PTAG Blog

Keeping your family fit and active by promoting physical activity is an incredibly important step towards establishing a healthy lifestyle.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines, children should get 1 hour or more of physical activity every day. In addition, adults should do 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 1 hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.

Regular physical activity can produce tremendous benefits. It can help reduce pain, restore flexibility and increase strength and cardiovascular endurance. It can also help lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, manage glucose levels, and assist with pre-existing health conditions.

The techniques and exercise tools provided by physical therapists can help almost everyone reach their fitness goals and achieve long-term health benefits.

Using their extensive knowledge of mobility, motion and management, they can devise safe exercise programs for people of all ages and abilities – building life-long habits that encourage physical fitness.

Incorporating fitness into an everyday routine may seem daunting for a busy family, but it is simple – and a great way to improve your quality of life.

Try these family fitness tips from Move Forward to help keep your family healthy, happy and physically active.

• Gather your family for weekend workouts to encourage physical activity. In Georgia, there are a number of fun activities including running, hiking, bicycling or swimming offered through state parks
• Encourage your children to participate in individualized or group sports at their school
• Provide positive rewards for your child when he or she engages in physical activities or makes a significant lifestyle change
• Make exercise and physical activity a priority for the entire family – not just a chore
• Walking isn’t costly and it’s easy. Get outdoors and explore!
• Help your child plan physical activities with friends and neighbors
• Be your child’s “exercise buddy.” Organize daily activities and set goals that you can enjoy together

Regular exercise can help produce long-term benefits, but it is important that all activities are done safely and in a manner that prevents injury while improving physical performance.

Physical therapists in Georgia are available to meet for health and wellness consultations without a referral from a doctor, with some insurance policies covering the cost.

Plan to utilize this resource to establish safe, health preserving techniques that improve the quality of life for you – and your family.

For additional resources on family fitness plans or PT resources from the American Physical Therapy Association and the Physical Therapy Association of Georgia visit www.moveforwardpt.com or www.ptagonline.org.  

Over the past year, PTAG has been working hard to increase our presence and influence at the Georgia State Capitol and to elevate our role in the greater healthcare community.

Recently, the physical therapy profession has seen significant amounts of progress – and the incredible success of our 2014 Physical Therapy Day at the Capitol was a testament to the accumulation of these efforts.

More than 100 physical therapists, physical therapy assistants and physical therapy students from across Georgia gathered at the Capitol on Feb. 25, where we had the opportunity to meet with elected officials and legislators to discuss the importance of physical therapy services, along with the inherent cost saving benefits.

The tremendous attendance made a significant impression on the capitol that day, and demonstrated the strong presence our profession maintains in the state of Georgia.

Members enjoyed a full agenda of activities and operated various fitness assessment stations for visitors including, Functional Movement Screens, golf swing analysis, blood pressure analysis and “Ask a PT” programs. They also met with Gov. Nathan Deal and Speaker of the House David Ralston, attended committee meetings and took pictures with members of the House and Senate.

Several legislators took time to visit our room, participate in the fitness stations and speak to our members – providing excellent insight into the legislative process and issues facing our profession.

In addition, House Health and Human Services Committee Chair Sharon Cooper was recognized with the “Legislator of the Year Award” for her support and dedication to highlighting the physical therapy profession in the legislative process.

The amazing turnout for the 2014 Physical Therapy Day at the Capitol was made possible because of our dedicated members who took the opportunity to shine light on current issues affecting health care consumers now – and in future.

As we continue to move forward, it is important that we maintain this same momentum and ensure that our collective voices continue to be heard, understood and acted upon. Our members are vital in elevating important issues to the forefronts of legislative agendas, and we encourage our members to continue becoming actively involved in advocating for the PT profession.

We thank all of those in attendance and look forward to meeting at the “Gold Dome” again next year!

RM Barney Poole, PT, DPT, ATC
President

To see additional pictures please visit the PTAG Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ptaginfo.