Physical therapists help patients move forward Published Oct. 5, 2010 By Lt. Col Frank Glenn 59th Medical Wing Physical and Occupational Therapy LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- October is national physical therapy month and this year's theme is Move Forward: Physical Therapy Brings Motion to Life. Making the commitment to be physically active promotes movement, reduces pain, restores function and prevents disability. One of the important roles physical therapists play in the area of physical activity, is to promote the capacity for movement in all patients. Physical therapists use their knowledge, skills and experience to help people take control of the movement that is critical to their lives. When rehabilitation experts are not used, there is negative impact on both quality of life and mission readiness. Movement is essential to our everyday lives. Dysfunctional mobility or immobility impacts physical and mental health, as well as the quality of our relationships, work and communication. Physical therapists have served in the military since World War II and in the Air Force since 1949. Military physical therapists and technicians deploy around the world for regional contingencies, peacekeeping, humanitarian missions and natural disasters to provide specialized treatments, wound management, gait and balance training and manual therapy for our service members and others in need. The Air Force physical therapy mission is simple: get our forces moving, restore normal pain-free function, increase human performance and return our warriors to full duty so they may contribute towards achieving our nation's objectives. The core purpose of physical therapy is to enhance health and quality of life through human movement, improve mobility, relieve pain and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities. This year's campaign slogan very plainly states a primary physical therapy tenet in our fast-paced, steady-state of readiness ... Move Forward.