The Sports Physical Therapy Section (SPTS) is a component member of the American Physical Therapy Association, which provides a common forum for members of the Association with an interest in sports physical therapy. The Section was founded in 1973. At the time of application for section status, it was composed of seventy-five members who shared a common interest in sports. The SPTS has grown tremendously in the past two decades and is the third largest section among the parent organization’s nineteen specialty sections. By providing a common forum for physical therapists with an interest in sports physical therapy, the SPTS serves to broaden the field of physical therapy. Emphasis in this specialty area of physical therapy includes, but may not be limited to: performance enhancement, recognition and management of active sports injuries, treatment, rehabilitation, and research of sports injuries.
The Sports Physical Therapy Section provides a mechanism for the physical therapist to become involved in practice and research related to the subspecialty of sports physical therapy. These functions of the SPTS are, in part, accomplished by Section sponsored continuing education programs, home study programs, sports physical therapy related publications, and a job placement service, in addition to a variety of other projects sponsored to increase the awareness of the role of the sports physical therapist.