Nature of the Work

Physical therapists provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. Their patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions, such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.

Therapists examine patients’ medical histories and then test and measure the patients’ strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function. Next, physical therapists develop plans describing a treatment strategy and its anticipated outcome.

Treatment often includes exercise, especially for patients who have been immobilized or who lack flexibility, strength, or endurance. Physical therapists encourage patients to use their muscles to increase their flexibility and range of motion. More-advanced exercises focus on improving strength, balance, coordination, and endurance. The goal is to improve how an individual functions at work and at home.

Physical therapists also use electrical stimulation, hot packs or cold compresses, and ultrasound to relieve pain and reduce swelling. They may use traction or deep-tissue massage to relieve pain and improve circulation and flexibility. Therapists also teach patients to use assistive and adaptive devices, such as crutches, prostheses, and wheelchairs. They also may show patients how to do exercises at home to expedite their recovery.

As treatment continues, physical therapists document the patient’s progress, conduct periodic examinations, and modify treatments when necessary.

Physical therapists often consult and practice with a variety of other professionals, such as physicians, dentists, nurses, educators, social workers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists.

Some physical therapists treat a wide range of ailments; others specialize in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics, sports medicine, neurology, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy.

Watch this video to see the amazing variety of people that physical therapists help—from children to the elderly, soldiers to athletes, heart attack or stroke victims to amputees.

Work Environment

Physical therapists practice in hospitals, clinics, and private offices that have specially equipped facilities. They also treat patients in hospital rooms, homes, or schools. These jobs can be physically demanding because therapists often have to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods of time. In addition, physical therapists move heavy equipment and lift patients or help them turn, stand, or walk.

In 2006, most full-time physical therapists worked a 40-hour week; some worked evenings and weekends to fit their patients’ schedules. About 1 in 5 physical therapists worked part-time.

Training, Other Qualifications

Individuals pursuing a career as a physical therapist usually need a master’s degree from an accredited physical therapy program and a state license, requiring passing scores on national and state examinations.

Education and Training

According to the American Physical Therapy Association, there were 209 accredited physical therapist education programs in 2007. Of the accredited programs, 43 offered master’s degrees and 166 offered doctoral degrees. Only master’s degree and doctoral degree programs are accredited, in accordance with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. In the future, a doctoral degree might be the required entry-level degree. Master’s degree programs typically last 2 years, and doctoral degree programs last 3 years.

Physical therapist education programs start with basic science courses, such as biology, chemistry, and physics, and then introduce specialized courses, including biomechanics, neuroanatomy, human growth and development, manifestations of disease, examination techniques, and therapeutic procedures. Besides getting classroom and laboratory instruction, students receive supervised clinical experience.

Among the undergraduate courses that are useful when one applies to a physical therapist education program are anatomy, biology, chemistry, social science, mathematics, and physics. Before granting admission, many programs require volunteer experience in the physical therapy department of a hospital or clinic. For high school students, volunteering with the school's athletic trainer is a good way to gain experience.

Other Qualifications

Physical therapists should have strong interpersonal skills so they can educate patients about their physical therapy treatments and communicate with patients’ families. Physical therapists should also be compassionate and possess a desire to help patients.

On the Job

• Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
• Plan, prepare and carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain and prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
• Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient´s chart or enter information into computer.
• Identify and document goals, anticipated progress and plans for reevaluation.
• Administer manual exercises, massage or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
• Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
• Test and measure patient´s strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, and respiratory and circulatory efficiency and record data.
• Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
• Confer with the patient, medical practitioners and appropriate others to plan, implement and assess the intervention program.
• Review physician´s referral and patient´s medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.
• Obtain patients´ informed consent to proposed interventions.
• Discharge patient from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.
• Provide information to the patient about the proposed intervention, its material risks and expected benefits and any reasonable alternatives.
• Inform patients when diagnosis reveals findings outside physical therapy and refer to appropriate practitioners.
• Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.
• Provide educational information about physical therapy and physical therapists, injury prevention, ergonomics and ways to promote health.
• Refer clients to community resources and services.
• Administer treatment involving application of physical agents, using equipment, moist packs, ultraviolet and infrared lamps, and ultrasound machines.
• Teach physical therapy students as well as those in other health professions.
• Evaluate, fit, and adjust prosthetic and orthotic devices and recommend modification to orthotist.
• Direct group rehabilitation activities.
• Conduct and support research and apply research findings to practice.
• Participate in community and community agency activities and help to formulate public policy.
• Construct, maintain and repair medical supportive devices.

Source: BLS

Companies That Hire Physical Therapists

• Health Net
• Kaiser Permanente
• U.S. Army

Ask Questions

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Additional Information

• American Physical Therapy Association: www.apta.org
• Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy: www.fsbpt.org

Sources

• O*Net Online. (2009). National Center for O*Net Development. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://online.onetcenter.org/
• APTA. (2008, April 2). You Can Be Me—A Career in Physical Therapy (APTA). Retrieved October 20, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8DaTRcCG-k
• Anderson, K. (2009). A Day in the Life of a Physical Therapist. Retrieved October 20, 2009, from http://www.minoritynurse.com/physical-therapist/day-life-physical-therapist
• AllHealthCare. (2009). A Day in the Life...of a Physical Therapist. Retrieved October 20, 2009, from http://allhealthcare.monster.com/training/articles/1391-a-day-in-the-life-ofa-physical-therapist?page=1&utm_content=artmini&utm_source=allhealthcare.com
• National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Meet a Real Therapist, Physical: Matthew Scherer. Retrieved October 21, 2009, from http://science.education.nih.gov/LifeWorks.nsf/Interviews/Matthew+Scherer

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