A Career In Physical Therapy Can Be A Demanding But Rewarding Option For The Right Person

If you are interested in entering the health care industry to help people gain body function after illnesses, injuries, or operations, perhaps you could consider a degree in Physical Therapy. Becoming a Physical Therapist requires years of intensive training, but the career is rewarding and the benefits are excellent. Look into some physical therapy degree programs in your area to see if a career as a physical therapist is a good choice for you.

If you wish to be a physical therapist, you will have to enter an accredited degree program. The Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education, or CAPTE, accredits educational programs. There are over one hundred accredited physical therapy graduate programs in the United States. Around 12 of these programs awarded Master's degrees in Physical Therapy, while approximately 200 awarded doctoral degrees. Expect to spend at least two years on a Master's degree and three years on a doctoral degree to become a physical therapist.

As an alternative, you could become a physical therapy assistant. These assistants work with patients under a primary physical therapist's direction. In order to be a physical therapy assistant, you will be required to have an Associate's degree in the specialty, as well as undergo on-the-job training.

In a Physical Therapy program, you will focus on natural science and health science including but not limited to biology, cellular histology, physiology, exercise physiology, anatomy, neuroscience, biomechanics, pathology, pharmacology, and radiology. You will also take courses related to clinical reasoning and practice, including screening, examination, diagnostic process, and therapeutic interventions. Students should receive clinical experience in a supervised setting in addition to their classroom and lab work.

The job of a physical therapist is to help patients recover from problems which may affect their functioning. These medical problems can be birth defects or the result of illness or injury. Some examples include back and neck injuries, sprains, fractures, burns, amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sports injuries. As a therapist, you will evaluate patients for programs of therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, movement training, physical aids, and other treatments.

Over fifty percent of physical therapists work in hospitals. Others have private practices or work in outpatient care facilities, nursing care homes, adult daycare facilities, and schools. Employment prospects are excellent in the field of this area, with a great deal of room for growth.

If you are interested in Physical Therapy, be aware that this work is physically demanding. You must be strong in order to assist patients who have limited functioning and need support to stand or walk. You will have a work day that includes frequent standing, bending, crouching, and lifting. You should also be a compassionate and sensitive individual, as you will be working with patients who may have experienced traumatic injuries or who have disfiguring illnesses. You should love working with people and helping them.