On Saturday 13 June 2026, at the OFI Palermo-Trapani headquarters, the Sicily Regional Section of AIFI (the Italian Association of Physiotherapists) held its annual study, discussion and assembly day. The event was built around three pillars of the profession: autonomy, words and excellence in research.
In that setting came a recognition that makes me deeply proud: first prize in the Master’s / Postgraduate Thesis category of the “Best Bachelor’s and Master’s Thesis” competition, AIFI Sicily, 2026 edition.
What the awarded thesis is about
The thesis is a systematic review addressing a concrete question: how effective is manual therapy in treating cervical radiculopathy, in terms of disability?
Cervical radiculopathy is the condition in which irritation or compression of a nerve root in the neck causes not only neck pain, but also symptoms that can radiate down the arm: pain, tingling, loss of strength. It is a problem that weighs heavily on everyday life, from work to sleep.
Studying the disability outcome means shifting attention from “how much it hurts” to “how much this problem limits a person’s life”: daily tasks, independence, the ability to return to one’s activities. This is exactly the perspective I bring to the practice every day.
Why a systematic review matters if you’re looking for a physiotherapist
A systematic review rigorously collects, appraises and compares the available studies on a topic. It is not a personal opinion: it is an attempt to understand what the evidence actually says, reducing the influence of trends and clichés.
Translated into clinical practice, this means treatment choices that are reasoned, up to date and reassessed over time. When I propose a treatment for neck pain or cervicobrachialgia, that proposal comes from the same way of thinking: clinical assessment, the best available evidence and concrete goals built around your real life.
A day of shared excellence
The most moving moment of the day was the announcement of the winners. Warm congratulations go to Dr Alice Mineo, first prize in the Bachelor’s Thesis category with a study on the effectiveness of respiratory physiotherapy in managing complications in patients with muscular dystrophies and SMA, and to all the finalists — Marco Barone, Elena Notararigo, Benedetta Di Sclafani and Walter Angelo Fichera — who presented their work with passion and competence.
The next chapter: the AIFI National Congress 2026 in Ancona
The award also comes with a valuable opportunity: a registration grant for the AIFI National Congress 2026, taking place on 20 and 21 November in Ancona. A chance to connect with the national scientific community and keep engaging with research in physiotherapy.
It confirms a simple idea that guides my practice: keeping up with research is not an academic exercise, but a way to offer those who come to the practice a physiotherapy that is more up to date, more transparent and more effective.
The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not replace an individual physiotherapy assessment.
If you suffer from neck pain, cervicobrachialgia or a problem that won’t resolve, let’s talk: a first assessment helps to understand the cause and to build the most suitable path together.