APTA launches campaign to curb opioid abuse

The American Physical Therapy Association launched a national campaign on June 7 to promote the use of physical therapy as a safe and effective means to treat pain.

The campaign, #ChoosePT, aims to educate consumers in the United States about physical therapy as an alternative approach to managing pain. In a recent post, the APTA talks about the need to address the opioid epidemic in the U.S. and asks consumers to choose physical therapy to safely manage pain.

“Opioids come with numerous serious side effects and only mask the sensation of pain,” stated #ChoosePT campaign spokesperson Joseph Brence, PT, DPT, in an APTA news release. “Research shows that physical therapist treatment can reduce or eliminate the need for opioids by improving physical function, increasing range of motion, and decreasing pain.”