With summer nearing an end, it’s time to start thinking about National Physical Therapy Month.

Again in 2021, National Physical Therapy Month will focus on our latest ChoosePT campaign, launched last year, that highlights the importance of physical activity and the role PTs, PTAs, and physical therapy students play in helping people get moving.

Even before the pandemic, most Americans weren’t getting enough physical activity. It's now all the more critical to encourage people to get the recommended amount of daily physical activity, regardless of age or ability. And, as always, October is a great time to live out the value the profession places on community service.

Here are some ways to get involved this year.

Get your serve on during our centennial. 2021 is a big year for APTA as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the association. Part of that celebration includes highlighting something that's always been central to the physical therapy profession and NPTM — service to our communities. This year, we've introduced 100 Days of Service, a special initiative that kicks off on Sept. 22 and goes through the last 100 days of the year. You can participate in any way you like, but if you want inspiration, APTA collaborated with Special Olympics, Go Baby Go, and Move Together to develop toolkits to help you find an activity that fits your interests and schedule. The toolkits, along with links to component-provided resources, are available on the centennial website.

Share the resources at ChoosePT.com. When our physical activity campaign kicked off last year, we developed resources for you to share with consumers and patients, which can be found in our online ChoosePT.com toolkit. We've added more graphics, including how physical activity can help with falls prevention, stroke recovery, pregnancy, long COVID, arthritis, and more, as well as information on the importance of physical activity for children and individuals living with disabilities. We also have new videos, handouts, and articles in the toolkit and our physical activity page — including our new public service announcement. The downloadable handouts are great to print and have in your workplace or at community events.

Update (or create) your Find a PT Profile. Our ChoosePT public service announcement was distributed to TV and radio stations across the country and directs people to ChoosePT.com. The spots already have nearly 4,000 airings and over 8 million impressions and growing. That means more and more people are visiting ChoosePT.com. Many of them are looking for a PT by way of the APTA Find a PT Directory, which makes it easy to search for a PT and filter results by location, practice focus, or specialization. Don't miss out: Update (or create) your Find a PT Profile, a member benefit.

Look the part. Let your colleagues, patients and clients, and family and friends know you’re celebrating. Download the National Physical Therapy Month logo to add to your email signature. You can also upload a larger, modified logo to use as a background image in your Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings. And don’t forget to sport your APTA or ChoosePT gear. Visit the APTA Store to pick up the latest APTA and ChoosePT apparel, stickers, drinkware, and other items.

Let us know your plans and keep the conversation going. Follow us on Twitter (@Choose_PT) and Facebook (@ChoosePhysicalTherapy). Use #ChoosePT and #PTmonth in your related social media posts. If you’re participating in a 100 Days of Service activity, let us know by using #APTA100.

You play an important role in someone’s health: How will you celebrate National Physical Therapy Month? Let us know using the hashtag #PTmonth and stay tuned for more ways to get involved this year. Contact APTA's Public and Media Relations staff at public-relations@apta.org with questions.