Combined Sections Meeting Edition
🙋 Why You Should Go...
👋 Are you going to Combined Sections (CSM) this year? Then Houston is probably on your calendar and in your ToDo app. Some of you have been therapists for years, though you may never have been to CSM. What is CSM, you ask, and why is it a good meeting to attend? Well, this edition of the PTA Daily Newsletter will cover the ins and outs of this conference and explain why you may want to attend. (Be sure to check out the bonus activities below).
🙋 What is the Combined Sections Meeting?
The American Physical Therapy Association or APTA Combined Sections Meeting is the largest and most dynamic professional development event for physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, educators, researchers, students, and industry professionals. Each year, members from APTA's 18 specialty sections gather to share knowledge, collaborate, and promote the future of physical therapy.
(APTA Website)
The Combined Sections Meeting has been around as of this year for 50 years. CSM is said to be the largest annual professional development weekend for physical therapy professionals. This meeting allows professionals from all specialty areas in physical therapy to share the latest knowledge in each specialty.
⏰ When is the Combined Sections Meeting? This year, CSM will be held in Houston, TX on February 13-15, 2025 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. I know this is Valentine's as well, but what better Valentine to get yourself than further education in your area of practice? Be sure to go to the CSM webpage and register by March 31, 2025 as registration closes then.
🗺️ Where is the Combined Sections Meeting held this year? As mentioned above, the central portion of the meeting is to be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center. However, besides the central meetings, only the following sections are hosted at the convention center: Home Health, Leadership & Innovation, Neurology, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Pelvic Health, and Private Practice.
If you are a member or part of Acute Care, Aquatics, Cardiovascular & Pulmonary, Clinical Electrophysiology & Wound Management, Education, and Research, the meetings for these sections will be held at the Hilton Americas-Houston. If you are interested in learning about PT in the Federal, Geriatrics, Hand, Oncology, and Sports sections, these meetings are held at the Marriott Marquis Houston.
❓ Why should you attend CSM? The Combined Sections Meeting offers ways for you to advance your clinical skills, earn continuing education credits, discover the latest products, or connect with industry leaders. With all the various options, I am sure there is something there for everyone.
NEWSWORTHY NUMBER
15,000
The average number of physical therapy professionals who gather at CSM each year.1
✅ What courses are offered this year? The programming offered at CSM is created and delivered by each of the 18 specialty sections and academies. To view a day by day itinerary visit the APTA’s agenda page. You can view the courses by day or by section. For ease of this newsletter, I will link each section’s activities.
😥 I can’t make it to CSM this year! If you are unable to attend in person this year, the APTA offers the perfect solution for you, on demand programming. With over 300 sessions recorded and available to you, the on demand option offers you a great way to learn on your own time and from your own home.
📹 Looking for some Hype? Check out this video from last year’s CSM Meeting:
🎯 Bonus Activities: This year there will be an APTA Fit for Practice Functional Fitness Gym at the event. The gym will be located within the APTA Pavilion and is designed to help PTs and PTAs elevate their careers. Each gym session will be led by none other than movement expert Kelly Starrett, PT, DPT, and will feature daily workouts, lifting sessions, contests, and programming that will be engaging from APTA academies and sections. Be sure to sign up now to secure your spot so you do not miss out.
THIS IS BIG
Kelly Starrett, PT, DPT, is a renowned physical therapist, coach, author, and speaker who has promoted human movement and athletic performance. He received his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Samuel Merritt College in 2007 and co-founded San Francisco CrossFit, one of the first 50 CrossFit affiliates.
Starrett has authored several bestselling books, including:
"Becoming a Supple Leopard" (2013) - New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller
"Ready to Run" - New York Times bestseller
"Deskbound: Standing Up to a Sitting World" - Wall Street Journal bestseller
"Built to Move: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully" (2023) - co-authored with his wife, Juliet Starrett
As a speaker and educator, Dr. Starrett has presented at various high-profile events and institutions, including:
The Crossfit Movement & Mobility Trainer course
American Physical Therapy Association annual convention
Google
Perform Better Summit
Special Operations Medical Association annual conference
Dr. Starrett's expertise has been sought by professional athletes from the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB, as well as Olympic gold medalists, Tour de France cyclists, and elite military groups. He also co-founded The Ready State (formerly MobilityWOD) with his wife Juliet, a platform that has transformed the field of performance therapy and self-care.
Hopefully, this edition of the PTA Daily Newsletter has motivated you and got you excited about this great upcoming event. Even though I cannot put everything in this edition, all the information regarding CSM can be found at the APTA’s site.
I look forward to hearing about all you learn and where you take your knowledge.
Keep it real,
Christopher Stewart, PT, DPT
http://csm.apta.org