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PTs and PTAs have unique knowledge and skills to lead employer initiatives to promote a healthy workforce.
APTA supports physical therapist efforts to create, implement, evaluate, and lead new initiatives to introduce population health approaches to transform society. An initial focus in this area is employers, because they are common aggregating points in society for large groups of people.
Among physical therapy's specialties, occupational health and ergonomics is a novel example, which is both increasing in clinical relevance and dissemination by professionals in a range of settings. This relevance can be easily seen by the increasing number of PTs involved in occupational health and ergonomics initiatives worldwide and an increase in demand for improvements in worker health and company productivity.
The following are resources for exploring the roles of PTs in the occupational health setting and how to directly work with employers toward prevention and amelioration of noncommunicable diseases before they become symptomatic, disabling, and costly.
For more information on physical therapists' involvement in the promotion of a healthy and productive workforce, check out APTA Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Occupational Health Special Interest Group.
Recommended Content
Jun 21, 2017 / Position Paper
PTs should work directly with employers or employer groups to manage population health in addition to individual patients and clients.
Sep 14, 2021 / Handouts
Interested in providing direct-to-employer services but don’t know where to start? APTA can help you reach out to employers.
Sep 14, 2021 / Handouts
Use this handout to initiate discussions with employers about the solutions PTs can offer to help curb employer spending on health care.
Oct 8, 2021 / Resource
This series of questions and checklists can help you prepare for direct-to-employer services.
Sep 20, 2019 / Policies & Bylaws
House position: APTA supports the following health priorities for populations and individuals in the areas of prevention, wellness, fitness, health promotion, and management of disease and disability.
Additional Healthy Workforce Promotion Content
Mar 12, 2024 / News
The resolution articulates support for reduced administrative burden and better access to mental health care for providers.
Feb 3, 2023 / News
The association will collaborate with agencies, universities, and health care organizations in the Total Worker Health® initiative.
Jan 4, 2022 / Review
A small-scale study of Texas PTs points to the possible importance of psychological supports in the face of increasing job demands.
Oct 29, 2021 / Roundup
Tired of binging on Netflix? Watched all the TikTok dances you care to see? Invest in your personal and professional development instead.
Oct 5, 2021 / Review
A study of 2 million claims found that, if indicated, early manual therapy is associated with lower costs and reduced days of disability.
Sep 14, 2021 / Position Paper
There are plenty of good reasons for PTs to work directly with employers or employer groups to manage population health in addition to individual patients and clients.
Jul 1, 2021 / Column
Should you tap the market? Some points to consider.
Sep 21, 2020 / News
The report, focused on workers' comp recipients, concludes that early physical therapy for LBP improves outcomes and saves money.
Sep 11, 2020 / Article
The profession's attention to population health must include knowledge and promotion of immunization.
Jun 5, 2019 / News
OSHA addresses soft tissue massage.