When most people think of physical therapy, their mind usually jumps to the thought of patients performing exercises for rehabilitation after an injury. Although this is a very common reason for why we seek out physical therapy, it isn’t the only reason physical therapy is practiced.
Physical therapy has been around for centuries. Becoming more advanced over time, these special practices have proven time and time again to not only help people overcome injuries but also achieve health goals. Want to learn some secrets about physical therapy? Crafted PT has a few fun facts that will be sure to surprise you!
Wouldn’t you know! The physical therapy profession has been around thousands of years. Our beloved Hippocrates birthed the practice in 435 B.C. Needless to say, physical therapy has had time to grow and be perfected to help millions.
During World War I, when female civilian employees of the U.S. Army had been assigned the job of rehabilitating soldiers, they finally decided it was time to recognize physical therapy as a profession. Women were the practice’s pioneers even though they were called reconstruction aides at that time instead of physical therapists. Once the war had ended in 1921, Mary McMillan, “the mother of physical therapy”, and her colleagues formed the American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association. Today, 70% of physical therapists are women in the U.S., with more and more men joining the profession each year!
The American Physical Therapy Association declared October as National Physical Therapy Month. However, back in June 1981, Physical Therapy Month was originally Physical Therapy Week. It was then moved to October in 1992 so there wouldn’t be a conflict with the American Physical Therapy Association’s annual conference. To this day, October is dedicated to raising awareness all over the world to educate others about the benefits physical therapy has for your health.
Feeling pain in a limb that has been amputated might sound crazy, but it’s quite common to experience “phantom pain” after they lose a limb. About 80% of people who have had a limb amputated experience some sort of discomfort. Thanks to physical therapy, there are several methods of treatment to relieve phantom pain for amputees.
Yes, that’s right! Physical Therapy can treat a long list of conditions for all ages. Whether you're a child, teen, adult, or an elder, physical therapists have just the right exercises to help you stay strong and healthy. Some examples of conditions that physical therapy cater to that you might not expect include:
At Crafted PT, we create a treatment plan that accommodates your personal needs and desires. Your health and journey to rehabilitation is our top priority. Let us help you - request a new patient appointment today!