Beyond the Clinic: Physical Therapy Through a PT’s Eyes and a Patient’s Experience

October is Physical Therapy Month, and in this episode of the NAF podcast we celebrate the profession by looking at it from two sides of the therapy gym. Janel Jones, PT, DPT, shares what it means to guide people through recovery after spinal cord injury, and Sarah Milburn, PhD, offers a firsthand perspective on living with SCI and what physical therapy has meant in her own life. Together they talk about the role physical therapists play well beyond exercises and equipment: setting realistic goals, building trust, and helping people see what is possible after an injury. Sarah reflects on her experience as a patient and the moments in therapy that made a difference, while Janel speaks to what clinicians hope people know as they begin that journey. Whether you are a clinician, a person living with SCI, a caregiver, or someone who simply wants to understand the impact of PT, this conversation is an honest, encouraging look at the partnership between therapist and patient, and at why that partnership matters long after the clinic visit ends.