#CHOOSEPT Fight the Opioid Epidemic
October is National Physical Therapy Month. Each year the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) chooses a theme. Given the current spotlight on opioid addiction, it should be no surprise that this year’s theme is #choosept. Dr. Alex Kasel, DPT- Dept. of Veterans Affairs says, “Physical Therapy is often the first line of conservative care used by primary care physicians to improve patient outcomes. Physical therapy is a safe and effective treatment for musculoskeletal issues including chronic pain.” Pain-free movement is a vital factor affecting quality of life, the ability to earn a living and maintaining independence. It never hurts to remind ourselves yet again of the myriad benefits of a regular, moderate lifestyle whose impact is felt internally, externally, at home, work and play. Encouraging therapists and stakeholders to In addition to the obvious muscular benefit, there are 4 additional benefits that cannot be ignored:
BONE HEALTH
Your bones want you to exercise. Bone is living tissue that responds to exercise by becoming stronger. The best bone building exercise is weight bearing in nature. These include weight training, resistance training, tennis, and even golf. Osteoporosis affects more than ½ of Americans over the age of 54 so movement that keeps us on our feet and involve some type of resistance will improve your bone strength.
HEART HEALTH
Heart Disease is the number 1 cause of death in the United States. Aerobic exercise improves the ability of the heart to deliver oxygen to working muscles by forcing the heart and lungs to work harder than at rest. Non-weight bearing activities such as jogging, dancing, biking and walking for 30 minutes or more 5 times a week have excellent cardio-vascular benefits.
BRAIN HEALTH
People who are physically active, even later in life, are less likely to develop memory problems like Alzheimer’s Disease, which affects more than 40% of the population over the age of 85. According to Heidi Godman, Executive Editor of the Harvard Health Letter, “The benefits of exercise come directly from its ability to reduce insulin resistance, reduce inflammation and stimulate the release of growth factors – chemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain cells, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and even the abundance and survival of new brain cells.”
EMPLOYMENT HEALTH:
Your employer wants you to exercise! The Journal of Exercise Physiology reports a 22% decrease in absenteeism for staff who follow a workout program. The American Council on Exercise finds that regular exercise contributes to a 17% decrease in the amount of on-the-job injuries.
The interim healthcare leaders at NHS Solutions understand the benefits of physical fitness not only for their patients but also for their staff. We have a deep pool of interim leaders available in the fields of physical therapy, occupational health, rehabilitation, risk, patient safety and more. Let us fill your next leadership gap with a highly experienced and talented interim leader from NHS Solutions.