SENATE RESOLUTION 25

(By Senators Tarr, Rucker, Caputo, Romano, Unger, and Baldwin)

[Introduced March 22, 2021]

Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Whereas, Reconstruction aides, the predecessors to modern physical therapists, treated the many casualties of World War I, working tirelessly to get soldiers back on their feet. These strong women had proven their value as medical professionals – war heroes – and shown that those who would eventually be known as physical therapists had a major role to play in the future of America’s health; and

Whereas, Mary McMillan, a reconstruction aide, was elected in 1921 as the first president of the American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association; and

Whereas, Emma Vogel initiated the first War Emergency Training Course of World War II at Walter Reed General Hospital in 1941. The course consisted of six months of concentrated “didactic” instruction to be followed by six months of supervised practice at a military hospital; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Physical Therapy Association, Inc. was incorporated on March 23, 1949, in Morgantown, WV; and

Whereas, Lucy Blair, the staff coordinator of physical therapists in the polio emergency, worked in partnership with Dr. Salk in the national response to the polio epidemic in the early 1950s; and

Whereas, The effort to launch a two-year graduate education program for physical therapists appeared at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio in 1960; and

Whereas, The WVU Division of Physical Therapy was established in 1970 as the first physical therapy program in the state of West Virginia; and

Whereas, The Wheeling Jesuit University Physical Therapy program was established in 1994 as the second physical therapy program in the state of West Virginia; and

Whereas, The Marshall University School of Physical Therapy was established in 2012 as the third physical therapy program in the state of West Virginia; and

Whereas, West Virginia is home to three Physical Therapist Assistant programs: Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Martinsburg, WV; Mountwest Community & Technical College in Huntington, WV; and Pierpont Community & Technical College in Fairmont, WV; and

Whereas, Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement. Regular physical activity is one of the most important things one can do for one’s health and, according to the US Department of Health & Human Services, more than 80% of adults and adolescents do not get enough physical activity. If pain or a condition limits the ability to participate in activities, or one wants to reduce the risk for chronic diseases, enhance fitness, and prevent injuries, a physical therapist and physical therapist assistants are a critical part of the health care team; and

Whereas, Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants treat people where they are. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants provide care to people across the lifespan and in many settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, homes, schools, sports teams and fitness facilities, the U.S. Armed Services, Veterans facilities, work settings, and nursing homes; and

Whereas, Physical therapy is effective in reducing pain. For example, a growing body of evidence for physical therapist treatment of low back pain includes a 2018 study published in Health Services Research that shows that using it as a first-line approach not only saves money, but also dramatically reduces the chance of receiving a prescription for dangerous opioids; and

Whereas, Students of physical therapy are being educated to address the health care needs of Americans for the next 100 years; and

Whereas, Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants have faced the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic head-on, treating the most vulnerable, building on their proud history of work in the polio pandemic. Physical therapy plays an essential role in recovery from Covid-19. When people are just beginning to recover from the most severe effects of the novel coronavirus, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are there, helping them get back on their feet, both during their time in the hospital and after they leave, for as long as it takes; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby recognizes the 100th anniversary of the American Physical Therapy Association; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate commends the American Physical Therapy Association for its dedication to improving the health of society over the past 100 years; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate recognizes that the American Physical Therapy Association and its members are essential partners to meeting the future health and wellness needs of our country; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the American Physical Therapy Association.