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Introduction Health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by socially disadvantaged populations. (1) Approximately 20 million [...]

Keywords: Equity, Inclusivity, LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Care, LGBTQIA+ Health Disparities, LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Care, LGBTQIA+ Practice Guidelines, LGBTQIA+, LGBTQIA+ Health, LGBTQIA+ Guidelines, Trauma-Informed Care, The physical therapist profession is increasingly aware that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and/or asexual (LGBTQIA+) persons have unique healthcare needs. (1) Recognizing this need, the American Physical Therapy [...]

The Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy Pain Education Manual supports the advancement of modern pain content, and the National Institutes of Health Federal Pain Research Strategy has called for new models for pain management. This Perspective proposes the Pain Recovery and Integrative Systems Model (PRISM) as a new model that addresses the multidimensional nature of pain. PRISM is a salutogenic, integrative, process-based cognitive-behavioral model designed for physical therapist education and practice. PRISM aligns with national and international initiatives to better understand and manage pain, thereby mitigating the global opioid crisis. PRISM aims to address the multidimensional nature of pain while building resilience, nurturing growth, and facilitating pain recovery. Impact. PRISM is a salutogenic, integrative, process-based cognitive-behavioral model to guide physical therapists in managing the multidimensional nature of pain. Keywords: Pain Education, Pain Science, Education: Competency-Based, Chronic Pain, Mental Health, Musculoskeletal Pain, Whole Health, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Pain Management, Integrative Pain Management, Process-Based Therapy, Introduction/Background Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage. (1) Nociception and pain are different phenomena. Nociception is [...]

The United States of America (USA) is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. Two out of 5 adults report symptoms of depression. (1) Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the rates [...]

Physical therapists have unique education in the comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and treatment of chronic pain and its mechanisms. Recently, physical therapists have raised awareness regarding the impact of nutrition on promoting health and managing noncommunicable diseases. Robust evidence supports the implementation of nutrition in physical therapist education and practice. Of particular interest for the physical therapist are investigations that use dietary interventions for the treatment of chronic pain. Yet physical therapists have received little guidance regarding their role in nutrition care for pain management and may pass on opportunities to counsel their patients on the connection between nutrition and pain. Therefore, a clinical paradigm shift and unified voice within the profession is called on to encourage physical therapists to develop tailored multimodal lifestyle interventions that include nutrition care for the management of chronic pain. This Perspective describes evidence supporting the implementation of nutrition care in physical therapist practice, supports the role of nutritional pain management for physical therapists, and encourages the use of nutrition care for primary, secondary, tertiary, prevention, health promotion, and wellness related to chronic pain. To achieve these aims, this Perspective offers suggestions for how physical therapists can (1) enhance clinical decision making; (2) expand professional, jurisdictional, and personal scope of practice; (3) evolve entry-level education; and (4) stimulate new investigations in nutrition care and pain science research. In doing so, physical therapists can assert their role throughout the pain management continuum, champion innovative research initiatives, and enhance public health by reducing the impact of chronic pain. Impact. The nutrition care process for pain management is defined as the basic duty to provide adequate and appropriate nutrition education and counseling to people living with pain. Including the nutrition care process as part of a multimodal approach to pain management provides an opportunity for physical therapists to assert their role throughout the pain management continuum. This includes championing innovative research initiatives and enhancing public health by reducing the impact of chronic pain for over 50 million Americans. Keywords: American Physical Therapy Association: Policies and Standards, Education: Competency Based, Nutrition, Pain, Pain Management, Physical Therapists, Positions, Introduction Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care, and it has an enormous negative impact on individuals, society, and institutions. (1) In Europe and [...]

One in 5 adults in the United States lives with a mental illness, and many more struggle with stress-related chronic illnesses. Physical therapists often see the physical effects that stress has on the body, but there is an underutilization of evidencebased stress management strategies with patients and clients. Mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions (MABIs) constitute a family of methods that emphasize present-moment awareness, nonjudgment, and values-based living. They operate by teaching patients to cope with stressful thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. MABIs are associated with improved health outcomes in areas commonly seen in physical therapist practice, including health promotion, physical function, injury prevention, pain management, immune function, and noncommunicable diseases. The purpose of this Perspective article is to (1) describe MABIs; (2) discuss the relevance of MABIs to physical therapist practice; (3) discuss the positive impact of MABIs for pain, sports, immune function, physical and mental health promotion, and wellness; and (4) identify MABI outcome measures related to health behavior change. It is time. Impact. Contemporary practice requires that physical therapists manage patient care by addressing both the mind and body. Given the existing research on MABIs, it is time to translate the evidence into minimum accreditable standards for health promotion and prevention of chronic, noncommunicable disease. This approach would have far-reaching benefits for individuals, family units, communities, and society as a whole. Lay Summary. Mindfulness instruction delivered by a physical therapist can help improve physical and mental well-being. Keywords: Education: Competency-Based, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Pain, Physical Therapy Techniques, Stress, Introduction MABIs: What Are They? Mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions (MABIs) have a solid evidence base and can be employed for a variety of physical (1) and mental health conditions. (2) [...]

In the article, the author discusses the need to establish specific standards on the required education and training of entry-level physical therapists to prepare them sufficiently in their job. Topics include some recommendations like updating the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accreditation standards and ensuring optimal training for physical therapists.