new ideas, new collaborations, new possibilities.
As a profession with a central focus on movement, we ask where does physiotherapy move easily – perhaps too easily? And where are we stuck, hypomobile, or even perhaps, dislocated, painfully out of alignment? What movements are desired, but as of yet, still a struggle? And what causes these particular ranges of motion; why can we move so easily in some directions, and not others? What are we moving away from, and toward?
Relatedly, in our minds, is the topic of physiotherapy as culture. Every culture has a worldview, which facilitates particular types of perception and action, while blocking others. Worldviews are deeply integrated into our beings, but critical exploration allows us to perceive anew. Reflecting on otherwise thinking, we invite contributions that reflect on possibilities for shifts in our physiotherapy culture, discussing theories and practices that could facilitate movement.
We invite abstract submissions from a range of critical scholarship approaches, from raising critical questions about the profession, its culture and practice, through to more transformative projects that show promise for addressing areas in which we are limited.
We invite contributions on topics such as:
Tracing of historical shifts, or cross-country comparisons of, discourses and practices of physiotherapy
What does an otherwise physiotherapy education look like? How does it help future physiotherapists explore our ‘profession’ and its behaviours and culture?
E.g. Explorations and/or experiences related to pedagogy/physiotherapy education to foster critical reflection and reflexivity, both of which support critical forms of consciousness
Integrating justice and equity into the education and practice of physiotherapy
E.g. Making obvious, and disrupting discriminatory logics that exist within physical therapy, such as ableism, racism, or heterosexism
E.g. What could queering physical therapy look like?
Environmental and sustainability considerations, considered broadly
E.g. what could physical therapy become, if it was not anthropo-centric?
How other conceptualisations of movement – social movements, for example – could stretch our own ways of thinking
This is not an exhaustive list; we encourage submissions outside of these suggestions. Critical essays, arts-based works, practice-based examples, or empirical studies are welcome.
The resulting anthology will be open-access.
Prospective authors are invited to submit 250 – 300 word abstracts to propose their chapter to the editors at c.l.hebron@brighton.ac.uk by January 20, 2023. Proposals should include the chapter title, authors, and a 250-300 word abstract without references.
The editors will review the abstracts and reply by the end of March 2023. We will ask that successful authors to submit completed manuscripts by Aug 31 2023.