Recent data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that more than 1 in 5 US adults live with chronic pain. Now's the time to help people understand how physical therapy can help.
October is National Physical Therapy Month (NPTM), an opportunity to amplify and promote the benefits of physical therapy, and to make more people aware of APTA’s #ChoosePT campaign, an initiative aimed at raising awareness of physical therapy as a safe and effective alternative to opioids for the treatment of chronic pain conditions.
“Those of us in the profession have long understood that physical therapy is a safe and effective alternative to opioids for the treatment of chronic pain conditions,” said APTA President Sharon L. Dunn, PT, PhD. “APTA offers many creative ways for us to bring that understanding to our communities at a crucial time. My hope is that we can apply our dedication to our profession to an even larger effort to address a crisis that is impacting lives across the country.”
In honor of NPTM, APTA has distributed a nationwide print and online feature article on the prevalence of low back pain and the many reasons patients and clients should choose physical therapy to safely manage their pain. In addition, APTA continues to add resources to its #ChoosePT online toolkit, a 1-stop shop for tips, tools, and information about the risks of opioids and how physical therapy can help with pain management.
Getting involved in NPTM is easy. Here are 5 ways to share the #ChoosePT message this month and all year long:
1. Access handouts, social media graphics, and other resources from the #ChoosePT toolkit.
APTA’s award-winning #ChoosePT campaign has reached millions to promote treatment by physical therapists (PTs) for pain management. Whether you’re participating in a community event or sharing resources online, the #ChoosePT campaign toolkit has what you need.
2. Take the #ChoosePT message somewhere fun—and take a picture!
We want to know how you’re celebrating NPTM. Go find a landmark, a park, a mountaintop, and anywhere in between, and take a photo demonstrating your #ChoosePT pride. Post them to social media using the #ChoosePT hashtag or email them to public-relations@apta.org. We’ll be sharing our favorites throughout the month.
3. Get the #ChoosePT TV and radio public service announcement aired in your area.
APTA’s latest public service announcement has already reached more than 50 million Americans. Help us grow that by volunteering to contact your local TV and radio stations. Email public-relations@apta.org to volunteer and APTA staff will provide you with step-by-step instructions.
4. Promote MoveForwardPT.com.
APTA’s official consumer information site serves millions of Americans each year. From symptoms and conditions guides to patient stories, podcasts, and tips pages, MoveForwardPT.com is your go-to resource for showing all the ways PTs and physical therapist assistants transform lives.
5. Update your Find a PT profile.
National Physical Therapy Month activities lead to an increase in traffic to Find a PT, APTA’s national database of practicing clinicians. Make sure to update or activate your profile so consumers and other health care professionals can easily find you.
Contact APTA's public and media relations staff at public-relations@apta.org with any questions.