Loading article content...
Ayushi often shrugged off her parents' concerns about her inactivity, blaming changing work culture, irregular sleep, long hours at her desk, and a busy lifestyle. So, when joint pain hit her before she even turned 28, her parents weren’t shocked. A few medications and a long talk with her family doctor made her realise the importance of physical therapy.
Being a family friend, the doctor didn’t stop. He watched her progress in the following weeks. To support Ayushi, her parents even joined her for morning walks. Inspired by her new routine, Ayushi also shared what she learned with her co-workers. Together, they participated in World Physical Therapy Day activities.
While quite relatable, Ayushi’s journey also reminds us how vital movement is for our well-being. This is exactly what World Physical Therapy Day emphasises, promoting the importance of staying active to prevent and manage pain, improve mobility, and enhance overall health. Read more about World Physical Therapy Day.
Why is World Physical Therapy Day Celebrated
World Physical Therapy Day is celebrated each year on September 8th to raise awareness of the importance of physical therapies in treating severe diseases and deformities.
A significant chunk of the population globally finds it challenging to perform everyday activities due to joint or muscle pain. Even India’s data is becoming increasingly concerning. If we were to look at the study conducted in 2017-2018 it suggested that 47% of people over 45 years suffered from joint pain.1 On average more than 15 crore Indians have one or the other form of joint pain.2
Medical science has always placed its reliance on Physical Therapy to treat joint and muscle pain, making it essential to make the general population aware of the magical impacts of physical therapy.
September 8th is therefore celebrated around the globe to:
- Bring positive changes
- Spread awareness
- Stand in solidarity with the Global Physiotherapy Community
- Appreciate physical therapists and their efforts.
- Incorporate physical therapy into everyday life to eliminate the chances of severe issues.
- Educate people about early diagnosis.
World Physical Therapy Day: Evolution Over the Years
The historical evolution of World Physical Therapy Day is rather interesting as it reflects the early realisation of physical therapy's magical impacts on speeding recovery from multiple diseases, deformities, and challenges.
In 1996, World Physical Therapy Day was first observed on 8 September. Interestingly, this date was chosen because it marks the foundation of the World Confederation in 1951, now known as World Physiotherapy Day.
Since 1996, every year the global physiotherapy community celebrates 8th September with unique ideas to recognise the importance of physical therapy.
Every year, the world celebrates World Physical Therapy Day with unique themes.
Take a look at these five interesting themes chosen over different years:
- World Physical Therapy Day 2022 Theme: Prevention and Management of Osteoarthritis
- World Physical Therapy Day 2021 Theme: Rehabilitation and Long COVID.
- World Physical Therapy Day 2020 Theme: Rehabilitation and Long COVID.
- World Physical Therapy Day 2019 Theme: Chronic pain and the role of the physiotherapist.
- World Physical Therapy Day 2018 Theme: Physical Therapy and Mental Health
In 2023, the theme was “Prevention and Management of Osteoarthritis” focusing on raising awareness of inflammatory arthritis, including axial spondyloarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Did You Know? Physical therapy's roots go back millennia. In 435 B.C., the Greek philosopher Hippocrates began using techniques that birthed physical therapy.
Celebrating World Physical Therapy Day: A Step From all of Us
We are all aware of the importance of physical therapy and how far the global physiotherapy community has come in adopting innovative solutions. But what can we do this year to celebrate World Physical Therapy Day? Let’s take a look at these five exciting ideas:
Educating Yourself
The first step is to educate yourself on the importance of physical therapy by reading research, understanding early symptoms, ditching ignorance in assessing pain and finding a reliable physical therapy doctor to learn the fundamentals.
Community Outreach and Education
Spreading awareness is the most significant act that can create an impact. Talk to your friends, family and colleagues about the importance of physical therapy and how early detection can prevent the severity of any injury. Additionally, you can use the power of social media to expand your outreach.
Take Part in Wellness Events and Health Fairs
World Physical Therapy Day is celebrated by the community through wellness events and health fairs that you can attend. At many places, these events are hosted to raise funds and educate people on the importance of lifestyle changes in treating joint and muscle pain so that they can attend to do their part.
Practice Physical Therapy
Do you know how it is said that preaching begins at home? This can not be any more reliable when it comes to physical therapy. While you might not be able to spread awareness actively, you can make physical therapy a part of your everyday ritual. Learn fitness therapy, like exercises and stretches, from a reliable expert.
Additional Tip: If you run a physical therapy clinic, offer discounts and promo codes to help people from all social spheres. If you are a patient, thank your physiotherapist.
Exploring the World Physical Therapy Day Theme, 2024
Surprisingly, cases of back pain among young adults in India have been growing at an unprecedented rate. LBP is prevalent between the age group of 18 to 35 years with around LBP cases increasing 42.4% each year. Additionally, on average, the prevalence of LBP is reported between 42% to 83%. 3
Since the global numbers are equally concerning, in 2024, we are emphasising the importance of understanding the severity of lower back pain by spreading awareness on:
- Learn the benefits of physiotherapy, and new ideas and popular methods.
- Educating the general population on the causes and symptoms of lower back pain and the importance of early detection.
- Supporting research and development in the global community of physiotherapists.
- Spreading awareness on the importance of incorporating physical therapy in everyday life for precaution and pain management.
Wrapping Up!
World Physical Therapy Day is celebrated yearly to recognise the importance of a healthy lifestyle and correct body posture. It also appreciates the efforts of world physiotherapy experts in finding innovative methods to treat severe conditions.
At Care Health Insurance, we believe in a wholesome lifestyle. We offer health insurance policies to reduce the financial burden of treatment, spread awareness, and urge the government to take positive measures. Preventive health checkups, daycare treatments, and cashless hospitalisation are features that can help manage health issues.
>> Also Read: Common Medical Checkups by Health Insurance Plan
Disclaimers: The above information is for reference purposes only. For more details about the health insurance plans and their benefits please refer to the sales prospectus, policy terms, and conditions.
