The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is an American individual membership professional organization representing more than 100,000 member

physical therapists Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a healthcare profession, as well as the care provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through patient education, physical intervention, disease prevention ...

, physical therapist assistants, and students of

physical therapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a healthcare profession, as well as the care provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through patient education, physical intervention, disease preventio ...

. The nonprofit association, based in

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in Northern Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Washington, D.C., D.C. The city's population of 159,467 at the 2020 ...

, seeks to improve the health and quality of life of individuals in society by advancing physical therapist practice, education, and research, and by increasing the awareness and understanding of physical therapy's role in the nation's health care system. APTA has chapters in most U.S. states as well as academies/sections covering special interests. APTA annually holds two large conferences and publishes the Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal, the leading international journal for research in physical therapy and related fields, APTA originally formed in 1921 as the American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association. The association was first led by President Mary McMillan, and an executive committee of elected officers governed the Association, which included 274 charter members. In 1922, the association changed its name to the American Physiotherapy Association. In 1923 the first two men were admitted into the American Physiotherapy Association. Membership grew to just under 1,000 in the late 1930s. With the advent of World War II and a nationwide

polio Poliomyelitis ( ), commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 75% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe ...

epidemic during the 1940s and 1950s, physical therapists were in greater demand. The Association's membership swelled to 8,000, and the number of

education programs across the U.S. increased from 16 to 39.

Combined Sections Meeting

In 1976, the association launched an annual Combined Sections Meeting, informally known as "CSM," that is attended by physical therapists from around the United States. The name was selected because all of the sections of APTA meet at this time.Davies E. Midwinter Combined Section Meeting. Phys Ther. 1975; 55(11):1237-1240.

References

{{authority control Medical associations based in the United States Physiotherapy organizations Organizations established in 1921 1921 establishments in the United States Medical and health organizations based in Virginia Healthcare accreditation organizations in the United States

Combined Sections Meeting

See also

References