President's Note

Making an Impact

Every fall, I join my colleagues from APTA New York in a fun tradition. We rise from our slumber in the pitch dark of early morning, when the city that never sleeps is at least quiet, if not napping. We bundle ourselves up and meet at the appointed spot. We descend upon the crowd of spectators outside the Today Show studios, emblazoned in bright orange gear. But this isn't some sort of Halloween tradition. No, we are holding signs aloft, urging viewers of one of the top-rated morning news shows to "ChoosePT."

We do this every year in concert with National Physical Therapy Month, which is held every October. This might not be your idea of fun, but I love being part of an event, ad hoc as it may be, that helps raise the profile of our fine profession. If one fellow spectator or Today Show viewer sees our signs, notes our bright T-shirts, and subsequently opts for physical therapy for an injury or ailment, well, that's important. That's making an impact.

In this month's issue of APTA Magazine, you can read about all the ways that PTs and PTAs are making an impact. I was excited to read the story by APTA Magazine Editorial Advisory Group member Allison Lieberman, PT, MSPT. She writes about new advancements in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. As a PT with a home health and geriatrics background, it's heartening to see promising and innovative new ways that PTs and PTAs can help their patients with PD. Given that it is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease in the U.S., if we can find ways to slow or reduce symptoms of Parkinson's disease, that's another positive impact we can make on the world around us.

Another way to make a meaningful step toward improving the health of society — which, as you may recall, is APTA's vision — is by becoming sources of knowledge on integrative and lifestyle medicine. In freelance writer Jacqueline Conciatore's story, she explores how PTs and PTAs can incorporate health and wellness into their care suggestions and considerations. Countless studies have shown that lifestyle changes can improve health, and we in the physical therapy profession are well-positioned to advise our patients on these topics. That said, the story also discusses when PTs should refer to another health professional in realms such as nutrition, sleep health, and stress management.

Last but certainly not least, I hope that you will all enjoy the story about one PT from a small town in Iowa and the major impact he's had on the profession. In the appropriately titled "The Power of One," frequent APTA Magazine contributor Chris Hayhurst tells the story of Dan Mack, PT, and the town of Carroll, Iowa, which APTA CEO Justin Moore has nicknamed "PT Town, USA."

The articles in this issue are meant not only to inform you but also to energize you. I hope you find some inspiration in these pages and bring that momentum to this month's National Physical Therapy Month celebrations. Learn more at www.apta.org/nptm. And maybe I will see you, ChoosePT sign in hand, on a chilly Manhattan morning sometime soon.

Roger Herr, PT, MPA