07/09/2021
To be honest, I didnโt even know what todayโs date was, much less that today is World Physical Therapy Day. And while some may argue that there is a day for literally everything, I do think this field deserves a day to celebrate what it can do for people.
During my career as a physical therapist, I have been able to be a part of amazing things.
I was there to jump up and down and cheer for my patient who suffered a stroke while he took steps for the first time unassisted.
I taught a woman who had bilateral knee replacements how to get up and down from the floor so she could play with her grandchildren again.
Iโve helped ICU patients who have spent days laying on their backs sit in a chair to eat a meal upright.
Iโve worked with women postpartum who wanted to laugh, sneeze, or run again without peeing themselves.
Iโve guided athletes in their return to the sport that they love, that gives them purpose.
I took the first steps with a man who got his new prosthetic leg.
I came up with crazy obstacle courses for a woman with vertigo to complete to make sure she was able to care for her sick husband.
Iโve been a literal shoulder to cry on for patients in chronic pain that have been written off by the medical system as crazy or addicts.
Iโve seen the look of accomplishment on a 65 year old house keeperโs face when she deadlifted a barbell for the first time, knowing if she could do that, she could lift things at work all day without pain.
Iโve heard wonderful stories told by patientsโ family members about how happy they are their loved one can cook again. Can garden again. Can go on a hike again.
This post isnโt to brag about the things *I* have done, by any means, because it truly is in a days work of being a physical therapist, and there are so many other stories PTs could tell of their best, hardest, saddest, and most triumphant patient encounters. This post is to brag about what an incredibly bad ass profession I am a part of, and how proud I am that physical therapy helps people all over the world, of every age, gender, and race, achieve things they didnโt think they could do. That, my friends, is pretty damn amazing.
๐ผ HAPPY PHYSICAL THERAPY DAY ๐
Advance Physical Therapy Academy - APTA
