Physical Therapy Day (Rigaku Ryōhō no Hi)

What Is Physical Therapy Day?

Every July 17th is "Physical Therapy Day" in Japan. On July 17, 1966 (Showa 41), the Japanese Physical Therapy Association was founded by 110 physical therapists who had passed Japan's first national physical therapist examination. The association designated the day in 1995 to promote understanding of physical therapy and of the physical therapist profession.

What Is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy helps people whose movement has declined due to illness, injury, or aging, aiming to maintain and improve their motor function through exercise and physical means such as heat, electricity, water, and light.

• Birth of a national qualification: The Act on Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists was promulgated in 1965, and the first national physical therapist exam was held the following year, in 1966.
• A protected title: Only those with the national license may call themselves a "physical therapist" (rigaku ryōhōshi), often abbreviated "PT."
• Where PTs work: Beyond hospitals and clinics, physical therapists work in nursing-care facilities, home-visit rehabilitation, sports settings, and more.

The Two Pillars of Physical Therapy

Physical therapy generally combines two approaches.

• Therapeutic exercise: Strength exercises, range-of-motion exercises, and practice getting up and walking — restoring function by moving the body.
• Physical agent modalities: Using heat, electricity, water, light, and similar means to help ease pain and improve circulation.

Interesting Facts About Physical Therapy

• The rehab team: Alongside physical therapists, rehabilitation professionals include occupational therapists (OTs), who support everyday activities, and speech-language-hearing therapists (STs), who support speaking, hearing, and swallowing. PTs and OTs are defined in the same law.
• Starting with 110: The association's founding members were the 110 people who passed the first national exam.
• Experts in basic movement: Physical therapists specialize in restoring fundamental movements such as rolling over, sitting up, standing, and walking.
• Prevention, too: Physical therapists are also involved in fall prevention and programs to help older people stay independent.

Ideas for Physical Therapy Day

• Check your posture and the way you walk in a mirror — you may notice something unexpected, such as uneven shoulders.
• Take a break from desk work to stand up, stretch, or go for a short walk.
• Look up the differences between PTs, OTs, and STs — useful knowledge if a family member ever needs rehabilitation.
• Check out Physical Therapy Day events and the association's special website.

A Day to Appreciate the People Who Keep Us Moving

July 17th is a day to recognize the work of physical therapists, who support everyday movements like standing and walking that we often take for granted. Founded by 110 members in 1966, the profession now reaches from hospitals to communities and sports fields. Today, take a moment to stand up, stretch, and pay a little attention to how your body moves.