What are the Duties of a Physical Therapist?
Physical therapists are responsible for setting up a strategy for the patient to follow sometimes with or without their help. If the injury has been very bad such as with heart disease, fractures, head injuries, or cerebral palsy, the therapist will most likely have to work with the patient. However, if the patient has suffered a broken arm or wrist and needs physical therapy to get the arm back into shape, they can often follow the exercises given them on their own.
Jobs in physical therapy clinics often may use traction or massage to relieve pain. The patient can regain circulation easier if they undergo these types of treatments to speed up the process. The benefits of massage especially have been proven to improve circulation and healing.
Some physical therapists use a process called electrical stimulation to relieve pain from injury or a chronic disease such as arthritis. The physical therapist may work with other health care professionals. It is not unusual for them to work with doctors, dentists, and speech therapists. They also may consult with social workers for the benefit of children under their care.
The treatment a physical therapist may make a physical therapy plan for people who have been incapacitated for a period of time may include exercises to increase their endurance. When muscles are not used for a long time they tend to quit working. They may even shrink somewhat. The strength and improved tolerance of using muscles that have not been used for some time will be quite evident when the patient starts working with a physical therapist.
With one goal in mind and that is to get the patient as ready as they can possibly be to return to a normal life and take care of themselves is what the physical therapist is trying to accomplish.
What Education is Required to Become a Physical Therapist?
The only accredited degrees in physical therapy are masters and doctoral degrees. The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education is the regulating agency on these requirements. A master’s degree program will require about 2 years to complete. The doctoral takes about 3 years. The physical therapist courses start with basic science courses such as biology, chemistry, and physics. The prospective physical therapist will be supervised for clinical experience in addition to the laboratory and classroom setting.
The person who decides physical therapy is the career he wants to pursue should take a few of the following undergraduate courses:
1. Chemistry
2. Biology
3. Human growth
4. Therapeutic procedures
5. Physics
6. Biomechanics
This is just a start on the courses needed for physical therapy jobs. There are many more that you can take to help you to understand all the aspects of physical therapy. When choosing this profession, one of the best ways to get some practical experience is to volunteer in a clinic or hospital in the physical therapy department.
Physical therapists are required by all states to pass national and state examinations. Graduation from an accredited physical therapist program is another requirement. The physical therapist profession is expected to increase faster than normal. The opportunities will be plentiful especially in hospital and rehabilitation locales.
The fact that we are living longer which is increasing the demand for physical therapy for the elderly is one of the reasons for the increase that is expected in this field. Patients who have heart attacks and strokes are recovering faster with technology improving the chances of living a long life even if you have had a serious problem earlier in life. Knowing how to save lives combined with the fact that many people are becoming more health conscious will keep physical therapists busy.
In 2007 according to statistics from the American Physical Therapy Association there were 209 accredited education programs dealing with physical therapy. The number that offered masters degrees were 43 and the ones offering doctoral degrees were 166.
What are the Earnings of a Physical Therapist?
The median earnings of a physical therapist are $66,200 per year. The middle wages were from $55,030 to $78,080 per year. The highest 10% made more than $94, 810 while the lowest 10% made less than $46,510 per year.
Salaries are also dependent upon the area in which you live. The need for physical therapists in clinic settings is more predominant in areas where there are larger cities and naturally, more people.
