National Physical Therapy Month: A Quality of Life Healthcare Service
October is National Physical Therapy Month, recognizing the importance of physical therapy (PT) in healthcare. Physical therapy is a proven treatment method that helps people heal from injuries, disabilities, and health conditions.
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and participating components, began to celebrate Physical Therapy Week in the early 1980s. The week evolved, and the first National Physical Therapy Month was celebrated in October 1992.
The Veterans Health Administration is the largest integrated health care network in the United States, with 1,255 health care facilities serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year. There are currently 3650 Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants nationwide within the Veteran Health Administration. Battle Creek VA Medical Center (BCVAMC) currently has clinics in Battle Creek, Wyoming, and Lansing, with expansion into Muskegon and Benton Harbor clinics planned.
“I tell people all the time how much I love working with our Veterans, beginning with seeing the camaraderie that exists through their shared experiences and service,” said Kaitlin Ezinga, a Physical Therapist assigned to the Wyoming Outpatient Clinic with BCVHA. “I also think that our Veterans are very appreciative of our care that they’re receiving, they are generally happy to be here, and are grateful for what we and the VA are providing.”
APTA lists nearly 140 symptoms and conditions that physical therapists are trained to treat. Some common problems that physical therapists evaluate and treat include: Amputations, Arthritis, Back Pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Fractures, Joint Replacement, Knee Pain, Pelvic Floor Disorders, Sciatica, Spinal Cord Injury, Sports Injuries, and Stroke.
Inadequate physical activity results in an added $117 billion in health care costs in the United States. It also leads to reduced quality of life for millions of Americans. In a recent publication from APTA, which analyzed eight conditions and the net benefit of PT services per episode of care, they have concluded the following:
- Osteoarthritis of the knee = $13,981
- Carpal tunnel syndrome = $39,533
- Low back pain = $4,160
- Stress urinary incontinence = $10,129
- Lateral epicondylitis = $10,739
- Vascular claudication = $24,125
- Falls prevention = $2,144
- Cancer rehabilitation = $3,514
Physical therapists assess a patient's pain levels and abilities and develop a plan of treatment they can track. They may provide exercises to be performed at home and document the progress and any further needs.
“The biggest misconception I have seen is when people think PT is just an exercise program and that’s all we are going to do with them is teach them how to exercise when what we are really doing is providing them with recovery and function with specific needs and goals with an individual approach to that Veteran.”
With varying degrees of stress service members have put on their bodies, and situations they have been placed in to support both military and humanitarian operations, physical demands may take a certain toll. PT can often be a large healthcare service of delivering a Veteran to a better state of physical functionality, but with certain efforts involved.
“Physical therapy takes work from the patient, but they will receive just as much out of the therapy as what they put into it, and it really ends up being worth it,” said Ezinga.
Because physical therapy is specifically tailored to each Veteran, treatment plans can have different goals along with different timelines. Additionally, how each Veteran is evaluated may differ based on those different criteria, but they all share a common purpose of delivering better quality of life.
“There is that re-evaluation moment where a Veteran tells me they can do a lot more or on occasion I’ll have a Veteran come by a couple of months later just to tell me how happy they are that they are able to go back to some of the activities they couldn’t do before,” said Ezinga. “Those are very fulfilling moments to know it’s measurable change that lasts, and that’s worth it.”
The BCVAMC has a team of 19 physical therapists, and 6 physical therapy assistants. This team of 25 provide physical therapy for Veterans who reside in 21 counties the facility is responsible for, and provide focused physical therapy in Pain, Primary care PT, Amputee, Gerofit (exercise for older adults), Aquatics, and Pelvic/Women's health.
“Many of my colleagues and I feel that is very rewarding to be helping and serving those who have served our country and I feel like there is a personal sense of having achieved something when I am working with Veterans,” said Ezinga.