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APTA Utah is a local chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association Our goal, is to promote local advancements in physical therapy practice and education.

APTA Utah is a local chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association representing more than 800 members.

10/17/2026

Can herniated discs naturally shrink over time?

Research shows that the body can gradually break down and reabsorb herniated disc material, a process called spontaneous resorption.

While this doesn’t happen in every case, it highlights the potential for recovery without surgery.

Understanding the body’s capacity for recovery can change the conversation around back pain.

10/15/2026

You use these terms every day.
Your patients may be hearing them for the first time.

Clinical expertise can make certain language feel automatic, which is why communication sometimes requires translating familiar concepts into words that are easier for patients to understand while retaining the clinical meaning.

Terms like irritability, load tolerance, graded exposure, motor control, and prognosis can all be useful clinically, but as a public-facing practitioner the goal is to make sure the language supports a conversation rather than becoming a barrier to it.

Clear explanations can help patients better understand what you’re assessing, why you’re recommending a particular approach, and how they can participate in their plan of care.

What clinical term do you find yourself explaining most often? Do you have any tried-and-true ways to break down clinical concepts that resonate particularly well with your patients?

10/14/2026

Would you feel comfortable speaking up if you disagreed with a treatment decision?

For PTs and PTAs, psychological safety can show up in very practical ways: asking a question during a case discussion, admitting you are unsure, raising a concern about patient care, or offering a different perspective without worrying about embarrassment or retaliation.

APTA recommends education and resources that support psychological safety across physical therapy workplaces and learning environments. Research cited by APTA also connects psychological safety with team learning, communication, and performance. APTA

For clinical teams, that can mean creating an environment where:
- PTs and PTAs can ask questions openly
- newer clinicians and students can admit when they need support
- concerns about patient care can be raised early
- mistakes can be discussed as opportunities to learn
- team members can contribute ideas without fear of being dismissed

Psychological safety is especially relevant in physical therapy because patient care often depends on collaboration, communication, supervision, and clinical judgment across a team.

What helps you feel comfortable speaking up in your workplace?

10/10/2026

What if understanding pain could actually change how you experience it?

That’s part of the thinking behind pain neuroscience education, an approach physical therapists may use with people experiencing chronic pain.

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis looked at 19 randomized controlled trials and found that when pain neuroscience education was combined with physical therapy interventions, participants experienced reductions in pain intensity and improvements in function compared with control interventions.

Pain education can be one facet of a broader physical therapy plan that also includes exercise, rehabilitation, movement, and individualized care.

For people with chronic pain, understanding how pain works can support the rehabilitation process and help them engage more confidently with movement and recovery.

A physical therapist can help determine which combination of education, movement, and rehabilitation strategies fits your needs.

PTs, how do you like to empower your patients throughout treatment?

10/09/2026

How much physical activity do adults actually need?

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should aim for 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, along with muscle-strengthening activity at least 2 days per week.

That movement doesn’t have to happen all at once. Shorter periods of activity count too, and the guidelines encourage people to move more and sit less throughout the day.

Regular physical activity can support better sleep, lower blood pressure, reduced anxiety, improved physical function, and a lower risk of several chronic conditions. For older adults, it can also help reduce the risk of falls and fall-related injuries.

If you’re unsure how to increase your activity safely or what type of movement is appropriate for your needs, a physical therapist can help you build a plan based on your current function, goals, and lifestyle.

10/07/2026

Thinking about making the transition from PTA to PT?

For some physical therapist assistants, becoming a physical therapist is the next step in their career. APTA notes that about 2% of PTCAS applicants each year are PTAs pursuing that path.

Because PTA and DPT programs prepare clinicians for different professional roles, the transition typically requires additional education before entering a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Depending on the program, that may include prerequisite coursework, a bachelor’s degree, the GRE, observation hours, or other admissions requirements.

There are also CAPTE-accredited PTA-to-PT bridge programs designed to build on a PTA’s previous education, clinical knowledge, and professional experience while working toward a DPT.

Already working as a PTA can be an advantage, too. APTA notes that former PTAs often bring valuable clinical experience into PT school and may already have substantial observation experience when applying.

If becoming a PT is something you’ve been considering, APTA’s PTA-to-PT Career Transition resource is a helpful place to start exploring the educational requirements and available pathways.

Learn more at the PTA to PT transition link in our bio.

10/02/2026

The General Session may be over, but Utah’s legislative work continues.

Between sessions, Utah’s interim committees study key issues facing the state and may recommend legislation for the upcoming General Session. Interim committees meet between April and November and provide opportunities for public input.

One recently passed measure affecting physical therapy is S.B. 204, Physical Therapy Payment Amendments.

Under S.B. 204, an accident and health insurance policy that covers physical therapy services may not impose a copayment, coinsurance, or office-visit deductible for a covered physical therapy visit that exceeds the amount applicable to a visit with a primary care provider.

This provision applies to health benefit plans renewed or entered into on or after January 1, 2027.

Follow APTA Utah for more updates on legislation affecting physical therapy in Utah; if you are a PT or PTA who wants to stay closer to these efforts or get involved, join us.

09/30/2026

Not every PT has every answer immediately, and that’s okay.

Scott Ward on why saying “I don’t know” can actually build more credibility with a patient than pretending to have it all figured out.

09/27/2026

Balance testing lends valuable information about fall risk. However, it should not be regarded as a complete assessment.

In recognition of Falls Prevention Week, the CDC’s Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries (STEADI) initiative provides clinical resources to support fall-risk screening, assessment, and intervention in older adults.

Functional assessments include:

• 4-Stage Balance Test - balance
• Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test - mobility
• 30-Second Chair Stand Test - leg strength and endurance
• Orthostatic blood pressure measurement - to determine whether a patient may have postural hypotension

The CDC’s STEADI resources also include tools for medication review, patient education, and fall-prevention intervention.

Balance is one part of the assessment. A comprehensive approach looks beyond a single test.

Balance testing is only one piece of the picture. Find a physical therapist who specializes in balance, mobility, or fall prevention for a more comprehensive assessment.

09/24/2026

Physical therapy can look very different when the nervous system is involved.

Neurologic physical therapists specialize in evaluating and treating movement problems related to disease or injury of the nervous system. Their patients may be navigating conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, brain injury, spinal cord injury, or other neurologic conditions.

That work requires looking beyond a single measure of strength or mobility.

APTA’s clinical practice guideline for adults with neurologic conditions recommends a core set of standardized outcome measures to help clinicians assess function and track changes throughout rehabilitation.

For someone with multiple sclerosis, for example, the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite brings together three different areas of function: walking through the Timed 25-Foot Walk, arm and hand function through the 9-Hole Peg Test, and cognitive function through the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test.

This gives the clinician a broader, deeper picture of how a neurological condition is affecting the patient and provides objective information that can be followed over time.

To Utah’s neurologic PTs and PTAs: what is one part of working with neurologic conditions that you wish more people understood?

Address

Centerville, UT
84010

Telephone

+18018647073

Website

http://www.aptautah.org/

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