By Ashley Miller
Nature of the Work: Physical therapists work with patients to help improve mobility, restore function and relieve pain. In addition to promoting overall physical health and fitness, physical therapists also attend to their patients' emotional well being as they assist their recovery. Patients include accident victims, the elderly, athletes and those with disabling ailments.
Physical therapists test patients to determine their strength, range of motion, motor function, respiration and muscle performance, then work to develop a treatment plan. They often work closely with doctors and other health professionals to coordinate treatments. Treatments involve a wide range of techniques and may evolve over time, according to each patient's needs. Treatments often last months or years, especially when dealing with the elderly or those with chronic disabilities. Over these extended periods physical therapists may develop close relationships with patients.
Physical therapists should enjoy working with people and have strong interpersonal skills so that they can properly educate patients about their treatments. Some physical therapists specialize in an area such as sports medicine, geriatrics or pediatrics, but the majority are generalists. Specialization requires additional training and certification. Typically, full-time therapists work a flexible 40-hour week, which might include weekends or evenings. This can be in a private practice, hospital or clinic. About 1 in 4 physical therapists work part time.
As this is the insurance age, a small but growing part of a physical therapist's time is spent filling out forms.
Outlook: An aging population contributes to the stronger than average growth expected for the profession through 2010.
Education and Training: Every state requires physical therapists to take a licensure exam after graduating from an accredited program before practicing. More than 700 schools in the United States offer bachelor's degrees in physical therapy. If you chose not to take this route in college, approximately 60 schools offer a master's degree in physical therapy. Future physical therapists should major in biology, chemistry, kinesiology, physics, calculus, statistics, nutrition, human growth and development, psychology, anatomy or nutrition. Education courses may be helpful for dealing with patients and their families. Training programs typically involve hands on learning. Physical therapists are expected to develop professionally by taking continuing education courses and seminars.
Salary Range: $38,510 to $83,370.
Associations: American Physical Therapy Association
www.apta.org
111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria VA 22314
phone:800-999-APTA
fax:703-684-7343
National Rehabilitation Association
www.nationalrehab.org
633 South Washington Street
Alexandria VA 22314
phone:703-836-0850
fax:703-836-0848