| Physical therapists help those who have been | | | | you will be a licensed physical therapist. To keep |
| injured or seriously ill recover their mobility or | | | | your license, you will need to take continuing |
| learn how to function with limited mobility. They | | | | education courses every year or so. |
| help patients regain strength, relieve pain, and | | | | To prepare for your education, you'll want to do |
| manage chronic conditions. Physical therapists are | | | | undergraduate work in a related field such as |
| actually very in demand because many patents | | | | biology. You'll want to take courses in chemistry, |
| find themselves dealing with these types of | | | | anatomy, physics, and mathematics. Once in |
| issues. By using exercise and teaching patents | | | | graduate school, you'll take courses in |
| how to move properly, physical therapists can | | | | neuroanatomy, human growth and development, |
| assist them in overcoming these issues. | | | | advanced science classes, and biomechanics. |
| Physical therapists work in a variety of | | | | Once you've completed all of your education, it's |
| environments, including clinics, schools, hospitals, | | | | time to find a job in the industry. If you're looking |
| long-term care facilities, and private practices. | | | | to go into private practice, you will need to |
| When working with a new patient, the physical | | | | contact a number of local doctors and let them |
| therapist will first assess their level of disability. | | | | know you are available for patient referrals. If |
| They will then work with the patient to create a | | | | you're looking to work at a hospital, begin by |
| treatment plan that will help them improve their | | | | checking local job boards and hospital websites for |
| strength, coordination, mobility, range of motion, | | | | openings. Another good place to look for work is |
| and other physical aspects. Then, using exercise | | | | with sports teams, universities, and local dance |
| and treatments like massage and electrical | | | | troupes. They often need physical therapists to |
| stimulation, they will help the patient improve their | | | | help with injured players and troupe members. |
| muscle function and flexibility while relieving any | | | | The job market for physical therapists is |
| pain the person is in. | | | | expected to increase by more than 25% by |
| If you want to have a career in physical therapy, | | | | 2016. This is a very high growth rate - in fact, it is |
| get ready for a good amount of schooling. You | | | | higher than most healthcare areas. The reason for |
| will need a master's degree in physical therapy to | | | | this is that the baby boomer population is aging |
| practice in most states. The master's program | | | | and will need more and more physical therapy as |
| you enroll in will need to be accredited by the | | | | their bodies develop motion problems. Likewise, |
| Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy | | | | advancements in technology and new physical |
| Education, which most programs are. After | | | | therapy practices will create treatments for those |
| completing your degree, you will have to pass | | | | who have conditions that were previously labeled |
| both the national and specific state physical | | | | as untreatable, allowing therapists to assist them. |
| therapy certification tests. Once you've done this, | | | | |