October is wonderful. Particularly if you welcome cooler temperatures and love anything pumpkin or pumpkin spice. As a physical therapist, I always anticipate October as it is National Physical Therapy (PT) Month and take it as an opportunity to share information about how important a prescribed physical therapy regimen can be to your overall health and well-being if you are managing an injury, illness or chronic pain.
Did you know that some of the most common concerns physical therapists treat are:low back pain, neck pain, status post shoulder/hip/knee surgery, and plantar fasciitis?
Maybe you’re not too surprised. You may though be surprised about the number of conditions that can be positively impacted by physical therapy. Conditions and concerns include:
- Pelvic floor dysfunction, including urinary incontinence, pelvic pain and constipation issues
- Vestibular dysfunction
- Post-partum issues, such as incontinence and diastatis recti
- Orthodic fabrication
- Balance issues/fall risk assessment
While this month is an opportunity to recognize how physical therapy can help people decrease pain, improve mobility and restore function, it’s also an opportunity to support the efforts of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). This year, the APTA is raising awareness of physical therapy as a safe and effective alternative to opioids for the treatment of chronic pain. Choosing physical therapy will help individual’s maximize their movement, avoid surgery, and become an active participant in their own recovery.
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