Physical Therapist Jobs and Careers

Physical therapists (PTs) treat patients who are suffering from physical injuries or disabilities by teaching them various therapeutic exercises and activities that strengthen muscles, improve mobility and relieve pain. Their patients include accident victims and clients with varying conditions:

• burns
• amputations
• stroke
• vertigo
• low back pain
• arthritis
• heart disease
• fractures
• head injuries
• cerebral palsy

The patient treatment aspect of physical therapy jobs involves several different tasks. PTs develop a rehabilitation plan and provide ongoing evaluations based on their patients' activities and progress. In addition to treatments given in the office, PTs work with the patient to develop a home therapy program.

Physical therapists assist patients in a wide range of activities:

• Teaching a patient to walk again after a head-injury
• Helping an athlete improve his physical performance on the playing field
• Help reduce the patient's pain and increase the patient's strength, endurance and stability

Direct patient relationships are central to physical therapist jobs and provide some of its most satisfying moments. Colleen Harper reports that the babies she worked with years ago come back to visit her as young adults. In pediatric physical therapy, the relationships include working with parents and siblings to help them resolve problems and extend the therapeutic process into daily life.

"Being able to answer questions and allay some fears is very satisfying. It's a nice feeling when someone comes in a complete nervous wreck and leaves feeling like they've been understood and they're going to get help." Siobhan O'Donnell agrees. "I had a patient, a little girl with cerebral palsy who was having trouble standing and walking. We tried a new thing, and she was able to take her first steps using a walker. Her mom was there, and her mom had never seen her walk. That was so exciting, for them and for me."

Both physical therapists and physical therapy assistants need to be capable of the physical work involved in standing, kneeling and moving patients directly. While satisfying, the work can be tiring. "It can be hard in the winter, when I'm driving to see six patients a day," says Maria Molech, a physical therapy assistant. "The physical part of the job can make you tired, especially when you work with adults who need a lot of support."

Professionals in physical therapy jobs serve people from every cultural background, ethnicity and income level. Diversity of background and experience is highly valued within the field, and cultural competence and non-biased attitudes are core values of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The APTA works to encourage people from a variety of ethnic background to enter the field. Their website provides valuable resources for both professionals in the field and those thinking of entering it.

If you're ready to get started in your physical therapy education program, start researching schools today and find the right program for you.