Physical Therapy Demand

HealthCareers.net — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:38:11 GMT

Health care reform, aging baby boomers, and technological advancements will continue to drive the demand for allied health careers, which are those professions that support physicians and dentists. Physical therapy is one of these areas which have an expected demand.

Health Care Reform

Physical therapists and assistants work with people who have movement dysfunction due to injury, trauma, surgery or disease. Health care reform, slated for 2014, will give access for physical therapy and other healthcare services to millions who may not currently have it. This will increase the demand for physical therapy services along with other allied health professions.

Aging Baby Boomers

Currently we are experiencing the first wave of baby boomers, now age 65. The largest majority of baby boomers are just 10 years behind. All of these folks are at an age (55 and older) where the risk of heart attack and stroke is greatest. For many who may experience such a health incident, physical therapists will be brought in for rehabilitation.

Technological Advancements

As technological advancements continue to help save more lives as well as help successfully treat more illnesses and disabilities than ever before, the need for rehabilitative care will increase. Meanwhile, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act will continue to guarantee students with disabilities have access to physical therapists.

Of course liking your career means a lot more than demand. So you may be interested to know that in 2006 the Wall Street Journal's CareerJournal.com stated "Physical Therapists have one of the eight Best Careers!" Also, the April 15, 2007 edition of Parade Magazine recognized Physical Therapy as a "hot job." And, both the Chicago Times and USNews have reported a high job level satisfaction for physical therapists. Thus, it may be a career that deserves looking into.

Educational Requirements for a Physical Therapist

HealthCareers.net — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:41:56 GMT

Allied health careers are in demand, and the right training can provide with the right skills for rewarding career opportunities. One such career is physical therapy. What is the education needed to become a physical therapist?

A degree in physical therapy is not an undergraduate degree but rather it requires two to three years of graduate school. In order to get into grad school, you must have good grades in biology, math, anatomy and physiology as an undergrad.

Meanwhile, there are two ways you can begin working in the field sooner: (1) As a physical therapy aid, or (2) as a physical therapy assistant. Since the physical aid does not perform clinical tasks, the job requires a high school diploma. Physical therapy assistant training, on the other hand, typically takes about two years, and graduates of a physical therapy assistant program are either awarded a diploma or certificate depending on school.

In addition to the necessary education, physical therapists in all states and physical therapy assistants in most states must take an pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). This test is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

Typical Courses

If you want to know the type of courses or topics you may study, these are listed in more detail below.

Physical Therapy

As a student in physical therapy training, you may study such topics as:

Kinesiology - how human movement works
Neuroscience - functions of the nervous and muscular systems.
Orthopedic bone, muscle and joint diseases or malfunctions.
Physical Therapy for Pediatrics physical therapy specifically for younger patients.
Musculoskeletal - how to evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries and disease (intro level) with concentration on specific body parts (higher level).
Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Physical Therapy - assessing patients with cardiovascular (heart) or respiratory (breathing) disorders.

However, depending on school, topics or programs can vary.

Physical Therapy Assistant

As a student in physical therapy assistant training, you may study such topics as:

PTA pathophysiology course - diseases and disorders commonly seen in physical therapy practice
Basic health skills course - wheelchair management, body mechanics, transfers, gait training, first aid skills
Kinesiology course discussion of anatomy and movement
Therapeutic treatment and exercise course treatment techniques that include massage as well as manipulation, stretches, joint range of motion, and more.

Of course again, depending on school, topics or programs can vary.

If you are good at science, want to help people, and are interested in movement or even such things as sports, exercise, and/or dance, this may be the career for you.

Health Careers: Physical Therapy Aids, Assistants and Therapists

HealthCareers.net — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:11:00 GMT

Health careers are in demand, and the right training can provide you with many opportunities. Before you make the decision to get training or while you are in a health school, it is possible to gain some initial experience within your field with just high school diploma. One such field is physical therapy.

Three levels of physical therapy positions exist: Physical therapy aids, physical therapy assistants, and physical therapists. Following is information about each with training and certification requirements:

Physical Therapy Aids

Physical therapy aids are not licensed and cannot perform clinical tasks. However, they help physical therapists and physical therapy assistants immensely by keeping treatment areas clean, preparing for each patient's treatment, and transporting patients.

The level of education required to be a physical therapy aid is a high school diploma.

Physical Therapy Assistants

Physical therapists work under the supervision of a physical therapist to provide exercise instruction, electrical stimulation, traction, ultrasound, massage, and other similar clinical tasks.

In most states, physical therapy assistants are required to hold an associate degree and the required licensure, registration, or certification. This training takes approximately two years.

Additionally, proper certification for physical therapy assistant most likely includes CPR and other first aid training.

Physical Therapists

The physical therapists job is to diagnose movement problems treat patients accordingly. Treatment can include exercise, functional training for daily life activities, manual therapy techniques, instructions on using assistive and adaptive devices and equipment, and/or therapeutic modalities. Physical therapists often work along with a variety of professionals as well, including doctors, dentists, social workers, nurses, teachers, social workers, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and audiologists.

Physical therapists are required to obtain a post-baccalaureate degree and have a passing score on national and state examinations.

Check for the need for physical therapy jobs and training programs in your area so you can begin following your goals today.

What Does a Person in Physical Therapy Do?

HealthCareers.net — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:05:16 GMT

Unlike any other industry, health careers continue to take the lead in growth and demand in most geographic locations. With the right training, you can gain the required skills needed to pursue exciting career opportunities in this industry. This includes the field of physical therapy. Know what a physical therapy job entails?

Those in the field of physical therapy work with patients who have limited mobility due to conditions, illnesses or injuries. These problems limit the patient's ability to perform daily functions. It is the job of the physical therapist to assess and treat each patient in an effort to restore movement and function, reduce pain, and/or prevent disability.

This may confuse some people who may think that physical therapists work mostly with people who have experienced a sports injury or other sprain, strain or fracture that needs rehabilitation. Millions of Americans, however, are disabled due to debilitating diseases/conditions such as or horrific accidents resulting in:

Head, neck and back injuries
Arthritis
Burns, amputations
Stroke
Multiple sclerosis
Cerebral palsy
Spina bifida

Thus, a person choosing to go into the field of physical therapy has to be able to emotionally cope with seeing these types of conditions in people of all ages, including children, and have an overwhelming desire to help.

In order to be able to perform the job, those in physical therapy must be able to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods. Also, those in the field may be required to move heavy equipment, lift patients, or help patients turn, stand, or walk.

Meanwhile, to treat mobility problems, physical therapy care and services are provided by physical therapists and possibly a team that can consist of physical therapist assistant(s) and/or aid(s). The physical therapists evaluate and diagnose the movement dysfunction and plan the interventions to treat patients. These can include:

Exercises
Functional training
Manipulation
Manual therapy
Assistive and adaptive devices and equipment
Electrotherapeutic modalities
And more

Physical therapy assistants may help the physical therapist when it comes to performing these clinical interventions but will work under the supervision of the physical therapists. Physical therapy aids may also be part of the physical therapy team but will not perform clinical tasks. Rather aids will most likely greet patients, transport or lead patients to the treatment area, perform clerical tasks, and keep the treatment area clean.

People in the physical therapy field can be found working in hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools and private offices that have specially equipped facilities. Often physical therapists will consult and/or practice with other professionals, such as physicians, dentists, nurses, educators, social workers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists.

If it sounds like you should be prepared to work hard should you choose this career path, this is true. So the rewards must be well worth the hard work.

Top Traits of a Physical Therapist

Danny Glodin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:25:30 GMT

Physical therapists, also known as PTs, are health care professionals who help patients -- most of whom are either accident victims or have disabling conditions -- by providing services that reduce pain, restore function, improve mobility, and prevent or control permanent physical disabilities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total employment figure of physical therapists is expected to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018, which means that job opportunities in the field should be great.

For those looking to break into the field, as well as those in the field attempting to improve their services, here are six of the most important traits for physical therapists:

1) Hold your patient accountable. "One of the most important traits a physical therapist can possess is to hold the patient accountable for each task and to reach a little bit higher with each ensuing task," said Mark Palmer, a traumatic brain injury survivor who has also had years of physical therapy experience due to shoulder and back surgeries. "It's crucial that physical therapists demand that their patient be as connected to the process as they are."

2) Make therapy fun. "As a specialist in physical therapy, not only do you need to be a skilled and knowledgeable clinician, but you also need to be able to adapt quickly, think fast and make therapy fun," said Michael Workman, a pediatric physical therapist. "The activities I choose to do with my patients can make the physical work less of a struggle if it is entertaining for them."

3) Be knowledgeable. "Physical therapists should have a solid scientific and clinical background and know why they do what they do, not just how," said Wendie Howland, a registered nurse who works alongside physical therapists. "They should also know how to communicate this in words the patient can understand and assimilate."

4) Be able to adjust your personality. "Physical therapists must be able to adjust their personality to fit their audience on an hourly basis," said Chris Keating, a physical therapist. "We must be chameleons. We see patients with all different types of personalities and comfort levels. Patients get better when they go to therapy, and they go to therapy when they are comfortable [with] their PT."

5) Be a problem solver. "It's important for physical therapists to be good problem solvers," said Deb Lavender, who has spent years working with orthopedic patients in many different settings. "Physical therapists must be able to create solutions to the problem the patient has, even if they have never done the given technique before."

6) Build relationships with your patients. "Therapists must understand that building relationships with their patients is an important factor in ensuring that the patients follow through with the programs we are building for them," said Mae Knowles, who works in media relations at a hospital in Wisconsin. "It gives our patients their best outcomes. If they understand what we're doing and why we are doing it, and they have confidence in what we are telling them, they are much more likely to meet their goal, which makes the patient and the therapist happy."

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