Physical therapists improve the mobility, relieve the pain, and prevent or limit the permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. Their patients include accident victims and disabled individuals with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, nerve injuries, burns, amputations, head injuries, fractures, low back pain, arthritis, and heart disease.
Therapists evaluate a patient's medical history; test and measure their strength, range of motion, and ability to function; and develop written treatment plans. These plans, which may be based on physician's orders, describe the treatments to be provided, their purpose, and their anticipated outcomes. As treatment continues, they document progress, conduct periodic re-evaluations, and modify treatments, if necessary.
Treatment often includes exercise for patients who have been immobilized and lack flexibility. Using a technique known as passive exercise, therapists increase the patient's flexibility by stretching and manipulating stiff joints and unused muscles. Later in the treatment, they encourage patients to use their own muscles to further increase flexibility and range of motion before finally advancing to weights and other exercises to improve strength, balance, coordination, and endurance.
Physical therapists also use electricity, heat, cold, or ultrasound to relieve pain or improve the condition of muscles or related tissues or to reduce swelling. They may use traction or deep-tissue massage to relieve pain and restore function. Therapists also teach and motivate patients to use crutches, prostheses, and wheelchairs to perform day-to-day activities and show them exercises to do at home.
Physical therapists document evaluations, daily progress, medical team conferences, and reports to referring practitioners and insurance companies. Such documentation is used to track the patient's progress, identify areas requiring more or less attention, justify billings, and for legal purposes.
Some physical therapists treat a wide variety of problems; others specialize in such areas as pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics, sports physical therapy, neurology, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy.
Physical therapists treat and rehabilitate persons with injuries and disabilities.
Physical therapists work in hospitals, clinics, and private offices that have specially equipped facilities, or they treat patients in hospital rooms, homes, or schools.
Most physical therapists work a 40-hour week, which may include some evenings and weekends. The job can be physically demanding because therapists often have to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods of time. In addition, therapists move heavy equipment and lift patients or help them turn, stand, or walk.
Physical therapists held about 90,000 jobs in 1992; about 1 in 4 worked part time.
Hospitals employed one-third and offices of other health practitioners, including those of physical therapists, one-quarter of all salaried physical therapists in 1992. Other jobs were in offices of physicians, home health agencies, nursing homes, and schools. Some physical therapists are in private practice, providing services to individual patients or contracting to provide services in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, adult daycare programs, and schools. These self-employed therapists may be in solo practice or be part of a consulting group. Some physical therapists teach in academic institutions and conduct research.
All States require physical therapists to pass a licensure exam after graduating from an accredited physical therapy program.
Entry level education in physical therapy is available in 70 bachelor's degree and 64 master's degree programs. The bachelor's degree curriculum usually starts with basic science courses such as biology, chemistry, and physics, and then introduces specialized courses such as biomechanics, neuroanatomy, human growth and development, manifestations of disease and trauma, evaluation and assessment techniques, research, and therapeutic procedures. Besides classroom and laboratory instruction, students receive supervised clinical experience in hospitals.
Individuals who have a 4-year degree in a related field, such as genetics or biology, and want to be a physical therapist, should enroll in a master's level physical therapy program. A master's degree is also recommended for those with a bachelor's degree in physical therapy who are interested in promotion to an administrative position. For research and teaching jobs, a master's degree is required.
Competition for entry to physical therapy programs is keen, so interested students should attain superior grades in high school and college, especially in science courses. Courses useful when applying to physical therapy programs include anatomy, biology, chemistry, social science, mathematics, and physics. Many education programs also require experience as a volunteer in the physical therapy department of a hospital or clinic for admission.
Physical therapists should be patient, persuasive, resourceful, emotionally stable, and tactful to help patients understand the treatments and adjust to their disabilities. Similar traits are also needed to deal with the patient's family. Physical therapists should also have manual dexterity and physical stamina.
Physical therapists should expect to continue to develop professionally by participating in continuing education courses and workshops from time to time. A number of States require continuing education for maintaining licensure.
Employment of physical therapists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005. Growth will occur as new medical technologies save more people, who then need therapy; as new technologies permit more disabling conditions to be treated; and as the population grows and ages.
The rapidly growing elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that will require more therapeutic services. At the same time, the baby-boom generation will enter the prime age for heart attack and strokes, increasing the demand for cardiac and physical rehabilitation. More young people will also need physical therapy as medical advances save the lives of a larger proportion of newborns with severe birth defects. Future medical developments will also permit a higher percentage of trauma victims to survive, creating additional demand for rehabilitative care.
Growth will also result from advances in medical technology which permit treatment of more disabling conditions. In the past, for example, the development of hip and knee replacements for those with arthritis gave rise to employment for physical therapists to improve flexibility and strengthen weak muscles.
The widespread interest in health promotion should also increase demand for physical therapy services. A growing number of employers are using physical therapists to evaluate worksites, develop exercise programs, and teach safe work habits to employees in the hope of reducing injuries.
Job prospects in physical therapy are expected to be excellent. There have been shortages of physical therapists in recent years. However, this situation may ease eventually as the number of physical therapy education programs increases and more students graduate.
In 1992, median annual earnings of salaried physical therapists who usually work full time were $35,464. The middle 50 percent earned between $26,624 and $43,628. The top 10 percent earned at least $52,468 and the bottom 10 percent earned less than $17,784.
According to a University of Texas Medical Branch national survey of hospitals and medical centers, the median annual salary of physical therapists, based on a 40 hour week and excluding shift or area differentials, was $37,638 in October 1992. The average minimum salary was $31,887 and the average maximum salary was $47,288. Physical therapists in private practice tend to earn more than salaried workers.
Physical therapists treat and rehabilitate persons with physical or mental disabilities. Others who work in the rehabilitation field include occupational therapists, corrective therapists, recreational therapists, manual arts therapists, speech pathologists and audiologists, orthotists, prosthetists, respiratory therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and athletic trainers.
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Reprinted with Permission of U. S. Department of Labor