Executive Committee Meeting Minutes CSM 2011
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Update on the Sports Physical Therapy Section (SPTS) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
As submitted to the Joint Commission on Sports Medicine and Science
In July, the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists (ABPTS) and the SPTS welcomed 79 newly credentialed, board certified Sports Clinical Specialists (SCS) into the profession. These individuals join the over 600 Sports Clinical Specialists in the APTA who have demonstrated advanced clinical knowledge and skills in the area of Sports Physical Therapy. These individuals have documented over 2,000 direct patient care hours working with sports injuries in addition to the general orthopedic patients seen in the clinic setting.
The SPTS is committed to developing the specific skills and knowledge base of the general outpatient physical therapist to better serve the athletic population from the weekend warrior to the elite athlete by offering continuing education courses specifically geared to meeting the unique needs of the athlete. The American Red Cross (ARC) developed the Emergency Response course to provide medical professionals the knowledge and skill to necessary to administer immediate emergency care to the athlete injured during an athletic event. There are a number of SPTS members who teach the course which has, with the permission of the ARC, been modified to make it more specific for the needs of the sports physical therapist. The SPTS offers this course a minimum of 3 times a year, more often when requests are made, at various locations throughout the states. This course is extremely important for those PT’s who desire to provide coverage for community and interscholastic athletic events. This is especially important with the National Federation of High Schools Association (NFHS) concussion management guidelines coming out that will directly affect those individuals responsible for determining when an athlete can return to play following a concussive event.
The annual Team Concept Conference will be held December 2-4 in Las Vegas, NV. This meeting is open to all athletic trainers, physical therapists and physicians interested in hearing about current research on sports physical therapy topics, and is designed to bring all three disciplines together to share their knowledge. The annual meeting is a great way for professionals to exchange ideas in a collaborative setting to optimize the care of athletes. For more information, go to www.spts.org/team-concept-conference/2010-agenda.
The APTA has recognized the importance of specialization in physical therapy. In an effort to protect the public and make sure the quality of physical therapy rendered is high, the APTA has developed clinical residencies and fellowships whereby the general PT develops specific skills related to their area of interest. The programs last anywhere from 12 to 36 months, and are credentialed by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education. Currently there are 15 credentialed sports residencies, 1 credentialed fellowship and 5 programs in the midst of the application process.
The North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy (NAJSPT) was originally created as a joint venture by the SPTS/APTA and Sports Physiotherapy Canada to enhance the development of clinical practice for the North American physical therapist. NAJSPT has evolved into an international journal and is being read by physiotherapists throughout the world thanks to the SPTS leadership’s involvement with the International Federation of Sports Physiotherapists (IFSP).
SPTS Update 9/10
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Click here to download the minutes from the SPTS Business Meeting at CSM in San Diego 2010
Business Meeting Minutes