The "illness" care systems in western societies are sick and unsustainable both morally and financially, declared a speaker at the Physiotherapy New Zealand conference yesterday. Our so-called health systems are oriented towards illness, not health, Professor Elizabeth Dean from the University of British Columbia declares.

The biomedical model we use in the west was very successful in combating acute infectious diseases when those were our main enemies, Professor Dean says. However, we now need urgently to promote health if we are to defeat the current public health enemy number one: lifestyle diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, heart and lung problems, stroke, and obesity.

Professor Dean quoted a study of 23,000 people which showed that those living a healthy lifestyle had a 78% reduction in chronic diseases including cancer. In the case of Type 2 diabetes the reduction was even greater.

Physiotherapists must be powerful drivers of change, Professor Dean urged her audience, because they are uniquely placed to help with lifestyle advice. When a patient seeks help from a physiotherapist for an injured knee or a frozen shoulder, the physiotherapist has the opportunity to address the patient's other problems such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes, by a practical programme for lifestyle changes.

Physiotherapy New Zealand has adopted a slogan of "Movement for Life" to reflect the vital importance of movement in maintaining and restoring people's health and wellbeing.