National Physical Therapy Month is celebrated by the American Physical Therapy Association every October. The APTA aims to encourage everyone to recognize the importance of a physical therapist’s role in improving people’s lifestyle, to spread awareness of the many benefits of physical therapy and to promote the APTA’s mission to improve people’s health by supporting the cause every year in October.
On Oct. 26, Mercy University’s Physical Therapy Program partnered with the APTA and held a community wellness event that highlighted the benefits of physical therapy, how it can enhance the quality of one’s life, and offered insights into managing chronic pain, recovering from injuries and enhancing mobility.
This event was open to community members, faculty, staff and students. Mercy students, faculty, and licensed physical therapists conducted health assessments and based on these assessments, gave personalized feedback on their physical health to those who attended. This event also included informative sessions on physical therapy and its positive impact on people. For instance, a piece of information given out to attendees was different practical strategies for incorporating physical therapy into everyday routines.
One of the most important aspects of this community wellness event was to inform the community on how to access physical therapy. According to Nanette W. Hyland, the interim dean of the School of Health and Natural Sciences and physical therapy program director and professor, this is a common occurrence with students on the campus.
“Participants did not know they could go directly to a physical therapist without a doctor’s order,” Hyland said.
Mercy University’s Physical Therapy Program makes it their goal to give to their community. They hold a clinic that offers free services to the Mercy students, faculty and staff, with access available to the broader community. This clinic is accessible through appointment. It runs every Wednesday and Thursday evenings. To make an appointment with the clinic, those who are interested can reach out to the clinic through the program’s email.
Overall, the event was a success for the program and for those who were able to make the time to stop by the event and take advantage of the offerings.
“Attendees left with valuable knowledge and resources to improve their health and well-being. Overall, it was a success, and we hope to do more of these events in the future,” Hyland said.
Anyone who is interested in visiting the Mercy University clinic or just needs help figuring out where to start can reach out to the program at [email protected].
For more information on how to participate in celebrating National Physical Therapy Month or more about the positive impact of physical therapy, you can visit the American Physical Therapy Association website at https://www.apta.org.
