Share
Tweet
Pin
584 Shares
Share
Tweet
Pin
584 Shares
October
Featured

National Physical Therapy Month – October 2022

U.S.

As the weather cools in the fall, it’s tempting to be less physically active. October is the perfect time to focus on healthy self-care because we’re celebrating National Physical Therapy Month! Surprise — physical therapy is not just for injury recovery. Its benefits also include injury and illness prevention.

Prestigious medical institutions also recognize the power of physical therapy in treating mental and emotional disorders. Let’s make this month all about taking care of ourselves. (We know the weather will take care of itself.)

National Physical Therapy Month timeline

​1992
​A week became a month

National Physical Therapy Week, which was first observed in June of 1981, became National Physical Therapy Month.

​The 1970s
​Specialized therapies emerged

​After orthopedic manipulative therapy gained recognition, more and more highly specialized fields appeared, including cardiopulmonary physical therapy, skin therapy, and sports therapy.

​1921
Therapists got organized​

​Mary MacMillan, the first physical therapy aide, established the American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association, which would later become today’s American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

​1887
​Physical therapy was officially recognized

Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare officially registered physical therapists.

​460 BC
​The father of medicine documented physical therapy

​Hippocrates introduced the idea of manual manipulation for pain relief.

How to Observe National Physical Therapy Month

  1. Stretch yourself by trying something new

    Find new ways to practice self-care. Whether you’ve felt intimidated by yoga, you’ve always wanted to learn massage techniques, or you’re finally ready to sign up for those dance classes, this month may be the perfect time to push yourself just a little out of your comfort zone.

  2. Participate in your community

    You could host an NPTM event, volunteer at a pro bono clinic, or serve the community by cleaning up a park. It’s all about making a positive difference.

  3. Appreciate physical therapists

    It's likely that most of us don’t think about physical therapists — until we need one. If you happen to know anyone who works in this profession, make a point of asking them about their work, which requires not just specialized knowledge and training, but patience, consistency, and dedication as well. Let’s thank them for the difference they make in so many lives.

​5 Surprising Benefits Of Massage Therapy

  1. Regular massage can increase your quality (and length) of life

    Bob Hope, who lived to be 100, had a three-hour massage every day.​

  2. ​Massage makes you happy!

    Massage helps to release endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers that also provide an overall sense of well-being.​

  3. ​It's more than just pampering

    ​In addition to treating aches and pains, massage therapy can also be useful in treating stress and anxiety, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

  4. Massage helps athletes reach peak performance

    ​Sports massage is geared toward people involved in sports activities to help prevent as well as treat injuries.

  5. There's a massage style to suit many needs​

    ​While the gentle Swedish technique may be the most well-known type of massage in the U.S., there are many different massage modalities in common use, including deep tissue massage, which targets deep muscles and connective tissue.

Why National Physical Therapy Month is Important

  1. It gives us the opportunity to practice self-awareness

    The more we pay conscious attention to our physical habits, the more likely it is that we’ll take steps to change the ones that may lead to chronic aches and even injuries. For example, if you notice you tend to slump while working at your computer, you can start to correct your posture, which can help prevent aching muscles.

  2. It helps us to understand the impact of physical therapy

    Physical therapy can make it possible to recover more quickly and completely from serious injury or major surgery, while reducing the need for pain medication and other drugs. And with the additional effects of relaxation and pain relief, emotional ease becomes part of the equation as well.

  3. It reminds us to focus on self-care

    Whether or not you’re currently recovering from an accident or recent surgery, you can benefit from spending this month really taking care of yourself. You may be surprised to find that indulging in a little “me time” is good for you mentally and emotionally, as well as physically.

National Physical Therapy Month dates

YearDateDay
2022October 1Saturday
2023October 1Sunday
2024October 1Tuesday
2025October 1Wednesday
2026October 1Thursday
Sep
October
Nov
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
 
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
 
Durga Puja
Balloons Around the World Day
CD Player Day
Chinese National Day
Filipino American History Month
Frugal Fun Day
International Coffee Day
​International Day of Older Persons
International Music Day
Model T Day
National Black Dog Day
National Day of China
National Fire Pup Day
National Hair Day
National Homemade Cookies Day
National Lace Day
World Ballet Day
World Card Making Day
World Vegetarian Day
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
AIDS Awareness Month
American Cheese Month
American Pharmacists Month
Bat Appreciation Month
Blindness Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
Celebrate The Bilingual Child Month
Church Library Month
Contact Lens Safety Month
Country Music Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Eat Better, Eat Together Month
Emotional Wellness Month
Eye Injury Prevention Month
Fair Trade Month
Financial Planning Month
German-American Heritage Month
​Global Diversity Awareness Month
Go Sober For October — October
Halloween Safety Month
Head Start Awareness Month
Health Literacy Month
Healthy Lung Month
International Walk To School Month
Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month
​Italian-American Heritage Month
LGBTQ+ History Month
Long Term Care Planning Month
Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month
National ADHD Awareness Month
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Apple Month
National Arts & Humanities Month
National Audiology Awareness Month
National Book Month
​National Bullying Prevention Month
National Caramel Month
National Chili Month
National Chiropractic Month
National Church Safety and Security Month
National Cookbook Month
National Cookie Month
National Crime Prevention Month
National Critical Illness Awareness Month
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month - October
National Dental Hygiene Month
National Depression Education and Awareness Month
National Dessert Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
​National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Ergonomics Month
National Learning and Development Month
National LGBT History Month
National Liver Awareness Month
National Medical Librarians Month
National Non-GMO Month
National Pasta Month
National Pescatarian Month
National Pet Wellness Month
National Physical Therapy Month
National Pickled Peppers Month
National Pizza Month
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
National Pretzel Month
National Protect Your Hearing Month
National Sausage Month
National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
Polish American Heritage Month
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
Unblocktober
Vegetarian Month
World Animal Month
World Autism Month
World Habitat Awareness Month
World Menopause Month

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.