The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is a U.S-based individual membership professional organization representing more than 100,000 member physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students of physical therapy. The nonprofit association, based in Alexandria, Virginia, 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.^[1]

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,^[2] and APTA Magazine, a professional issues magazine providing legislative, health care, human interest, and association news.^[3]

APTA also advocates on behalf of the profession and for issues which impact the health and well being of society such as funding for health research and for an adequate health care workforce. It lobbies for health care reform to improve access to health care.^[4]

History

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.^[5]

With the advent of World War II and a nationwide polio epidemic during the 1940s and 1950s, physical therapists were in greater demand. The Association's membership swelled to 8,000, and the number of physical therapy education programs across the U.S. increased from 16 to 39.

During the mid-1940s, the association adopted its current name, hired a full-time staff, and opened its first national office in New York City. A House of Delegates representing chapter members was established to set policies. The House elected a board of directors, previously the Executive Committee, to manage the association. In addition, sections were created to promote and develop specific objectives of the profession. Among the early sections were Schools (now the Academy of Physical Therapy Education) and Self-Employed (now APTA Private Practice).^{[6] [7]} In the 1960s, APTA membership reached 15,000, and the number of education programs nationwide grew to 52. As of the end of 2022, 294 institutions offer physical therapy education programs and 396 institutions offer physical therapist assistant education programs in the United States. These numbers will change significantly in the coming years to encompass 48 developing PT programs and 29 developing PTA programs.^[8]

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.^[9]

Previous and future CSM meetings

Chapters and sections

APTA has chapters in most U.S. states as well as sections covering special interests. Sections cover:^[11]

• Acute Care
• Aquatic Physical Therapy
• Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Physical Therapy
• Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management
• Education
• Federal Physical Therapy
• Geriatrics
• Hand and Upper Extremity Physical Therapy
• Health Policy & Administration
• Home Health
• Leadership and Innovation
• Neurology
• Oncology
• Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
• Pediatric Physical Therapy
• Pelvic Health
• Private Practice
• Research
• Sports Physical Therapy