Physical Therapy Career | Six Signs That You Should Be One

11 Feb 2012

The Author

Liz Murtaugh Gillespie is a Seattle writer and editor who’s covered education, the environment, politics, business and many other things at newspapers, The Associated Press, Seattle's Child magazine and MSN. She’s is a regular contributor to this blog helping readers make rewarding career choices. +Liz Gillespie

6 signs you’re cut out for a physical therapy career

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Here are six signs to tell you if you're right for a physical therapist career

Physical therapy is one of many health care fields with promising prospects for job growth.

As the Baby Boomer population grows, so will the need for trained professionals who can help them with rehabilitative exercises and activities to relieve pain, boost mobility and strengthen muscles.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest set of detailed projections, employment for physical therapists is expected to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018—much faster than the average for all professions.

Whether you’re interested in becoming a physical therapist or a physical therapy assistant, here are six traits that will serve you well:

1. You live and breathe to move, move, move. During those busy weeks when workouts go by the wayside for most of us, you’re waking up before dawn or to make sure you don’t miss out on exercise.

2. You’re an anatomy geek. When someone talks about knee pain, you immediately wonder if something’s up with her patella, anterior cruciate ligament or lateral condyle.

3. You have great posture. It’s your way of making sure all your muscles and bones are working well together—the best way to prevent injuries, and a crucial element to the therapeutic work you’ll be doing with all your patients.

4. You work well one-on-one and as part of a team. You’re a people person to the core. You are comfortable with the hands-on, up-close-and-personal work you’ll do with your patients. And you work well as part of a team. About six in 10 physical therapists work in hospitals or in the offices of health care practitioners (that is, a doctor’s office, nursing home or rehabilitation center), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

5. You relate well to people of all ages. At any given time, your caseload could include clients recovering from a stroke or broken hip, an injured triathlete, or a baby with a debilitating birth defect. You have a knack for putting any and all people at ease as you zero in on their condition and map out a game plan for improvement.

6. You’re not easily discouraged. It’s great when patients recover speedily, but many people who need physical therapy suffer from serious conditions that may last years, if not a lifetime. You tackle daunting challenges with poise and persistence. You thrive on every hint of progress—no matter how slight. And you have an effortless way of inspiring that attitude in your patients and their loved ones.

To find out more, check out the Articles & Resources section of AllAlliedHealthSchools.com for information about:

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of posts to provide some deeper insights into various high-demand and growing health career fields.