The Rehabilitation Medicine Section of ACE Dumaguete Doctors, Inc. (ACEDD) marked World Physical Therapy Day on Tuesday, September 8, with an in-service program on cardiovascular health and stroke awareness at the hospital in Dumaguete City, drawing interns, hospital staff, doctors and members of the general public.
The activity followed the global campaign of World Physiotherapy, which placed cardiovascular disease and stroke at the center of the 2026 observance. The program featured exercise demonstrations, lectures, games, giveaways and food.
Physiatrist and Head PT Welcome Participants
Criselda Diputado Abao, PTRP, head physical therapist of ACEDD, welcomed participants to the celebration.
Lynn L. Olegario, M.D., FPARM, the hospital's rehabilitation medicine specialist, said the observance honors both practitioners and the patients they serve.
"World Physical Therapy Day honors the dedication, compassion and expertise of physical therapy in helping people move better, be healthier and regain their independence," Olegario said. "We celebrate not only the profession, but also the countless patients whose lives have been improved through physical therapy."
Olegario called on participants to strengthen the sense of community around rehabilitation care and "continue to make a positive difference through the power of physical therapy."
Cardiovascular Disease Drives the 2026 Theme
Campaign materials distributed at the event cite World Physiotherapy figures showing that cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming 20.5 million lives each year and accounting for 30 percent of all global deaths. Heart attack and stroke together account for 85 percent of those deaths.
More than three-quarters of cardiovascular deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, according to the same materials. High blood pressure is identified as the leading global risk factor, alongside tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, unhealthy diet, obesity, physical inactivity and air pollution.
One in Four People Will Experience a Stroke
The campaign estimates that one in four people will experience a stroke in their lifetime, but states that almost all strokes are preventable.
According to the campaign materials, a stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly reduced or stopped. Three forms are described: ischaemic stroke, caused by a clot blocking a blood vessel in the brain; haemorrhagic stroke, caused by a blood vessel bursting and bleeding; and transient ischaemic attack — a temporary blockage sometimes called a mini stroke that can serve as a warning of a future event. A stroke is classified as a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.
The materials note that 30 minutes of exercise five times a week can cut stroke risk by 25 percent. Physiotherapists, the campaign states, help patients raise physical activity levels, reduce sitting time and follow safe, tailored exercise programs.
Stroke Rehabilitation Begins Within 48 Hours
For patients who have already experienced a stroke, rehabilitation typically begins within the first 48 hours once the patient is medically stable, according to the campaign materials. Recovery involves a healthcare team that may include doctors, nurses, occupational therapists and speech pathologists alongside physiotherapists.
Rehabilitation targets movement and strength in the arms and legs, walking, balance, stiffness and pain, fitness, mood and fatigue, and everyday tasks such as rising from a chair or getting dressed. The campaign notes that 73 percent of stroke survivors fall within the first year after a stroke, making balance work a priority.
Recommended activity levels for recovery include moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for at least 10 minutes four times a week, sustained daily movement to reduce sitting time, and 6,500 to 8,500 steps per day.
Global Physical Inactivity Remains a Concern
A third strand of the campaign, "Move More, At Every Age," reports that 31 percent of adults and 80 percent of adolescents worldwide do not meet recommended physical activity levels.
Guidelines cited call for 150 to 300 minutes of aerobic activity per week for adults, 60 minutes per day for children and adolescents, muscle-strengthening activities two days a week for adults, and balance and strength activities three days a week for older adults. Regular activity is credited with protecting against heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers, improving mental health and sleep, and lowering the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
About World Physical Therapy Day
World Physical Therapy Day is observed every September 8, the date World Physiotherapy was founded in 1951. The global body uses the annual observance to highlight the profession's contribution to health and mobility. The 2026 campaign runs under the hashtags #CardiovascularHealth, #StrokeAwareness and #Physiotherapy.
By the Numbers
- 20.5 million — lives lost to cardiovascular disease globally each year
- 30% — share of all global deaths attributed to cardiovascular disease
- 85% — proportion of those deaths caused by heart attack and stroke
- 1 in 4 — people estimated to experience a stroke in their lifetime
- 25% — reduction in stroke risk from 30 minutes of exercise five times a week
- 48 hours — window within which stroke rehabilitation typically begins
- 73% — stroke survivors who fall within the first year after a stroke
- 31% — adults worldwide who do not meet recommended physical activity levels
- 80% — adolescents worldwide who do not meet recommended activity levels
- 6,500–8,500 — recommended daily steps for stroke recovery
Why This Matters
Cardiovascular disease is the world's leading cause of death, and campaign materials presented at the ACEDD event underscore that the vast majority of those deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries — a category that includes the Philippines. The event highlighted that physiotherapy plays a direct, evidence-based role both in preventing strokes and in restoring function to survivors, with rehabilitation beginning as early as 48 hours after a stroke occurs. With four in five adolescents globally failing to meet activity guidelines, the push for structured, regular movement carries broad public health implications across all age groups.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of ACE Dumaguete Doctors, Inc.