American Physical Therapy Association Week 3

Evolution of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Physical Therapy Profession

• In the 1980s, APTA established the Catherine Worthingham Fellow membership category and saw a surge in membership to 35,000.
• The 1990s saw the formation of the Student Assembly, the launch of PT Magazine, and APTA hosting the World Confederation for Physical Therapy with over 6,000 attendees.
• The role of physical therapists involves diagnosing and managing movement dysfunction, promoting optimal physical function, and maintaining the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities.
• Physical therapist practice encompasses roles in primary, secondary, and tertiary care, prevention, health promotion, wellness, fitness, consultation, education, critical inquiry, and administration.
• Current physical therapist practice is informed by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, evidence-based practice, professional values, and quality assessment.
• The biopsychosocial model is used to determine a person's health status, considering biological, psychological, and social domains.
• Social determinants of health, such as economic stability and access to health services, are integral to the practice of physical therapists.
• Patient and client management in physical therapy involves examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and outcomes.
• Physical therapists play diverse roles across the continuum of care and through the life span, providing access to services for health conditions, performance enhancement, and prevention and risk-reduction services.
• APTA's Vision Statement for Physical Therapy 2020 envisions physical therapy provided by doctors of physical therapy, with direct access for consumers and a focus on evidence-based services and comprehensive health programs.
• The Vision 2020 for physical therapy emphasizes principles of professionalism, doctor of physical therapy, evidence-based practice, direct access, practitioner of choice, autonomous practice, identity, quality, collaboration, value, innovation, consumer-centricity, access/equity, and advocacy.
• The Movement System is highlighted as the scientific foundation of physical therapist practice, education, and research, focusing on the management of human movement and the development of a common language to describe diagnostic processes and management of the human movement system.