October is National Physical Therapy Month – a time to celebrate, acknowledge, and commend the exceptional clinical efforts and research provided by our providers. This includes work from Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants (PTAs), and those who teach the next generation of Physical Therapists.
The practice of physical therapy dates back to Hippocrates, who advocated using massage, hydrotherapy, and manual therapy techniques to treat his patients.
Physical therapy as a distinct, organized field emerged from the polio epidemic and the First World War, eventually leading to the establishment of the organization that would become today's American Physical Therapy Association in 1924.
The PT program at Duke started in 1943 and is among the nation's premier physical therapy education programs, training expert practitioners and leaders in the field, providing first-class clinical care, and advancing knowledge through cutting-edge research.
This month, we celebrate these efforts and look forward to advancing the practice, training, and research in physical therapy. To our PT community, we thank you for your expert care.
Please join me in celebrating National Physical Therapy Month and recognizing the great work of our department members.