Academy of Plant-based Physical Therapy: overdue to address a nutrition crisis with a transformative population approach

Abstract

This timely evidence synthesis supports the need for an Academy of Plant-based Physical Therapy. Given epidemiological and empirical evidence and the profession’s values and practice scope, the time has come for a specialty of plant-based physical therapy based on population health principles. This review connects these factors. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are largely nutrition-related resulting from unnatural elements of our diet (i.e., heart disease, several cancers, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, obesity, gastrointestinal diseases, autoimmune diseases, renal disease, and Alzheimer’s disease). Most adults, even children, have NCD risk factors or manifestations. Alternatively, plant-based nutrition can prevent, manage, as well as potentially reverse these diseases, as well as augment conventional physical therapy outcomes by reducing inflammation and pain. Proposed competencies for plant-based physical therapists include high-level competency in health and NCD risk assessments/evaluations, to establish population health-informed nutrition needs for maximal health, healing and repair, in turn, function and wellbeing; and assessment of patients’ nutrition-related knowledge, beliefs/attitudes, self-efficacy, and readiness-to-change. Population-informed nutritional counseling is initiated as indicated. An Academy of Plant-based Physical Therapy could advance the profession globally at this point in history and also serve as a role model to other health professions through practicing evidence-based, plant-based nutrition built upon population health principles.