The colorful leaves and cooler temperatures make fall the perfect time to get out and exercise.  That’s exactly what the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is encouraging people to do in recognition of National Physical Therapy Month. 

The focus for National Physical Therapy Month this year is to encourage individuals to incorporate regular physical activity into their daily lives to prevent and combat obesity in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 34% of adults and 17% of children are obese.  The number of individuals with type 2 diabetes has dramatically increased as well.  Both of these issues contribute to the U.S. life expectancy falling further behind other nations as revealed in a recent study by the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. The study currently ranks the United States 49^th in the world among industrialized nations.  In 1950, the U.S. was ranked 5^th.

Physical therapists are well-positioned to reverse this trend. As experts in movement, physical therapists are equipped to help individuals overcome the obstacles that have kept them from enjoying an active life. Teach individuals how to move properly to reduce their risk of injury and work closely with individuals to meet their needs, priorities and challenges to help them achieve their fitness goals.

The APTA website and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have a number of tools you can use to encourage the members of your community to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine.