APTA sections are your link to the resources that you need to stay current in expertise areas and the best way to connect with others who share your interests — including some of the profession's most influential thought leaders.
APTA sections, also referred to as academies in some instances, focus on a wide range of areas from specific types of physical therapy to broader policy areas and patient populations. No matter what your interest is there's probably a section for you.
Each month we will highlight one of the 18 APTA sections, giving information on the specialty, involvement opportunities, and even sharing an experience from a current member.
The Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy
About the Section
The mission of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy is to empower its members to optimize movement system performance for those impacted by neurologic conditions.
Section Involvement
The Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy offers the very best in continuing education and programming related to neurologic physical therapy practice. The STEP Conference, which is held every 10 years, is an example of an international interdisciplinary symposium sponsored by the Neurology and Pediatric Sections of the APTA that reflects the most current advances in the science and practice of physical therapy. Each year the Academy provides this level of stimulating programming at the APTA’s Combined Sections Meeting.
But there's much more. Find out the many ways to get involved! For example, special interest groups provide a forum to discuss advances in practice and the challenges of patient care within specific areas of neurologic physical therapy. Participation in any of these eight SIGs is free to academy members:
- Assistive Technology/Seating & Wheeled Mobility.
- Balance and Falls.
- Brain Injury.
- Degenerative Diseases.
- Spinal Cord Injury.
- Stroke.
- Vestibular Rehabilitation.
- Residency & Fellowship.
Many SIGs have committees that you can serve on. This is a great way to develop your leadership skills and network with others who share the same physical therapy interests
Section Benefits
Membership benefits include:
- Electronic newsletters, podcasts, special topic discussions, and research updates from the section's special interest groups.
- A free subscription to the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy.
- Membership to the International Neurological Physical Therapy Association.
- Clinical Mentorship
Section Member Experiences
"With vestibular rehab being such a complex part of physical therapy but such a small part of the curriculum of many DPT programs, the extra educational resources available and professional contacts gained from being a part of the Vestibular SIG are so helpful to strengthen my foundation and improve my confidence for clinicals and in my future practice."
-Lynn Johnson, SPT
"The most valuable part of being a student member of the Stroke SIG is that I have quick and easy access to up-to-date information on the latest relevant research and applications to clinical practice that I can take into my clinical rotations. There are so many resources and so much information out there for us that sometimes we don't know where to start. The Stroke SIG helps to make that whole process just a little bit easier."
-Laura Finke, SPT