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and Advancement | Job Outlook
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of Additional Information Significant Points Physical therapists (PTs) provide services that help restore function,
improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical
disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They
restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. Their
patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling
conditions such as low back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures,
head injuries, and cerebral palsy. Therapists examine patients' medical histories, then test and measure
their strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture,
muscle performance, respiration, and motor function. They also determine
patients' ability to be independent and reintegrate into the community
or workplace after injury or illness. Next, they develop treatment
plans describing a treatment strategy, its purpose, and anticipated
outcome. Physical therapist assistants, under the direction and supervision
of a physical therapist, may be involved in implementing treatment
plans with patients. Physical therapist aides perform routine support
tasks, as directed by the therapist. Treatment often includes exercise for patients who have been immobilized
and lack flexibility, strength, or endurance. They encourage patients
to use their own muscles to further increase flexibility and range
of motion before finally advancing to other exercises improving
strength, balance, coordination, and endurance. Their goal is to
improve how an individual functions at work and home. Physical therapists also use electrical stimulation, hot packs
or cold compresses, and ultrasound to relieve pain and reduce swelling.
They may use traction or deep-tissue massage to relieve pain. Therapists
also teach patients to use assistive and adaptive devices such as
crutches, prostheses, and wheelchairs. They also may show patients
exercises to do at home to expedite their recovery. As treatment continues, physical therapists document progress,
conduct periodic examinations, and modify treatments when necessary.
Such documentation is used to track the patient's progress, and
identify areas requiring more or less attention. Physical therapists often consult and practice with a variety of
other professionals, such as physicians, dentists, nurses, educators,
social workers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists,
and audiologists. Some physical therapists treat a wide range of ailments; others
specialize in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics,
sports medicine, neurology, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy. Physical therapists practice in hospitals, clinics, and private
offices that have specially equipped facilities, or they treat patients
in hospital rooms, homes, or schools. Most full-time 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. In addition, physical therapists move heavy
equipment and lift patients or help them turn, stand, or walk. Physical therapists held about 132,000 jobs in 2000; about 1 in
4 worked part time. The number of jobs is greater than the number
of practicing physical therapists because some physical therapists
hold two or more jobs. For example, some may work in a private practice,
but also work part time in another health facility. About two-thirds of physical therapists were employed in either
hospitals or offices of physical therapists. Other jobs were in
home health agencies, outpatient rehabilitation centers, offices
and clinics of physicians, and nursing homes. Some physical therapists
are self-employed in private practices. They may provide services
to individual patients or contract to provide services in hospitals,
rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, adult
daycare programs, and schools. They may be in solo practice or be
part of a consulting group. Physical therapists also teach in academic
institutions and conduct research. All States require physical therapists to pass a licensure exam
before they can practice, after graduating from an accredited physical
therapist educational program. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, there were
199 accredited physical therapist programs in 2001. Of the accredited
programs, 165 offered master's degrees, and 33 offered doctoral
degrees. By 2002, all physical therapist programs seeking accreditation
are required to offer degrees at the master's degree level and above,
in accordance with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy
Education. Physical therapist programs start with basic science courses such
as biology, chemistry, and physics, and then introduce specialized
courses such as biomechanics, neuroanatomy, human growth and development,
manifestations of disease, examination techniques, and therapeutic
procedures. Besides classroom and laboratory instruction, students
receive supervised clinical experience. Courses useful when applying
to physical therapist educational programs include anatomy, biology,
chemistry, social science, mathematics, and physics. Before granting
admission, many professional education programs require experience
as a volunteer in a physical therapy department of a hospital or
clinic. Physical therapists should have strong interpersonal skills to
successfully educate patients about their physical therapy treatments.
They should also be compassionate and possess a desire to help patients.
Similar traits also are needed to interact with the patient's family. Physical therapists are expected to continue professional development
by participating in continuing education courses and workshops.
A number of States require continuing education to maintain licensure. Employment of physical therapists is expected to grow faster than
the average for all occupations through 2010. Federal legislation
imposing limits on reimbursement for therapy services may adversely
affect the job market for physical therapists in the near term.
However, over the long run, the demand for physical therapists should
continue to rise as a result of growth in the number of individuals
with disabilities or limited function requiring therapy services.
The rapidly growing elderly population is particularly vulnerable
to chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic
services. Also, the baby-boom generation is entering the prime age
for heart attacks and strokes, increasing the demand for cardiac
and physical rehabilitation. More young people will need physical
therapy as technological advances save the lives of a larger proportion
of newborns with severe birth defects. Future medical developments should also permit a higher percentage
of trauma victims to survive, creating additional demand for rehabilitative
care. Growth also may result from advances in medical technology
which permit treatment of more disabling conditions. Widespread
interest in health promotion also should 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. Median annual earnings of physical therapists were $54,810 in 2000.
The middle 50 percent earned between $46,660 and $67,390. The lowest
10 percent earned less than $38,510, and the highest 10 percent
earned more than $83,370. Median annual earnings in the industries
employing the largest numbers of physical therapists in 2000 were
as follows: Offices and clinics of medical doctors $58,390 Physical therapists rehabilitate persons with physical disabilities.
Others who work in the rehabilitation field include occupational
therapists, recreational therapists, rehabilitation counselors,
respiratory therapists, and speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Additional information on a career as a physical therapist and
a list of accredited educational programs in physical therapy are
available from: American Physical Therapy AssociationPhysical Therapists
Nature of the Work
Working Conditions
Employment
Training, Other Qualifications,
and Advancement
Job Outlook
Earnings
Home health care services 57,830
Offices of other health practitioners 55,830
Nursing and personal care facilities 54,740
Hospitals 54,430 Related Occupations
Sources of Additional Information
1111 North Fairfax St.
Alexandria , VA 22314-1488
Internet: http://www.apta.org/
