The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) have released a joint principles statement establishing a shared framework for advancing client and athlete health, performance, and safety through evidence-based practice and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Through the joint principles statement, the NSCA and APTA recognize the complementary roles of physical therapists and strength and conditioning professionals in advancing athletic performance, reducing injury risk, and supporting safe and effective return to performance.
Announced during APTA’s Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), the largest physical therapy conference in the United States, the NSCA is supporting the joint principles statement on site through educational strength and conditioning clinics and leadership engagement.
“The NSCA is proud to work with APTA to advance evidence-based, collaborative coaching and care that supports athlete health, safety, and performance,” says Michael Massik, Executive Director of the NSCA. “By reinforcing professional roles and shared standards, this joint principles statement reflects a strategic partnership that defines professional excellence across the rehabilitation to performance continuum.”
“Grounded in shared values, our principles provide a collaborative framework across rehabilitation, reconditioning, and performance,” affirms APTA CEO Justin Moore, PT, DPT. “Many in our professions are both PTs and CSCSs, allowing us to deliver evidence-based training that’s tailored to each individual — whether the goal is peak performance, injury prevention, or long-term health.”
At its core, the joint principles statement represents a unified commitment and collaborative framework that supports safe, effective outcomes for athletes and physically active individuals.