I remember being a brand-new PT when I first heard someone say that phrase. I took it to mean that all patients that physical therapists encounter deserve to have their cardiovascular and pulmonary health addressed. Over my 20+ years of practice, I have attempted to remember that phrase with each patient I encounter, no matter if their primary issue involves these systems or not.
Now that I have the privilege to edit this journal, I get to see a broader perspective of our profession, both in the US and abroad. I have seen a growing emphasis on wellness and primary prevention and have seen many new, energetic people submit work to this journal. Clearly, they feel welcome, even if their work is not “traditional cardiopulmonary PT.”
In this issue, we include two articles that address the role of exercise and physical activity for the prevention of disease associated with sedentary lifestyles. Anne Mejia-Downs and her colleagues looked at using physically active video gaming as healthy behaviors for adults. James Ferris and colleagues report on a program designed to address obesity in children. These researchers clearly feel that prevention is part of what we do as cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapists.
Also in this issue, we publish the poster and platform abstracts which have been accepted for presentation at the 2012 Combined Sections Meeting. As you peruse these abstracts, I hope you note, as I have, the diversity of methods, ages, disease conditions, and prevention issues addressed in this collection. I am so proud that we still consider that “every patient (person) deserves to have the health of their cardiovascular and pulmonary system addressed” in a highly skilled and pro-active manner.