October is National Physical Therapy Month

National Physical Therapy Month (NPTM) was originally started in 1981 by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). While it used to occur in June, the date was moved to October in 1992 so it would not interfere with APTA’s yearly conference. With a new theme each year, the one for 2016 is #ChoosePT. The goal of #ChoosePT is to raise awareness about the benefits of physical therapy as the preferred way to manage pain.

While using opioids is a common treatment for pain management, APTA argues that it may not be the most successful. According to the CDC, one in four individuals who use opioids for a lengthy period of time for pain management will struggle with addiction. By choosing physical therapy, you will be able to effectively treat the affected area and resume your daily routine as a safer alternative. This campaign wants to inform those who are looking to manage their pain that have a choice in how they are treated.

In addition to avoiding the negative side effects of opioids, choosing physical therapy first will not only speed up your recovery time but is the most cost effective. In some cases, choosing this form of treatment can be cheaper than the combination of surgery and pain medication while being equally as effective. For more information on #ChoosePT, you can visit their website as well as view any of their social media posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  

If you reside on Long Island and are considering physical therapy, Island Sports Physical Therapy may be able to help. In addition to treating your injury, your physical therapist will provide you with the necessary information to stay healthy and know what to do if this problem happens again. At Island Sports Physical Therapy, they are committed to providing you with the most effective treatments to help you live a healthy and active life.