Physical Therapist Job Description:
Physical therapists (PTs) help patients, including accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy, by providing services that restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health.Employment Facts for Physical Therapists:
Physical therapists (PTs) held about 173,000 jobs in 2006. Some physical therapists held two or more jobs, which makes the number of jobs held higher than the actual number of PTs. Most PTs work in hospitals or in offices of other health practitioners.Educational Requirements for Physical Therapists:
In order to work as a physical therapist, one must first graduate from a physical therapist educational program with a master's or doctoral degree. Coursework includes biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as specialized courses such as biomechanics, neuroanatomy, human growth and development, manifestations of disease, examination techniques, and therapeutic procedures.Other Requirements for Physical Therapists:
In order to practice, graduates from physical therapist programs must pass national and state licensing exams. In order to retain their licenses, many states require PTs to take continuing education classes and attend workshops.Job Outlook for Physical Therapists:
Employment of physical therapists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2016.How Much Do Physical Therapists Earn?:
Median Annual Earnings in the Industries Employing the Largest Numbers of Physical Therapists (U.S., 2006)
- Home health care services: $70,920
- Nursing care facilities: $68,650
- General medical and surgical hospitals: $66,630
- Offices of physicians: $65,900
- Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists: $65,150
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A Day in a Physical Therapist's Life:
On a typical day a physical therapist will:
- examine patients' medical histories;
- test and measure the patients' strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function;
- determine patients' ability to be independent and reintegrate into the community or workplace after injury or illness;
- develop treatment plans describing a treatment strategy, its purpose, and its anticipated outcome;
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Physical Therapists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos080.htm (visited August 4, 2008).
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