Imagine what it would be like not having the ability to physically maneuver around, sit or stand painlessly without the assistance of a licensed medical professional. Whether you were born with a debilitating medical condition or a physical disability occurred due to an accident or aging, there is someone that can help treat these conditions. Physical Therapists! Physical Therapy is a very rewarding and vital profession in the medical field. The average of all occupations is 11%; According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, Physical Therapy’s projected job outlook in the years 2012-2022 is projected to triple 36%. (Summary Occupational Outlook Handbook) .There are many specialty areas in the field of Physical Therapy but the most common …show more content…
(Physical Therapy Medicine Net)
A Day in the Life of a Physical Therapist Since career paths and daily routines vary there is no “typical day” for a physical therapist. Like other health care professions, a Physical Therapists job can be very demanding not only in the work load but the physical requirements as well. Physical Therapists practice in a variety of settings and facilities. Majority of physical therapists work full time, 40 hours a week, which may include some weekends, evenings and possibly even holidays. On average, a Physical Therapist may see 8-12 patients a day with treatment ranging from 20 minutes to an hour. A typical day of physical therapists usually requires examination of patient, diagnosis of physical disability, and creation/implementation/adjustment of a plan of care. This position requires PTs to be physically equipped with handling the tasks that include occasionally lifting patients, kneeling and being on their feet for long periods at a time. At the end of the day, they conclude their paperwork of the activities involved with each patient during their session which is very detailed; this usually takes up 20% -30% of the work day. (A Day in the Life of a … Physical Therapist)
Advantages of a Career in Physical Therapy:
• Make a Difference
• Great Job Opportunities
• Excellent Salaries
• Wide Variety
The medical field will always continue to grow and so will the demand for those types of careers. According to AOL Jobs, a highly researched source for advice on careers, “Driven primarily by aging baby boomers and technology advances that improve survival rates for trauma victims and children with birth defects, the demand for physical therapy is forecast to continue to grow” (Schepp). AOL Jobs also listed physical therapy as the third most secure career choice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “the demand for physical therapists is expected to spike upward by an astonishing 30% between 2008 and 2018—a much quicker rate than average… there are approximately 185,500 licensed physical therapists in the United States, and that number is expected to jump to 241,700 over the next 10 years” (qtd. In Benefits of a Physical Therapist Career). Physical therapy will continue to grow exponentially as the population continues to age. Figure 1: Projected employment and growth of physical therapy and its related
Life can change in a split second when an unanticipated injury or disease hinders someone’s normal daily life. Modern medicine, physicians and families can only do so much but physical therapy can help recoup the life many of us take for granted. It often isn’t until we lose something that we as humans realize what we had such as the value of our body’s ability to take us through each day. A physical therapist is the person who stays with a patient for the duration of the rehabilitation process. A physical therapist leads the patient through the process of regaining physical strength and helps the patient regain control of their future. Much like many careers that involve interaction with individuals, physical therapy reaches beyond
The physical therapy profession is concerned with treating individuals of all ages. In the future, I plan on being able to comfort individuals undergoing physical therapy by being able to use my compassionate nature, caring, understanding, and the expertise that I will gain, while serving as their physical therapist. In doing the previously mentioned things, I hope to be considered as an important asset to society. I believe that people will be able to increase their viability by seeking my assistance.
When she sees a patient for the first time she talks to them about the doctor’s report and asks specific questions about their injury or experiences leading up to the need for physical therapy. Megan explained how important it is to make the patient feel comfortable and keep a positive attitude towards the patient’s recovery. These consultations were the most interesting to sit in on because it allowed me to observe the therapist’s ability to take the patient’s information and create a diagnosis and treatment plan for the injury or pain described. Megan may have multiple patients at a time so she stressed the importance of keeping up with each patient and why the physical therapy techs are so helpful. Scheduling is another job of the therapists that is important in keeping the clinic running smoothly. There is also paperwork that has to be filled out for every patient after every visit about their
The day-to-day writing in the field of Physical Therapy varies depending on the audience. The audience determines the purpose of the writing and writing style. Physical Therapists (PT) use evidence-based exercises and activities to rehabilitate their patients in order for them to reach their unique goal. Since PT’s work with both medical professionals and patients, they must adjust their writing to be able to communicate effectively. PT’s are just one of the many people in the medical field that may work with a particular patient so it is important that the communication between the different layers of the medical field are precise and clear. Writing to a patient is also important because they are the person who is being directly affected
Predominantly, a physical therapist must be compassionate and caring. My family members and I are accustomed to taking care of one another, regardless of the age or circumstance. Along with these age differences come different opinions; because of this, at a very young age, I quickly understood the meaning of empathy. I have become accustomed to practicing compassion at home, that it has now become second nature to me.
Physical Therapy is an active, helpful career. It focuses on rehabilitation to reestablish full function and mobility to the patient. Anyone and everyone can qualify for physical therapy. Patients differ in age and race, and of course, by their illness or injury. The job involves possessing and using knowledge to diagnose the patient and establish a management plan deciding what therapy will benefit and improve the patient’s condition and averaging how long it will take to accomplish.
Physical Therapy is a very important profession. There are many people that are treated and cared for by the physical therapist and the physical therapist assistant each and every day. They have helped many patients improve their overall way of life and this profession has provided jobs to thousands of people. Physical therapy has made a big impact on the world and has changed the way patients can be treated.
Physical therapists work in various ways depending on the type of patient you're dealing with. A patient that is working to recover mobility lost after a stroke needs different care from a patient who is recovering from a sports injury. There are many types of fields
A day in the life of a physical therapist would consist of showing the patient stretches or exercises to treat the injury. Physical therapist also make plans specified for the patient to follow at the office and at home to recover quickly and properly. Also during the process they observe and evaluate the patients progress to help them know what else they may have to do to recover (“Summary”).
highly educated experts on the human body , their goal is to promote the patient’s to reduce pain , ability to move etc. The employment of a Physical Therapist is projected to grow 34% from 2014. Physical Therapist will come in part from a large number of aging. Older people’s experiences
Physical therapists are members of a health care team, specially trained to improve movement and flinction, relieve pain, and expand movement potential. Through evaluation and individualized treatment programs, physical therapists can both treat existing problems and provide preventive health care for people with a variety of needs (Physical Therapy-Improving 1). Physical therapists are very knowledgeable and skillful concerning the human body. Physical therapy is a complex, but rewarding field to pursue as a career. Specialization, working conditions, job outlook, salaries, and education requirements need to be taken into consideration when contemplating a career as a physical therapist.
I interviewed a physical therapist in my hometown who has been working in this career for several years now. She gave me a great insight how physical therapy really works and all the small things you need to know for this career that wouldn’t necessarily need to have. First, the most interesting information she told me was when I asked her, where do you think the future of this occupation is going? Her answer was, physical therapists would soon be right hands to surgeons so the patient doesn’t have to keep going back to the doctor or the PT (Tronstad). Also, that PT will transition into becoming a PA, physician associate, who performs examinations or procedures, prescribe medication, get ahold of medical histories almost similar to what a physical therapist
Physical treatment isn't only a satisfying and important task; it's also in sought after. The requirement for therapists is expected to stay sturdy into the foreseeable future because the US population ages and the need for actual therapy services develops. Perspective: The Nazareth College Physical Treatment plan can encourage specialists to change areas and to consider globally. They must manage to clearly describe treatment packages, inspire patients, and listen to patients' concerns to provide an efficient remedy. Physical therapists devote much of their time on their legs, working with individuals. The goal is attained by organizing doctors of physical treatment who offer ethical, sympathetic, and modern treatment, having
Physical therapists are in high demand. In 2009, the average yearly wage for physical therapists was approximately $75,000 per year (Manage My Practice, 2005). A physical therapist must have a high level of education, which will help the individual to gain an advanced knowledge in many areas of science and healthcare. As a physical therapist, one can work in a career that helps people. A physical therapist gets to watch their patient’s progress and get stronger as well as heal from their injury, illness or surgery. A physical therapist can greatly increase someone’s quality of life, which is rewarding on its own. A physical therapist also has the advantage of finding part time work, which is great for a parent to young children, or to someone that needs to fulfill other obligations. Physical therapists do not have to be stuck behind a desk and computer screen all day like other career choices either. They get to be on their feet, interacting with patients and pretty active much of their day. While there is quite a bit of paperwork and some oversite of physical therapy assistants, the therapists still get the enjoyment of not being behind a desk all day. Physical therapists also have the ability to work in a wide variety of settings. Some of those settings include clinics, hospitals, schools, home healthcare, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and private practices. Along with being able to work in a variety of places, physical therapists also get to work with a variety of client’s which includes adults, children and geriatric populations. There are however some disadvantages to becoming a physical therapist, which includes working long hours, which can lead to the therapist becoming burned out. Therapists also have close contact with patients on a day-to-day basis and may have to hear their patients