Becoming a Physical Therapist in Medical Scrubs

Physical therapists (PT's) are professionals in medical scrubs who diagnose and treat patients of all ages, from infants to old people, who have illnesses or injuries which limit their ability to move or to function normally in everyday life. These physically limiting conditions may result from neck or back injuries, sprains or strains, fractures, arthritis, stroke, burns, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, amputations; as well as injuries from sports or work. PT's examine each patient individually to develop a plan of treatment techniques which promote the patient's ability to reduce pain, to move, to restore function, and to prevent disability. Additionally, PT's help patients to develop fitness and wellness programs for more active and healthier lifestyles. PT's should have good communication and interpersonal skills to better educate patients and their families about their conditions and the physical therapy treatments. They should be compassionate and have a strong desire to help people.

Physical therapists diagnose and evaluate movement dysfunction, and they use interventions to treat patients. These interventions include therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, functional training, adaptive and assistive equipment and devices, electrotherapeutic modalities, and physical agents. Physical therapists practice with and consult other healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, speech / language pathologists, audiologists, and social workers. PT's work in a medical scrub in hospitals and outpatient clinics, as well as private offices with special equipment. PT's must be in good physical condition because the job is physically demanding, requiring stooping, kneeling, and standing for long periods. Additionally, PT's lift patients and help them stand and walk, and they must move heavy equipment.

Becoming a physical therapist requires a post-baccalaureate degree granted by an accredited program in physical therapy. It is helpful to the candidate to have taken undergraduate courses in mathematics, statistics, chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy, and social science. Many physical therapy graduate programs also require the candidate to have volunteer experience in a hospital or clinic physical therapy department. Certification in all states requires passing state and national examinations. There are over two hundred accredited physical therapist educational programs in the U.S., of which 12 award master's in science degrees and 200 award doctoral degrees. Normally, the master's in science in physical therapy degree requires from 2 to 2 1/2 years to complete, and doctoral degrees require 3 years. The course load includes biology, physiology, anatomy, cellular histology, neuroscience, exercise physiology, pharmacology, biomechanics, pathology, and radiology-imaging, together with courses in behavioral science such as clinical reasoning and evidence based practice. Clinical training includes examination testing, medical screening, diagnostic process, outcomes assessment, therapeutic intervention, and practice management. After certification physical therapists in Katherine Heigl scrubs must participate in continuing education courses throughout their professional lives. There are just under 200,000 physical therapists in the U.S., some in private practice and others working in healthcare facilities. About two-thirds of PT's work in hospitals or in the offices of healthcare practitioners or outpatient care centers. The self-employed PT's see individual patients and contract to provide their services in hospitals, nursing care facilities, and rehabilitation centers.