OTAC Webinar Series

Outdoor Physical Therapy, Expanding Care beyond the Clinic
Dr. Alyssa Lawson PT, DPT

Alyssa Lawson PT, DPT is the founder of Camp PT, an outdoor pediatric physical therapy clinic. She has over seven years experience working as a physical therapist in a variety of settings including pediatrics and outpatient care. As an avid outdoorswoman, she enjoys activities like skiing, river surfing and spending time in nature. Alyssa founded Camp PT after recognizing that many of the kids she saw in home care PT would greatly benefit from getting outside. She knows this can be a challenging task for families and wanted to help make it easier.

Title: Outdoor Physical Therapy, Expanding Care beyond the Clinic
Overview: 

Outdoor and nature-based therapy is an emerging area of practice, especially within occupational therapy. However, there are very few clinics providing physical therapy outside at this time. This presentation explores the clinical rationale, evidence base, and practical implementation of conducting physical therapy in outdoor settings.

Drawing on recent peer-reviewed research, outdoor therapy has been found to provide many impactful benefits to the person as a whole. Some benefits include reducing stress, decreasing anxiety, improving mood, and reducing blood pressure and heart rate. Despite these positive findings, the underlying mechanisms driving these outcomes remain unclear. Additionally, there is limited research specifically examining outdoor physical therapy, requiring clinicians to extrapolate from broader nature-based and outdoor therapy literature.

The rationale for conducting therapy outdoors is to provide intervention within natural, meaningful environments where people typically interact, such as playgrounds, parks, and lakes. This approach aims to enhance skill development, promote confidence, and support functional carryover in real-world contexts.

This presentation will also address key considerations for delivering therapy outside, including safety, environmental factors, session planning, and clinical decision-making. Case examples will be provided to illustrate practical application.

Overall, this presentation aims to equip clinicians with an understanding of current evidence, highlight the potential benefits of outdoor physical therapy, and offer practical strategies for implementation in clinical practice.

Time: 6:30PM 

Location: Virtual - webinar link will be sent via email after registration!
Cost: 

We’re enhancing OTAC member benefits by offering free  continuing education through two monthly webinar series hosted by OTAC and Aspire OT.
See our event calendar for upcoming webinars!