In the field of pediatric physical therapy, you are required to evaluate the young patients and develop a treatment plan to care for them. As they're treating the young patients, the physical therapist is required to report updates to the child's parents, regarding their progress.
Some of the treatments that pediatric physical therapists use include using massage, electrical stimulation, ultrasound and hot and cold compression. Also, in pediatric physical therapy, the therapist helps the child through different exercises that were specifically made for the child's needs. For instance, some devices that could be used include crutches or braces to help the child learn how to use them properly.
In this field, the therapist is able to work in general hospitals, pediatric hospitals, rehab centers, outpatient care centers and schools.
In order to work in this field, you will have to obtain a graduate degree in the field of physical therapy. One you could obtain is a masters or PhD, which can take two to eight years of schooling, once a bachelor's degree is acquired.
It is required by all states that physical therapists acquire a license to practice independently on children. Each state varies when it comes to the criteria for licensing, but all require a written exam.
As of December 2009, the average yearly pay for therapists in pediatrics were making $72,000.
