It’s National Physical Therapy Month! (NPTM for short)

According to the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association), National Physical Therapy Month was established to “recognize the physical therapy profession’s efforts to transform society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience.”

Basically,  physical therapists are rock stars and you should go hug yours now!

Physical therapy is a growing industry with over 230,000 PT’s employed in the US alone. The field’s projected growth is 34% over the next 10 years. This number doesn’t include Physical Therapist Aides or technicians, so it’s actually likely to be much larger.

Physical Therapists must go through 4 years of undergraduate education and 3 years of medical training to get licensed and begin practicing as a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

PT’s treat patients with injuries and medical diseases by helping with pain management and mobility restoration. A PT can be employed in a variety of locations. This includes:

• Private practice settings
• Hospitals
• Long term care facilities
• Skilled nursing homes

PT visits can also occur in employment offices, schools, and personal homes to help patients in their natural environment. At-home physical therapy is useful to those with mobility issues or limited transportation options.

A PT appointment isn’t only beneficial after you are injured or diagnosed with a medical illness.

It’s a tool to help prevent injuries or illnesses before they occur. Preventative treatment saves patients a lot of money in the long run. This happens because PT sessions are less expensive than sudden emergency room visits or treatments for long-term illnesses. If you notice any pain or sudden aches, don’t ignore them.

Leaving your body untreated is often much more harmful than you think. It creates a worse injury or illness and affects the amount of time it takes for you to completely recover. Basically, the sooner you seek treatment for any discomfort or change in your body, the better.

Even if you’re hesitant to seek out advice and treatment from a good physical therapist, read about what a PT appointment does for patients. There are numerous reasons to start physical therapy. Odds are, you’ll identify with at least one of them.

Some of the diagnoses that PT’s and physical therapist aides deal with are:

• Medical conditions (diabetes, obesity, arthritis)
• Geriatric care
• Post and prenatal care
• Traumatic impact injuries
• Athletic injuries
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Surgical rehabilitation
• Recovery care

Don’t Wait to Seek out Care From PT Specialists

Are you thinking of taking part in the National Physical Therapy Month festivities and reaching out? You should! There are countless therapists waiting for your call, no matter your situation. PT specialties help separate clinics and cases – but how does this happen?

Since every physical therapy patient is different, no two therapy programs are the same. This goes further than different recommended exercises, it even applies to the physical therapist you visit. Since the field is split into subcategories, PT specialties exist. The process of narrowing down which one you’ll visit doesn’t change, though. Start with looking up information about the clinics themselves. Then, move on to looking into individual physical therapy professionals. From there, figure out what you need in terms of care.

Your health and fitness goals won’t be the same as the next person’s, so knowing where to start when you walk into a clinic helps. Even physical therapist aides provide guidance – so don’t overlook them!

Knowing what to expect at a physical therapy appointment isn’t something to fear, either. Many good physical therapists put their patients at ease over the phone, but this is magnified in the office, too. It’s perfectly normal to ask questions. Many people are nervous. Don’t let this stop you from improving your health.

Reaching out to A Physical Therapist is Simple

Since Direct Access was implemented in 2015, all 50 states allow patients to get treated by a Physical Therapist without a doctor’s prescription. Take advantage of direct access this month by addressing an ache or pain that you or your family member might have been suffering from. Use the betterPT app or the BetterPT clinic location tool to find a physical therapy clinic near you and get treatment right away!

For more information about direct access, read this blog post about one patient’s experience with it. Direct access doesn’t only apply to in-person physical therapy visits, either. Telehealth makes it possible to attend physical therapy sessions virtually. This is done over the BetterTelehealth platform – a convenient, simple method for physical therapy patients to connect with their therapist.

To learn more about Physical Therapy in general visit the APTA website: https://www.apta.org.