SHERIDAN, WYOMING - March 24, 2026 - FIBO, the international trade fair for fitness, wellness, and health, will dedicate a full exhibition hall to physiotherapy at its 2026 edition in Cologne from April 16 to 19. Hall 8 will serve as a centralized area built entirely around the needs of physiotherapy professionals, anchored by the Forum Therapy and Training - a four-day interactive stage program developed in cooperation with Physio Deutschland, VPT, Georg Thieme, Physiologisch, the Experten Allianz, and additional partners including Elsevier and the Verlag für Prävention und Gesundheit. The move signals a strategic expansion of FIBO's scope at the intersection of therapy, training, and health services.
Dedicated Hall Positions Physiotherapy as a Core FIBO Pillar
The creation of a standalone physiotherapy hall represents a structural commitment by FIBO to serve the therapy segment as a distinct professional audience rather than a secondary visitor group within the broader fitness exhibition. The Forum Therapy and Training at the center of Hall 8 combines current scientific findings, practice-oriented content, and professional-policy perspectives in a single platform. For physiotherapy practice owners, clinicians, and industry suppliers, the format offers a concentrated environment for continuing education, product evaluation, and professional networking that was previously distributed across the wider trade fair footprint.
Evidence-Based Clinical Content Drives the Stage Program
The Forum program covers a broad range of clinical and professional topics relevant to modern physiotherapy practice. Speakers include Astrid Keppel on effective communication, Bianca Werdelmann on exercise despite pain, and Dr. Kurt Mosetter on the role of muscles as force organs and hormone producers. Evidence-based treatment approaches feature prominently, with Richard Freytag addressing scapular dyskinesis management and Daniel Bombien presenting on biopsychosocial inflammation. Forward-looking clinical topics include strength training during pregnancy, presented by Paulina Ioannidou, and goal orientation in physiotherapeutic treatment, delivered by Phillip Thies.
Professional Sports Rehabilitation and Return-to-Competition Strategies
The program includes practice-oriented insights from professional sports rehabilitation. Bogdan Suciu will present on the pathway from injury to comeback, while Axel Hagemann addresses return-to-competition strategies following cervical spine injuries. These sessions connect clinical physiotherapy practice to the demands of elite sport, offering attendees transferable approaches for managing complex rehabilitation cases in both professional and community practice settings.
Socially Relevant Topics Address Systemic Challenges in Patient Care
Several sessions take on broader systemic issues affecting patient outcomes and professional practice. Topics include medical gaslighting, exercise addiction, and psychosocial reasons for stagnation in rehabilitation processes, presented by specialists including Paulina Ioannidou, Nadja Walter, and Dr. Robin Schrödter. By incorporating these subjects alongside clinical technique sessions, the Forum program acknowledges that effective physiotherapy increasingly requires practitioners to navigate psychological and social dimensions of patient care alongside biomechanical intervention.
Industry Benchmark Report Provides Market Orientation
Patrick Schlenz will present the Physiotherapy Industry Report 2025, described as the third benchmark study for the physiotherapy market. The report delivers current figures, market insights, and urgent sector topics, serving as an orientation tool for practice owners, professional associations, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. For operators evaluating investment decisions or strategic positioning within the physiotherapy sector, the report offers a data-driven foundation for planning.
FIBO Congress Returns With Compact Format Focused on AI, Longevity, and Recovery
The FIBO Congress also returns in 2026 with a redesigned, compact two-day format. Developed in cooperation with BSA-Akademie and the Deutsche Hochschule für Prävention und Gesundheitsmanagement (DHfPG), the congress combines practice-oriented content with forward-looking themes including artificial intelligence, longevity, and recovery. Interactive formats such as live podcasts, workouts, and expert talks complement the stage program across the four fair days, providing additional opportunities for peer exchange and professional development.