3 Flashcards
What is physical therapy?
Physical therapy is a healthcare profession that uses principles to prevent or alleviate acute or prolonged physical impairments.
What do physical therapists do?
Physical therapists restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health in individuals with various conditions.
What are some conditions physical therapists treat?
Physical therapists treat conditions such as lower-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.
What do physical therapists focus on?
Physical therapists focus on preventive care, rehabilitation, and treatment for patients suffering from chronic conditions, injuries, or illnesses.
What do physical therapists use tests and measurements for?
Physical therapists use tests and measurements to evaluate patients’ strength, range of motion, balance, coordination, posture, muscle performance, and more.
What treatments do physical therapists provide?
Physical therapists provide treatments such as therapeutic exercise, mobilization, neuromuscular reeducation, bronchopulmonary hygiene, and ambulation training.
How do physical therapists communicate with patients?
Physical therapists communicate with patients and their families about therapy expectations, recovery process, and progress documentation.
What professionals do physical therapists often consult and practice with?
Physicians, dentists, nurses, educators, social workers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists.
Example sentence: Physical therapists often work closely with physicians to develop treatment plans for patients.
Where do physical therapists practice?
In hospitals, clinics, private offices, hospital rooms, homes, or schools.
Additional information: Physical therapists may also work in settings such as outpatient care centers and nursing care facilities.
What are the educational requirements for entering the physical therapy profession?
A post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited physical therapy program, passing national and state examinations.
Additional information: Some physical therapists pursue doctoral degrees in physical therapy.
How do states regulate the practice of physical therapy?
By requiring graduation from an accredited physical therapy education program, passing the National Physical Therapy Examination
What certification options are available for physical therapists?
Certification in specialty areas such as cardiovascular and pulmonary care, clinical electrophysiology, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, orthopedics, pediatrics, sports, women’s health, and wound management.
Additional information: Certification may require a certain number of hours of work experience and passing an examination.
What is the projected employment of physical therapists in 2029?
305,200
Projected Employment, 2029
What skills should physical therapists have?
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, compassion, desire to help patients, and manual dexterity
Physical therapists should have strong interpersonal and communication skills so they can educate patients about their condition and physical therapy treatments and communicate with patients families. Physical therapists also should be compassionate and possess a desire to help patients. Manual dexterity is important because of the need to provide therapeutic exercises and manual therapy.
What is the expected employment change for physical therapists from 2019 to 2029?
18%
Employment Change, 2019-2029
