Physical Therapist

Physical therapists are a vital part of the health care team, working in hospitals and clinics. Physical therapists provide a variety of rehabilitative and treatment services to people suffering from diseases or injuries. The work of a physical therapist may assist someone in regaining mobility, prevent further loss of mobility or improve pain. Physical therapy can have a huge impact in the lives of patients suffering from many different diseases or recovering from a variety of injuries.

Physical therapists train patients in the use of adaptive devices, including wheelchairs, canes, crutches and prostheses. They teach individuals how to adapt to changed mobility and how to move safely without aggravating any health conditions that may be present.

Physical therapists integrate exercise and therapies as appropriate into the lives of their patients. They make judgments regarding the fitness of each individual and plan out treatment and rehabilitative strategies to help that individual achieve their physical best. A patient’s goals in physical therapy can be simply to reduce back pain or headaches or as significant as relearning how to walk after a serious injury. Pain control strategies, including massage, heat, cold and ultrasound are all integrated into the care provided by a physical therapist.

If you are considering becoming a physical therapist, you may be curious about the requirements. Licensing as a physical therapist requires a master’s or doctorate degree in physical therapy. While there are over 200 accredited physical therapy programs in the United States, the majority are doctoral programs. A doctoral program in physical therapy typically takes three years. While you cannot pursue a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy, taking courses in anatomy, biology, chemistry, social sciences and mathematics as an undergraduate will all be helpful.

You can be employed as a physical therapist assistant or aid with either no additional training or with a qualification from an accredited physical therapist assistant training program, depending upon your state’s requirements. Some states do require licensing as a physical therapist assistant. Physical therapist assistants and aids work with a licensed physical therapist to provide patient care and treatment. A physical therapist aid may assist a patient in moving from area to area, tidy up and perform general tasks, but does not have any responsibilities with regard to patient treatment and care.

All jobs in physical therapy require regular lifting and good physical strength, so this may be a consideration if you are contemplating a career in physical therapy.

While working as a physical therapist is a rewarding career, it is not right for anyone. If you are passionate about sports medicine, rehabilitative care, or work with certain disabilities, physical therapy may be an excellent career choice for you. Physical therapists may work with the young or old, with individuals with moderate pain and mobility challenges or those working to overcome more severe difficulties. Physical therapists have the opportunity to make a hands-on difference in the lives of their patients, improving day to day quality of life in substantial ways.

Working as a physical therapist is physically strenuous. Your job will require that you lift and move both patients and equipment regularly. Jobs in physical therapy also require stooping, bending and kneeling regularly. In order to be a physical therapist, you will need to be in good physical condition.

Therapists of all sorts need to be compassionate and caring. You will likely be working with people in pain, and need to be able to motivate them to work hard, while still providing the care and support they require. Good communication skills, both with patients and their families are critical. As physical therapists, you may well be just one part of a comprehensive care team, including physicians and occupational therapists. Good teamwork skills will help you to best meet your patients’ needs.

What does a day look like for physical therapists? While the actual activities of a therapist will depend on the specifics of his or her job, there are some similarities regardless of the career choice within physical therapy. The majority of physical therapists work in hospitals or clinics, and four out of five works a 40-hour workweek; however, some may work weekend or evening hours to be more accessible for patient needs.

A physical therapist designs an appropriate care plan for each patient depending upon his or her needs and goals. For one patient, it might be exercises to reduce lower back pain, while a young child might need assistance and therapy to reach appropriate developmental milestones. Pain management, range of motion, injury rehabilitation and more may all be factored into this care plan.

Finally, the physical therapist works with assistants and patients to make the care strategies happen. They may teach patients activities and exercises to do on their own and supervise on site physical therapy. The physical therapist will work with patients and their families to help the patient achieve the best possible outcome for his or her situation. The work of physical therapists at their jobs has allowed many people to walk again, learn to move again, or live without severe pain.

Physical therapy is a critical part of the rehabilitation process after a serious injury. Physical therapists may work in a variety of situations; however, rehabilitative care is one of the most common jobs held by physical therapists. While the specifics of rehabilitation will depend upon individual goals, the physical therapists have critical jobs in this process. A physical therapist can help the patient formulate goals appropriate to their lifestyle. While an older person may simply wish to live independently, an athlete may hope to return to their sport. A comprehensive rehabilitation plan will include not only the work of physical therapists, but also other therapists and care providers, including an occupation therapist and doctor. Physical strength and mobility, life skills, and pain management are all critical parts of this process for each patient and their care giving team.

Rehabilitative care serves to help patients return to their former state or to improve their condition as much as possible after an illness or injury has caused physical difficulties of one sort or another. People may find themselves seeking our rehabilitative physical therapy after a car accident, stroke, or significant mobility changes due to illness. Physical therapy used in this way can reduce pain, increase mobility and prevent further disability.

Physical therapy has a great many benefits for people recovering from illness or injury. It can also assist people with range of motion and movement issues. Everyone in need of some additional assistance with regard to mobility or disability issues can benefit from physical therapy. Some children work with physical therapists from a very young age to assist with muscle tone or work to correct physical challenges that may be present. The elderly may find that working with a physical therapist can assist them in remaining independent and capable of self-care. As an adult, a physical therapist may be able to assist you when you are recovering from an injury, dealing with muscle strain or injury from sports, or even with work related physical difficulties, like repetitive stress problems. Individuals looking for treatment and care options that do not involve pain medications may find physical therapy a helpful way to reduce or eliminate their dependence on painkillers.

Physical therapy can give back mobility, freedom and independence, and in that way make an especially important difference in the lives of people of all ages. The services of a good physical therapist can reduce the long term impact of illness or injury and assist in the speed and totality of recovery.

Physical therapists can work in a variety of settings. Some physical therapists work in hospitals, providing basic care to a large number of patients. They may teach patients how to move safely, use crutches or other mobility aids, and provide treatment for patients admitted to the hospital. They will consult with physicians and other care providers and help to make a care plan for the individual patient.

Many physical therapists work in clinics dedicated to providing physical therapy. These may be integrated into a hospital or independent of one, and often include a full range of specialized physical therapy equipment. Some clinics may specialize in rehabilitating orthopedic injuries, working with the elderly or other interests and conditions.

Some physical therapists work in nursing homes or other care facilities, providing assistance to the disabled and elderly. Physical therapists may also work in schools, programs for young children, and other situations in which their assistance may be appropriate, depending upon their jobs and specialties. A career in physical therapy offers a wide range of potential employment opportunities depending upon your community and interests; however, physical therapy jobs are available in both small towns and major cities, and most hospitals have physical therapists on staff to provide care.

While some physical therapists work with a wide range of patients, others have more specialized jobs. If you have chosen to enter this field as a career, you clearly have a strong interest in rehabilitation and the progress that can be made through physical therapy; however, your own interests may guide your specialization in this field.

Orthopedic physical therapists work with injuries of the musculoskeletal system as well as rehabilitate patients post orthopedic surgery. They typically work in an out of hospital clinic setting. If you are recovering from or challenged by injuries to the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments or tendons, this specialty within physical therapy is most apt to be of assistance. This is also the physical therapy specialty best suited to those interested in sports medicine.

Geriatric physical therapy is especially concerned with problems connected with aging, and deals with the implications of a number of conditions, including osteoporosis, hip replacements, and even Alzheimer’s. In this, it may occasionally overlap with neurological physical therapy. A neurological physical therapist supports and assists those recovering from brain injuries, strokes, spinal cord injury and a number of diseases.

Cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapists work with individuals struggling with or recovering from conditions such as heart attacks, heart surgeries, chronic pulmonary disease and more. The primary focus of physical therapy in these cases is to improve overall fitness and endurance to allow the patient to return to normal activities.

Pediatric physical therapy works with children on motor skills, balance, coordination and sensory integration. If you choose this career in physical therapy, you may treat children with birth defects, spina bifida, or developmental delays. Jobs in pediatric physical therapy may be available in clinics or schools.

Physical therapy is a rapidly growing and expanding field, with 27% growth predicted between 2006 and 2016. An increase in the population requiring physical therapy as America ages and more and more people survive and are capable of treating traumatic injury will lead to increased demand for physical therapy services in all settings. Physical therapists are needed throughout the country, and this is an employable career in both rural and urban settings. Specialized skills, continuing education, or high demand specialties, including orthopedics and geriatrics may bring a higher salary than average. Location, skills and experience will also impact your salary in physical therapy jobs.

The average salary for a physical therapist is $67,637 at this time, and salaries are rising. The median salary for a physical therapist assistant was $36,000 in 2002, making this an excellent choice if you lack the desire or ability to pursue an advanced degree. While there is a substantial variation in salaries, great room for advancement is available, particularly for those willing to pursue management, administration or clinic ownership. While physical therapy is not the career for everyone, it can be a fine choice for individuals interested in helping people and working in the medical field. With high employability, good job satisfaction, reliable scheduling and an excellent opportunity for a good salary, physical therapy may be the right career for you.