What Is National Physical Therapy Month?
National Physical Therapy Month occurs each October. The American Physical Therapy Association uses the month to raise awareness about the benefits of physical therapy. It is a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the contributions of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to our health, community, and quality of life. National Physical Therapy Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of physical therapy and physical activity, educate the public on what physical therapy is and the role it can play in improving their health, and express gratitude toward physical therapists and physical therapist assistants for all of the work they do.
The History of National Physical Therapy Month
The annual observance of National Physical Therapy Month began in 1981 when the American Physical Therapy Association dedicated the month of October to celebrating the profession of physical therapy and educating the public about the benefits of physical activity and physical therapy. National Physical Therapy Month was established to honor the history of physical therapy and the dedication of physical therapists who work incredibly hard to improve the quality of life of their patients through improving strength, mobility, and function of the body. Over the last 42 years, NPTM has grown in size and scope, working to educate the public on physical therapy’s role in managing various health conditions, the importance of physical activity, and how physical therapy can improve quality of life.
Why National Physical Therapy Month Matters
National Physical Therapy Month is so important because it dedicates time to highlight the role physical therapy plays in healthcare, to encourage collaboration between healthcare professionals and their patients to enhance patient care and connection, to acknowledge all of the hard and life-changing work that PTs and PTAs do, and to promote education opportunities for everyone to learn about the benefits of physical therapy so they can make informed decisions about the healthcare they receive.
How You Can Celebrate National Physical Therapy Month
Whether you’re currently a physical therapist, studying to work in the field of physical therapy, or are a patient, there are still plenty of ways you can celebrate National Physical Therapy Month.
Stay Active
One of the best ways that everyone can get involved to celebrate National Physical Therapy Month is to get active! One of the main goals of NPTM is to encourage physical activity because of its benefits for your overall health. Getting active doesn’t necessarily mean you have to start hitting the gym 5 days a week or going on hours-long hikes. Prioritize movement in a way that makes sense for your lifestyle and abilities. Getting active should feel good for both your body and mind!
Share Your Gratitude
If a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant has had a large impact on your health or recovery journey, share your gratitude with them! Let them know about the impact they’ve made in your life and how much you appreciate them. If you’re a physical therapist yourself or a student, reach out to a mentor or even a previous physical therapist who inspired you to pursue your career path.
Spread Awareness
A great way to celebrate NPTM is by spreading awareness! There are a variety of ways you can do this whether you’re sharing information about National Physical Therapy Month with other healthcare professionals, sharing your own stories about being a physical therapist or working with one, or sharing articles, videos, and information about physical therapy and its health benefits.
Educate Others
Utilize your knowledge of physical therapy to educate others about all of the ways physical therapy can improve your health. Take the time to debunk common misconceptions about physical therapy like physical therapy is only for people recovering from an accident or injury or that physical therapy is often very painful. Utilize your knowledge to help inform others about the truths of physical therapy and all of the good it can do.
National Physical Therapy Month Resources
If you’re looking for ways to celebrate NPTM and resources, the American Physical Therapy Association has a variety of ideas and resources. Each year the APTA also chooses a theme for National PT Month. This year the theme is Falls and Fall Prevention. In addition to their general information and resources, they are providing additional information about fall prevention!
Visual Aids
If you’re looking for premade visual aids in the form of graphics, handouts, and flyers, the ChoosePT toolkit should have everything you’re looking for.
Information for Patients and Clients
If you’re looking for educational information to share with your patients, clients, or community, ChoosePT has a wealth of articles and resources on their website that you can share or draw inspiration from.
Merchandise
If you’re looking to represent National Physical Therapy Month the APTA has a merchandise store with items including pens, postcards, shirts, hats, and more!
More Ways to Celebrate
If you’re looking to go all out this month and are looking for more ways to celebrate NPTM, the APTA has ideas and resources to help you!
We’d like to thank all of the PT’s and PTA’s that are involved in the NAIOMT organization, from our students to our faculty and instructors to our founders. We are so lucky to work with such incredible professionals and are grateful for all that you do for your communities!
