The Training and Skills You Need to Become a Physical Therapist

A physical therapist is a much needed profession. When someone is in an accident, they need your expertise and guidance to help them get back on their feet. If they have a stroke, they need your skills and training to help them find the use of their arm or legs again. There are many reasons why people may need the help of a physical therapist.

You will need to be mentally prepared for the challenges ahead of you and understand the duties and responsibilities you will have. In the following article I will discuss the training and skills you will need to become a physical therapist.

Physical Therapist Training

To be a physical therapist, you must be familiar with medical terminology. You will be consulting with physicians and other medical professionals on a daily basis in order to be able to create a rehabilitation therapy program geared for each of your patients. You will then use this program to help your patient work daily, weekly or monthly until they have built up their body to a healthy form once again. For some patients, this could take years. Some of the aspects of therapy include deep tissue massage, exercise, and ultrasound treatments.

In school you will need to take numerous science courses, these include biology, chemistry, and physics. Most high schools have these as part of your mandatory list of courses. You then will need to go to University and graduate with a Bachelor or Master's degree in Physical Therapy.

Once you have graduated, you will still need to take and pass a licensure exam. Each state may have different laws, so you will want to check yours to make sure you understand what is needed. Once you have graduated and found a job, you may want to consider additional studies to become a specialist in a specific field such as sports medicine, pediatrics, or even neurology.

Physical Therapist Skills

You must be in good physical shape yourself to be this kind of therapist. You will need to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods of time. You may also need to move heavy equipment or patients who need the extra assistance when trying to stand, turn, or walk.

Other skills necessary for this therapist is that they need to communicate very well. They will often need to educate their patients about their situation. Without strong interpersonal and communication skills, this can become very difficult when dealing with emotions, language barriers, conversing with multiple people at the same time, or any other situations that may arise.

A physical therapist must also truly have the desire to want to help people. Patients will be able to tell when a physical therapist is just feigning compassion and this could delay or even deter any progress for the patient.

While being a physical therapist may be a demanding job sometimes, it can also be just as rewarding when you get to see those patients who you have worked so hard with finally find their success and get moving again. They will learn to trust you, build a relationship with you and come to know that they can rely on you to help them go the distance. This is one of the true benefits to being a therapist.

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