Physical Therapy Job Outlook - Solid As a Rock

Are you considering a career in physical therapy but wondering about the job outlook once you get there? This article will outline why physical therapy is one of the fastest growing careers in America, and why it offers top job satisfaction and security.

The health care sector has been reported as one of the largest growing industries in America. This is largely due to an increasing ageing population and a concerning increasing rate of obesity, which will place increased pressure on services from all health care professionals. With the current trends we are seeing more and more people presenting to hospital and health care services. Their complaints are varied but a large percentage of them require input from a physical therapist. Due to our ageing population it is expected that orthopaedic presentations such as total knee and hip surgery, low back pain and shoulder pain will increase. Neurological problems such as stroke and Parkinson's disease may be also on the incline as well as more presentations for cardiopulmonary conditions such as COPD, heart disease and cancer. The more hospital admissions mean more work for physical therapists and other health professionals, which in turn drives the demand for health sector workers.

Even during a recession, the bureau of labor statistics indicate an expanding physical therapy workforce growing by 39% over the next 10 years, adding a further 75000+ jobs, to the current 200000 jobs, by 2020. It is partly due to this that Money Magazine on CNN Money, rated physical therapy as the second best job in fast growth fields in 2011.

To add to this, there is a shift towards direct access to physical therapy services for consumers. This means that patients do not require a doctor's referral to access physical therapy. Currently in the U.S. 46 States plus the District of Columbia offer direct access for patients. All physical therapists are highly qualified practitioners and are capable of performing appropriate assessment and management of patients. The American Physical Therapy Association hopes to change all physical therapy programs to Doctorates by 2020, leaving it difficult to dispute the competence of physical therapists as first contact practitioners. Considering the push for healthy lifestyles and more and more people taking control of their health, it makes sense to offer a physical therapy service without a referral from a doctor.

As well as job security, a positive work-life balance and job satisfaction are major factors when planning a career. A career in physical therapy is diverse, offers flexibility and is very rewarding. Physical therapists working full time usually work a 40hour week but this is quite flexible. Most therapists can choose to work weekends or evenings to earn extra money, or they might work part time. Other physical therapists might decide to work two part time jobs in two different areas for more of a challenge. It is because of this flexibility and diversity that Workforce Developments report that 78% of physical therapists are satisfied with their jobs, compared to the national average of just 47%.

So there you have it. The physical therapy job outlook looks very secure for the future, and offers a flexible and challenging career.

Children Benefit From Massage

Children require tactile stimulation through a variety of sources in order to fully develop their body, mind and spirit. Those children who receive massage therapy may experience many benefits including improved muscle tone, enhanced pulmonary and immune function, decreased anxiety,enhanced body image, increased bonding and attachment, healthy sense of boundaries, stress reduction and an overall sense of well being.

For massage therapists and bodywork practitioners wishing to incorporate touch therapy within their practice with child clients specialized training is required to achieve full benefit. Yes, you receive appropriate massage education during your time in school, however is their ever a focus on appropriate massage therapy for pediatric clients. Whether healthy and well, or otherwise, it is imperative that you take the time to fine tune and develop child friendly skills as a professional bodyworker.

"Kids are different than adults."

Children have different physical, emotional and developmental needs than adults, and so they should be approached with early childhood development considerations in mind.

It is important to use massage and touch therapy along with methods of Interacting with children using age appropriate activities that stimulate a child's development. With young children's language level in mind, storytelling and songs should be used to connect with and engage children.

"Prior to the age of twelve, children learn about their world kinesthetically - meaning they learn through touching, feeling and experiencing the material at hand."

Using skills and education it is helpful to find ways of increasing tactile stimulation and exploration experiences for children. In addition to physical experiential activities, calming and relaxing touch should be introduced through hands on massage therapy and massage stories.

Touch therapy for children uses adaptations of massage therapy as appropriate for children. Massage is adapted for each individual child client on a specific case by case basis. With each child, it is important to build trust and rapport in your professional relationship. Learn to ask permission effectively and understand both verbal and non verbal cues.

Each child needs to know they can trust you, and that you will listen to their requests. Learn how to explain massage to children in age appropriate language. By learning to appropriately ask permission prior to massage, you'll encourage children to develop healthy boundaries and become more secure as they grow older. It is very empowering for a child to have the ability to direct their therapeutic session, and at times even refuse it. Once they trust you, they can relax and just feel the many benefits of the massage.

Best Masseuse Schools in California? 3 Tips to Find Great Classes

Are you looking for the best masseuse schools in California? If you want to find California masseuse classes that offer you the best options to meet your needs, consider these quick tips to help you save time and effort.

Tip 1 - Focus on Accredited Massage Schools. Joan Leith once said, "It's more about who has the proper credentials to be a leader."

When you are looking for the best educational options, one of the first factors it pays to consider is the accreditation and level of credentials a massage school has. Some of the organizations you should compare a school's accreditation to include:

1) Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools

2) California Association of Private Post-secondary Schools

3) American Massage Therapy Association

4) And These Are Just a Few....

Tip 2 - Pinpoint your Ideal Location. Are you interested in schools in Southern California, near Los Angeles and/or San Diego? Or, are you interested in Northern California schools - such as those in The San Francisco, Oakland or Sacramento area? Some popular and well respected schools include Meric College, Wyotech, United Beauty College, American Career College and Everist. Sidenote: if location is important to you, you should use free resources available online to search schools in a specific geographic radius to your home (or work if you will be going to school and working). The reason why you want to do it this way is that you want to avoid the pain of applying to and getting accepted to your dream masseuse school in a picture perfect part of CA, only to find out it's not practical!

Tip 3 - Decide on Which School is Best is Strong in the Classes You Like. When you attend one of the leading masseuse schools in California, you'll study major academic subjects such as anatomy, physiology, pathology kinesiology. Make sure that you evaluate the strength of the different academic classes at the different schools so you will be well trained in those subject matters you enjoy.

Lastly, If you're looking to save time and effort learning more about the right massage therapy schools in California, there's a smart way to go about it. Instead of scouring the net searching through many of the same old generic school search sites, zero in on those free educational resource sites that focus specifically on what you want - both in terms of subject area (wellness profession) and location (the beautiful and sunny state of California!).

Becoming A Massage Therapist

Massage therapy has come a long way in the last thirty years. No longer relegated to the extremely wealthy, massage is now considered an important part of overall wellbeing. Many large corporations are even offering massage therapy to their employees because it's been found to increase morale and decrease sick time. Physical therapists, chiropractors, and physicians now often prescribe massage therapy to treat specific conditions. A career as a massage therapist presents unlimited opportunities--you can work for a spa, a chiropractor's practice, or even be hired on at a major company. But first, you need to receive the proper training.

The time required to become a massage therapist varies. You will need the minimum training to get started and enough education to master the discipline. You will also need to consider the educational requirements, if any, of the states and/or cities where you intend to practice. Thirty-seven states in the US have licensing laws, and many localities also have licensing laws that apply within the city.

If you live in a state that regulates massage licensing laws, the state requirements set your minimum education. Legal minimums can range from 330 to 1,000 contact hours, and programs can take from a few weeks to two years, depending on how the program is structured. Be sure to check the requirements for your area.

If your location has no governmental regulation, it is still important to get the proper training before starting your practice. This will enable you to go further, so consider your long-term goals when you decide on the education you need.

Training and Education

Massage therapy is the fastest growing segment of natural health care, due largely to the growth in public demand for alternative approaches to health. But there are over 100 different massage therapy techniques available today, and it's hard to know where one should start. If you are uncertain of the type of bodywork you want to pursue, getting an education as a massage therapist first is a great way to begin and to set the groundwork for your future career. You can easily expand from your massage therapy training, and add new therapies to your practice in the future.

When choosing a school, there are many important factors to consider:

o Because massage therapy is not regulated the same everywhere, choose a school located in the area you wish to practice

o Be sure the school is recognized by the organization you will be licensed or registered through

o Check if the school has been approved by a credible accreditation agency

o Consider if you want full or part-time studies

o Check to see if the school offers open houses or short introductory courses

o Interview or contact some graduates to get their views and opinions.

Developing Your Career as a Massage Therapist

There are many jobs available to recent massage school graduates in many diverse industries. Massage therapy is a profession on the rise. With substantial massage therapy career choices and opportunities to work in public or private practice, aspiring massage therapists face a bright future. Employment opportunities for massage therapists are expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate. Through 2012, massage therapists are likely to see a 20% to 35% increase in job opportunities

Massage therapists are hired to work in a number of private and public settings:

o Airports

o Fitness Centers

o Hospitals

o Nursing Homes

o Private Offices

o Shopping Malls

o Sports Medicine Facilities

o Studios

Developing a rewarding massage therapy career can take anywhere from a few months to a few years. Most successful massage therapists reach a good practice level within two years, though some take longer. Your practice will thrive if you focus on these important elements:

o Strive for quality work with each client

o Get involved in the community you practice in - become genuinely involved

o Understand your ambition and goals

o Maintain positive energy levels

o Develop effective marketing and networking efforts

o Value your local reputation - word of mouth can increase your clientele

o Have a warm and friendly personality

Salaries for Massage Therapists

Massage salaries can be varied depending a person's industry experience, practice location or business proprietorship. Massage therapists earn a competitive annual income when compared to other health care support workers. Today's massage therapist*:

o Charges an average of $58 for one hour of massage

o Earns an average wage of $39 an hour

o Earns an average annual income of $29,250 by providing 15 hours of massage per week

*Statistics based on the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2004-2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook.

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Use Of Traction Devices In Physical Therapy

Health care services and physical therapy are not going anywhere. There will always be a need for services of this kind as long as there are physical problems with humans. As technology and society advances, the efficiency and effectiveness of these services do as well. In the modern era there is a great measure of devices that help medical professionals to offer the best medical service possible. These are just a few of the thousands of devices that help health service professionals do their job.

The first device is a traction device. This instrument is most commonly used in a physical therapy setting. A patient receiving this type of treatment normally suffers from a pinched nerve in his/her neck. It works like this: there is usually some sort of curved piece or a two points sticking up creating a slot for the neck to rest in. There is then a weight, wrapped around the head, pulling it back (the head is hanging). This process then begins to stretch the spine out and restore a normal curve to the spinal part of the neck. Over time this will help to relieve paint and stress on the nerve. The use of traction devices has helped many patients overcome chronic neck pain and other symptoms of that nature.

Another tool that has become a staple in modern medical technology is ultrasound machines. This device does not help to cure patients with an ailment, but helps to diagnose it. Differently than traction devices, doctors use these machines to view what's inside a person and not fix something from the outside. Ultrasound machines are most notably used for viewing pregnancies and examining the baby in the womb.

Although this is the most widely known use, it is very common for doctors and ultrasound technicians to use this technology to view other aspects of the human body. Examining the kidneys, liver, heart, stomach and many other organs is normal. This machine works by sending a sound wave with a frequency far above human hearing. Typically this frequency is between 1-10 MHz. The wave hits the desired area and reflects back to the device. The device then interprets this reflection and produces an image.

Technology like traction devices and ultrasound machines has revolutionized the medical field. Doctors and therapists use these instruments across the world and have had exponential success. Experienced use of these tools along with many other tools and techniques continues to enhance medical care and in turn, extend and improve human life expectancy and comfort.

How Massage Education Has Changed

When choosing an Alabama Massage School that is right for you consider the following. The field of Massage Therapy has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade. Once thought to be less than reputable, massage is now a mainstream and booming career opportunity. Everyone from professional athletes to those seeking to reduce stress consider massage as a first-line defense and treatment choice. And, with this boom there has been a corresponding boom in the Alabama massage school industry and how massage is taught.

Traditionally massage schools have been owned and operated by massage therapists. This meant that the programs were designed and regulated by those that knew the most about the field. Now, many career colleges, technical schools and even State Colleges offer massage programs as a part of their curriculum. This often means that administrators who may know very little about massage are making decisions about the programs. Make sure you do your homework when choosing an Alabama massage school. Check with graduates to see how they feel about their training. You can also check with those hiring massage therapists to see what schools they recommend.

One major factor when considering an Alabama massage school is the cost and how you are going to pay for it. In the best of all possible worlds financial matters would not be an issue. However, in the real world this is often the primary factor in deciding which school to go to. Unfortunately this can dictate which school you have to go to as opposed to which school you want to go to. If you have no financial resources and you either have no or poor credit, then one possible way to finance school is through some type of grant such as a Pell Grant. The problem with this is you are usually required to take courses that have nothing to do with massage. You might have to take English, speech or math as part of a core curriculum. Ultimately a program like this may take several years to complete and there are still costs that fall on you above what the grant will pay.

When you think of paying for an Alabama massage school realize that you are investing in yourself. By making the sacrifices and putting forth the effort you are positioning yourself to make a better livelihood and have a career that you enjoy. If you rely solely on others to finance your education you may find that there are strings attached, and often these strings can restrict what you really want to do. Check to see if you are eligible for some type of loan such as Sallie Mae Loans. These are based on credit and can be paid back over a ten-year period. For more information go to an Alabama Massage School You will usually know within a 24-hour period if you qualify. Of course if you have been in the military you will also want to check out what VA options are available.

Another thing to consider when choosing which Alabama massage school to attend is the experience and training of the teaching staff. With the recent boom in massage many schools are starting programs with a teaching staff that has only been in the field a few years themselves. Then graduates from these schools are becoming instructors at other new programs. As a result, the level of education is quickly diminishing and industry competency is being compromised. This has become a real concern among long-term practitioners as they watch their profession become diluted with more and more practitioners that show less and less skill. If things continue in this direction it could ultimately mean the demise of professional massage, as we know it. Right now massage is highly respected even by physicians and physical therapist. But if we are unable to deliver what we say we can, it may not be long before this respect is lost.

With the boom in popularity of massage, the job market is becoming more competitive. So, it is important that you become the best therapist possible. Your success will ultimately be determined by how good you are. How good you are is determined by how well you have been trained. So, take the time to do your homework when choosing a massage school. Check out all of the schools in your area. Visit them, inquire about the staff, and ask all the questions you need to get a clear picture about the program. Then when you have decided, jump in all the way and enjoy the experience. You will learn amazing things, make lifelong friends and start your way on a wonderful career.

Chiropractic Billing and Physical Therapy

THE GRATUITOUS DISCLAIMER
This article is not intended as a replacement for authorized chiropractic billing educational programs. The author is a Medical Biller and speaks mostly from practical experience as opposed to organized theory-based resources and materials. Certainly it is up to the reader to research the topics discussed with their individual insurance carriers.

ARE YOU LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE?
Most chiropractors add physiotherapy to their study courses while training for Chiropractic. Regular Physiotherapy. Unfortunately, many chiropractors do not take advantage of their Physiology licenses and therefore leave money on the table as far as insurance billing is concerned! Although some insurance plans will not cover Physical Therapy performed in the chiropractor's office (such as Medicare), there are plenty that do. If you find yourself too busy to perform therapy for your patient, hire a CA certified in Physiotherapy to handle the Physical Therapy part of their treatment.

More insurance money for you, but WHO ELSE BENEFITS?
Your patient benefits also from PT being performed in your office. It will facilitate their healing process, and if they complete their at home exercises, your patients will be less likely to re-injure themselves. So if you are not performing PT for and on your patients, you are doing yourself and them a disservice.

Check your PT coverage
When you, your staff or your billing service verify Chiropractic Insurance benefits, be sure to specifically ask for Physical Therapy benefits. Ask if Physical Therapy can be performed by a Chiropractor. If so, then ask if there is a separate deducible. Normally there is not, but you want to be sure. If you are contracted with the insurance carrier, ask what PT codes are covered. List the ones you are likely to perform in your office. If you are not contracted with the insurance carrier and do not know what specific codes are covered, bill out the PT codes you perform and see if they are covered.

Some of the most commonly paid and widely used Physical Therapy codes:

97010: Hot/cold packs (of late, BCBS and UHC does not pay for this procedure, but some ins companies do). Billed as one unit, not timed.

97110: One-on-one. Exercises to develop strength and endurance, range of motion and flexibility, one or more areas. Therapeutic exercise incorporates one parameter (strength, endurance, range of motion or flexibility) to one or more areas of the body. Examples include treadmill (for endurance), isokenetic exercise (for range of motion), each unit is 15 minutes. You can bill up to 3 units. Depending upon your location, you can charge up to $50.00 per unit. Basically, 97110 is any exercise your patient performs while he is in your office. These include and are not limited to assisted stretching, exercises on the ball, hip roll, seated roll, etc.

97112: One-on-one. Neuromuscular re-education of movement, balance, coordination, kinesthetic sense, posture, and/or proprioception for sitting and/or standing activities, one or more areas. This code is intended to identify neuromuscular re-education, designed to re-educate the muscle for some function it was previously able to do (not intended to identify massage to increase circulation, etc). This will usually be in the form of some commonly performed task for that body part. 15 minute units. (Examples: feldenkreis, bobath, bap's boards, desensitization techniques...) Sometimes you will be asked for notes proving medical necessity if you use this code., so be sure it is medically necessary!

97140: One-on-one. Manual therapy techniques - myofacial release, mobilization/manipulation, manual lymphatic drainage, manual traction, trigger point - one or more regions, 15 minute units, charges can be up to $50.00 per unit, and a good average is from 1 to 3 units.

97140 is used to describe therapy which increases active pain-free range of motion, increased extensibility of myofascial tissue and facilitates return to functional activities. This code is reported in units of 15 minutes. It would include neuromuscular therapy, positional release, stretching and nearly any therapeutic technique performed manually for the purposes mentioned above. This therapy is to be performed on an area separate and apart from the area of main complaint in order to successfully bill to insurance. Append the 59 modifier to this code.

97124: One-on-one Massage, including effleurage, petrissage and/or stroking, compression, percussion, one or more areas, each 15 minutes

The main difference between 97124 and 97140 is the intention of the therapy.

If the therapist is performing therapeutic massage in order to increase circulation and promote tissue relaxation to the muscles, then use code 97124. If treatment is based on or consists of a basic relaxation massage, this is the code to use. If, however, your intention is to increase pain-free range of motion and facilitate a return to functional activities, use the code 97140. And don't forget the modifier!

97535: Activities of daily living - self-care, home management training - direct one-on-one contact with the provider, 15 minute units. This can consist of giving the patient exercises that he/she can perform at home. You can demonstrate the exercises and give them a print out with diagrams and directions on it. Some insurance companies pay, some don't. One small insurance company I know of allows 25.00 for 1 unit. Depending upon location, a DC can bill up to $50.00 per unit, and not normally over 1 unit. Perform this service and bill this code only once every 8 weeks or so.

A WORD ABOUT DOCUMENTATION
DCs are on the hot seat these days with insurance carriers because of their lack of proper documentation. If you don't write it down, you didn't perform the therapy! Record the type of exercises performed, and if the code is a timed unit, record the start and end times of your therapy.