When you think of a physical therapist odds are you see them helping injured people learn to walk again, or helping patients after surgery regain mobility in their arms or hands. What you may not think of is how physical therapists recycle on a daily basis. Surprisingly, physical therapist make great efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Most offices keep patient data on computer files as opposed to paper files these days. Reducing the amount of paper used inside the office not only helps conserve space and cut down on the time it takes to find a patients records, but it also eliminates unnecessary waste of resources. Some offices even take it a step further and ensure they use recycled paper, or reuse the back sides of paper if they have to make certain notes. More and more physical therapy offices are even designing or landscaping their parking lots to control water runoff so that the water id properly absorbed into the land and opposed to off in the streets and gutters.
Physical Therapists are the big key in the recovery of patients who are recuperating from injuries, illness, and surgery. They work with patients to regain mobility as well as their daily lives back. They develop treatment plans for each individual and each individual gets the specific attention they need. Aside from assisting patients they also maintain a clean and safe work environment. Physical therapy offices, like hospitals, have started the move from having to wash their hands in between patients and waste copious amount of towels and paper products to foaming sanitizer that is just as, if not more effective. To make one ton of paper towels 17 trees and 20,000 gallons of water are polluted. Physical therapist on a daily basis are reducing their use and furthering the task of “going green” within their office. Next time you pass by a physical therapy building, take a look at the parking lot, take a look inside and see how they are making small strides to limit waste that result in big difference. Physical therapists do more that rehabilitate people; they are restoring natural resources through recycling.