Physical Therapy

Modified from: https://www.apta.org/apta-magazine/2020/05/01/twelve-months-of-health-care-awareness

National Physical Therapy Month, marked every October, recognizes the contributions that PTs and PTAs make to their patients and clients and to society. There are, however, dozens of days, weeks, and months designed to raise awareness of health or movement conditions and situations — ranging from brain injury and cancer to women's health and family caregivers. Some of these programs are created and promoted by government agencies. Others originated from associations and organizations representing specific populations.

The APTA created a list of awareness programs to illustrate some of the different conditions Physical Therapists manage. Many PTs can support their patients and clients whose conditions or situations are addressed by the awareness days, weeks, and months listed here. Links listed below may also help providers to collaborate with the community and use resources from both the APTA and the organizations promoting the awareness programs.

Alzheimer's Awareness Month

Alzhzeimer Society of Canada | ilivewithdementia.ca

• Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy: neuropt.org
• Physical Therapy Guide to Alzheimer's Disease: choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-alzheimers-disease
• Move Forward Radio: Benefits of Physical Therapy for People With Alzheimer's Disease: choosept.com/radio
• Patients with a Progressive Condition and Declining Functional Status: apta.org/PatientCare/DecliningFunctionalStatus/

American Heart Month

American Heart Association | heart.org

• Move Forward Radio: Heart Health and Cardiac Rehabilitation: choosept.com/radio

Brain Injury Awareness Month

Brain Injury Association of America | biausa.org

• Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy: neuropt.org
• Physical Therapy Guide to Concussion: choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-concussion
• Physical Therapy Guide to Traumatic Brain Injury: choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-traumatic-brain-injury
• The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities: c-c-d.org/

National Nutrition Month

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics | eatrightpro.org

• Nutrition and Physical Therapy: apta.org/PatientCare/Nutrition/
• The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on areas related to health promotion, prevention, and nutrition education: eatrightpro.org/

National Sleep Awareness Week

National Sleep Foundation | sleepfoundation.org

National Autism Awareness Month

Autism Society | autism-society.org

• Physical Therapy Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder: choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-autism-spectrum-disorder

National Minority Health Month

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health | minorityhealth.hhs.gov

• Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: apta.org/HealthCareDisparities/
• The Corporate Round Table of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators: nbcsl.org/

National Public Health Week

American Public Health Association | nphw.org

Arthritis Awareness Month

Centers for Disease Control And Prevention | cdc.gov

• Arthritis Management Through Community-Based Programs: apta.org/Arthritis/
• ChoosePT.com: Arthritis: Find a Community-Based Physical Activity Program: choosept.com/resources/detail/community-based-physical-activity-programs-arthrit
• APTA partners with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors' Arthritis Initiative: chronicdisease.org/

National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month

National Osteoporosis Foundation | nof.org

• APTA Geriatrics: An Academy of the American Physical Therapy Association: geriatricspt.org/index.cfm
• Academy of Pelvic Health: aptapelvichealth.org
• Physical Therapy Guide to Osteoporosis: choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-osteoporosis
• United States Bone and Joint Initiative: usbji.org/

American Stroke Month

American Stroke Association | stroke.org

• Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy: neuropt.org
• Physical Therapy Guide to Stroke: choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-stroke

National Women's Health Week

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health

• Academy of Pelvic Health: aptapelvichealth.org/

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day: May 8^th

International Committee of the Red Cross | media.ifrc.org

• Supporting Charitable Organizations: apta.org/ProBono/SupportingCharitableOrganizations/
• Pro Bono Services by Setting: apta.org/ProBono/ServicesbySetting/

Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases day: May 12^th

CFIDS Association of America | may12th.org

• Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy: neuropt.org
• Physical Therapy Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-physical-therapists-guide-to-chronic-fatigue-syndr
• The Disability and Research Rehabilitation Coalition: https://www.atra-online.com/disability-and-rehabilitation-research-coalition-funding-increases

Men's Health Month

Men's Health Network | menshealthmonth.org

• APTA Pelvic Health, An Academy of APTA: aptapelvichealth.org/about/

Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month

Alzheimer's Association | alz.org

National Cancer Survivors Day: First Sunday

National Cancer Survivors Day | ncsd.org

• Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy: oncologypt.org/
• Physical Therapy Guide to Cancer: choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-cancer

Family Health and Fitness Day: second Saturday

National Recreation and Park Association | nrpa.org

• APTA Policies on Health, Wellness, and Fitness: apta.org/PreventionWellness/Policies/

Prevention, Wellness, and Disease Management: apta.org/PreventionWellness/

Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month

Arthritis Foundation | arthritis.org

• Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy: pediatricapta.org
• Physical Therapy Guide to Osteoarthritis: choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-osteoarthritis
• The United States Bone and Joint Initiative: usbji.org/
• Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities: c-c-d.org/

National Immunization Awareness Month

National Public Health Information Coalition | nphic.org

Pain Awareness Month

American Chronic Pain Association | theacpa.org

• Pain SIG, Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy: orthopt.org/content/special-interest-groups/pain
• Move Forward Radio: Physical Therapy: An Important Piece of the Pain Management Puzzle: choosept.com/radio/detail/physical-therapy-important-piece-of-pain-management
• Physical Therapy Guide to Chronic Pain Syndromes: choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-chronic-pain-syndromes

World Alzheimer's Month

Alzheimer's Disease International | worldalzmonth.org

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Action Month

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy | parentprojectmd.org

• Patients with a Progressive Condition and Declining Functional Status: apta.org/PatientCare/DecliningFunctionalStatus/
• The Disability and Research Rehabilitation Coalition: atra-online.com/general/custom.asp?page=DRRC

World Physical Therapy Day: September 8^th

World Confederation of Physical Therapy | wcpt.org/

National Physical Therapy Month

American Physical Therapy Association | apta.org

National Spina Bifida Awareness Month

Spina Bifida Association | spinabifidaassociation.org

• Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy: pediatricapta.org

World Osteoporosis Day: October 20^th

International Osteoporosis Foundation | worldosteoporosisday.org

National Family Caregivers Month

AARP | aarp.org

• The Eldercare Workforce Alliance: eldercareworkforce.org/

American/National Diabetes Month

American Diabetes Association | diabetes.org

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases | niddk.nih.gov/health-information/community-health-outreach/national-diabetes-month

• Physical Therapy Guide to Diabetes: choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-diabetes

National Home Care and Hospice Month

National Association for Home Care and Hospice | nahc.org

• Hospice and Palliative Care SIG, Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy: oncologypt.org/
• APTA Home Health Section: homehealthsection.org/
• Hospice and Palliative Care: apta.org/PatientCare/HospicePalliativeCare/
• The Eldercare Workforce Alliance: eldercareworkforce.org/

Great American Smokeout: third Thursday

American Cancer Society | cancer.org

• APTA Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy: oncologypt.org/

Physical Therapy Guide to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd-2

World AIDS Day: December 1^st

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | hiv.gov

• HIV SIG, Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy: oncologypt.org/sigs/
• Physical Therapy Guide to HIV Disease and AIDS: choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-hiv-disease-aids

International Day of Persons With Disabilities

United Nations | un.org