The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is celebrating October as Physical Therapy Month by encouraging therapists to help people become committed to being physically active in order to prevent or combat obesity and its consequences.
The APTA says that physical therapists often encounter children and adults who have experienced difficulties making physical activity a part of daily life. The guidance and encouragement of a physical therapist who understands individual needs, priorities, and challenges and who is able to closely support and monitor progress can be the determining factor in helping an individual to achieve his or her goals.
APTA member physical therapist Teresa Schuemann, PT, SCS, a sports certified specialist, says families should also be at the forefront of establishing good physical activity habits. “It’s much easier for children to adopt healthy lifestyles if they see their parents making physical activity a priority,” she says. “Parents should emphasize a healthy lifestyle instead of focusing solely on weight and support the family’s healthy choices rather than pounds lost.”
Physical therapists help families balance the many priorities they have for their children and help them find ways to incorporate physical activity into children’s play, leisure time, and daily family routines.
The APTA supports the Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which describe the types and amounts of physical activity that offer substantial health benefits to Americans.
Visit the APTA website for more information.
(Source: Press Release)
