Moving Forward Together. Part 5: Championing Physical Therapy Allyship and Advocacy for Indigenous Peoples With Musculoskeletal Pain

Abstract

In the fifth article of the Moving Forward Together series, we explore the role of allyship and advocacy in improving the musculoskeletal health of Indigenous Peoples. Aligned with the truth telling and healing required in response to the ongoing impacts of colonization, these are important concepts for physical therapists to understand and act upon to improve musculoskeletal health outcomes for Indigenous Peoples. Our group— comprising Indigenous clinicians and/or academics from Aotearoa/New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, alongside non-Indigenous colleagues—collaborated to conceptualize allyship and advocacy in the context of musculoskeletal physical therapy. Using a socioecological model, we propose actions and share resources to support physical therapists in allyship and advocacy, and to drive change in clinical, education, and research organizations and systems.