Technical Report

on
The Career of Physical Therapy

By:
Kristen Bentley
Technical Writing 345
Dr. James Schirmer
 Preface

This technical report was written to inform readers about the career of physical therapy.
Its purpose is to provide information that is useful not only to individuals who are already
interested in pursuing a career in physical therapy but also to those who are simply curious about
what this career holds. To accommodate the interests of all audience members, this document
includes a wide range of information pertaining to the career of physical therapy.
 Table of Contents

I. Nature of the Work …………………………………………………………………...1

a. What is Physical Therapy?
b. What Do Physical Therapists Do?
c. Type of Patients
d. Work Environment

II. Advantages and Disadvantages of the Field………………………………………......3

III. Training and Qualifications…………………………………………………………...3

a. Education
b. Licensure Requirements
c. Required Skills

IV. Current Employment……………………………………………………………….....5

V. Job Outlook…………………………………………………………………...............5

VI. Earnings……………………………………………………………………………….6

VII. Specialty Areas……………………………………………………………………......7

a. Orthopedic Physical Therapy
b. Neurological Physical Therapy
c. Geriatric Physical Therapy
d. Pediatric Physical Therapy
e. Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Physical Therapy

VIII. Related Occupations…………………………………………………………………..9

a. Occupational Therapists
b. Audiologists
c. Speech-Language Pathologists
Nature of the Work

What Is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is a health care specialty that is involved in the diagnosis and treatment of a
variety of injuries and medical problems that interferes with an individual’s ability to live a
normal life. Physical therapy is a rehabilitative type of therapy that focuses on reducing pain and
restoring and maintaining functional activities. Physical therapy involves the use of a variety of
therapeutic techniques in order to help patients develop a maximum amount of movement and
functional ability in all aspects of their daily life (Erstad).

What Do Physical Therapists Do?

Physical Therapists, often referred to as PT’s, are health care professionals who perform a
variety of tasks. Physical Therapists diagnose and treat individuals that have injuries, illnesses, or
other medical problems that interfere with daily functioning. Most of the time the individual’s
condition limits their ability to move and function while performing normal day-to-day activities.
Physical therapists examine these patients, diagnose their condition, and develop a treatment
plan.

Treatment usually involves a variety of exercises that are designed to improve the patient’s
balance, coordination, flexibility, and range of motion. The physical therapist tailors these
exercises to each individual’s specific needs depending on what is best for that particular patient.
In addition to exercise, physical therapists often use electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and hot
and cold packs. These methods of treatment work to relieve pain and reduce swelling.

Deep tissue massage is another treatment method often used by physical therapists in an effort to
reduce pain. In addition to working with patients in the clinic, physical therapists teach patients
how to use assistive devices, like crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs, so the patient will be able
to move around on their own outside of the therapy facility where they are receiving care.
Physical therapists also show patients exercise that can be performed outside of the therapy clinic

so the individual can continue their therapy at home (United).

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Figure 1. Source: Connecticut Department of Public Health. http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp.view

As one can see in the above picture, physical therapists use a variety of techniques, including
stretching and massage, to treat patients and get them back to the point where they can live a
normal, healthy life.

Throughout the duration of treating a patient, physical therapists keep detailed records of the
progress of all of their patients. They conduct physical examinations in order to assess the
patient’s progress. Physical therapists rely on their documentation as a way of seeing how and if
a patient is improving as well as a way of determining what parts of their treatment needs to be
changed or modified. Often times physical therapists will consult with other health care
providers such as occupational therapists, physicians, nurses, social workers, and speech-
language pathologies to discuss treatment plans and options for patients (United).

Physical therapists work and treat patients with a variety of health conditions. This includes
everything from victims of accidents to patients who suffer from disabling joint pain. Physical
therapists also work with individuals with heart disease, cerebral palsy, and those who have
suffered head injuries, fractures, or broken bones. Many physical therapists work with patients
who have obtained sports related injuries (Erstad and Inverarity).

Type of Patients
Physical therapists work with patients of all ages. This includes newborn babies to the very
elderly. Physical therapists work with anyone who has any kind of illness, injury, or disability
that limits their movement and hinders their ability to function on a day-to-day basis (United).

Work Environment
Many physical therapists work in hospitals, but over 80 percent work in other facilities
including:
 Outpatient clinics or offices
 Fitness centers and sports training facilities
 Education or research centers
 Schools
 Homes
 Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
 Hospices
 Skilled nursing, extended care, or subacute facilities
 Industrial, workplace, or other occupational environments

These various facilities are outfitted with special equipment, such as exercise machines, massage
tables, and ultrasound machines, to ensure the physical therapists have everything necessary to
treat their patients.

Physical therapists may work part or full time and some may even work part time at two
different facilities. In 2008, most physical therapists working full time worked 40 hour weeks. In

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addition, some also worked nights and weekends, depending on the schedules of their patients.
During that same time period, about 27 percent of physical therapists worked part time.

The job of a physical therapist can be a rather physically demanding one. During the day
physical therapists are required to crouch, lift, kneel and stand for long periods of time. Physical
therapists may also be required to lift heavy equipment and often times they have to lift patients
and help them to stand and walk (Medical).

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Field

As with almost any career, being a physical therapist has its advantages and disadvantages. It is
important to know the major advantages and disadvantages of any career one plans on pursuing
before embarking on a career in that field. Listed below are some of the major advantages and
disadvantages of working as a physical therapist.

Advantages:
 Helping others gives a sense of accomplishment
 Gives the opportunity to get to know a number of different people from different age
groups and backgrounds
 Offers the opportunity to enhance the quality of life of patients
 Physical therapists can work in a variety of settings
 Positive job outlook for the future

Disadvantages:
 Requires a good amount of schooling
 Can be physically demanding (like heavy lifting of patients or equipment)
 Might require working long hours, like weekends and evenings
 Could possibly be overwhelming depending on the number of patients requiring
assistance
 May require working with patients who are uncooperative

Training and Qualifications

Education
In order to become a physical therapist, one needs to receive a doctorate degree from an
accredited physical therapy program. In 2009, there were 212 accredited physical therapy
programs offered in schools across the country. The doctoral degree program that one must
graduate from in order to become a physical therapist takes, on average, about 3 years to
complete. Once accepted to the program, students take a number of classes including biology,
anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, biomechanics, pathology, and radiology. Required courses
also include behavioral science, clinical reasoning, and evidence-based courses. During the
program, students learn about a variety of examination tests and measures and diagnostic
processes as well as therapeutic interventions. In addition to instruction in the classroom and
laboratory, students also obtain clinical experience in a supervised setting (United).

In 2008, The Consensus Group rated the best colleges in the country to attend for individual’s
looking to apply to the graduate physical therapy program.

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 1. University of Southern California
2. University of Pittsburgh
3. Washington University in St. Louis
4. University of Delaware
5. US Army-Baylor University
6. University of Iowa
7. Arcadia University
8. MGH Institute of Health Professions
9. Northwestern University
10. University of Miami

As an undergraduate student, some recommended courses to take before applying to the physical
therapy education program include physics, chemistry, anatomy, biology, mathematics, statistics,
and social science (University). Many programs require applicants to acquire a certain number of
volunteer hours in one or more physical therapy facility before being admitted to the program.
Other requirements for admission include completion of the Graduate Record Examination test
with a minimum score of 400 on the verbal portion of the test and 450 quantitative as well as
current CPR and First Aid certification (United).

Licensure Requirements
After graduating from the physical therapy program, graduates are required to take a state
administered national licensure exam prior to becoming a certified physical therapist. Graduates
must pass this exam before obtaining a job and beginning to practice as a physical therapist.
Additional requirements for becoming a certified physical therapist vary from state to state.
Many states require physical therapists to participate in various workshops and education courses
in order to stay certified and continue practicing. Some physical therapists continue their
education and become board certified in a clinical specialty while others open their own private
practices (United).

Required Skills
In addition to passing licensure exams and meeting state qualification requirements, physical
therapists must possess a number of different skills. They must be compassionate and willing to
listen to what their patients have to say. Physical therapists must also have strong communication
and interpersonal skills. They need to be able to communicate with patients and their families on
a day-to-day basis as well as relate to each individual patient. Strong communication skills are
also important because physical therapists need to be able to educate patients and families about
different conditions and treatment options.

Physical therapists must be able to use clinical reasoning to and decision making to diagnosis
each individual patient based on their medical records and examination. They must then be able
to set treatment plans and goals for the patient and determine if and how quickly the patient
should improve. Other basic skill requirements include (Santiago):
 Knowledge and ability to assess all body systems in order to determine how much
therapy is needed
 Ability to determine the patient’s limitations

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  Be able to perform tests to determine range of motion, sensory integrity, reflexes, and
neuromotor skills
 Management skills such as:
o Documentation of medical records
o Supervising staff
o Billing and coding for reimbursement
 Professional skills and values such as:
o Integrity
o Responsibility
o Compassion
o Accountability

Current Employment

In 2008, physical therapists held about 185,500 jobs. Experts suspect that the actual number of
jobs is greater than the current number of employed physical therapists. This is because many
physical therapists work part time at two different facilities. About 60% of physical therapists
currently work in hospitals or in offices of other health practitioners. Other places of
employment include nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers, homes, and offices of
physicians. Some physical therapists are self-employed and work in their own private practices.
Physical therapists who own their own facility have their own patients and usually have contracts
where they provide services in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, home healthcare agencies, adult
day care programs, nursing care facilities, and schools. Physical therapists also conduct research
and some teach in universities and other academic institutions (Medical).

Job Outlook

Currently physical therapists are experiencing only a 0.2 percent unemployment rate and
employment opportunities for physical therapists are projected to increase much faster
than average in the coming years (APTA). From 2008 to 2018, employment opportunities for
physical therapists are supposed to increase by 30 percent. Demand for physical therapists is
expected to increase due to a number of different reasons.

The increasing population of elderly individuals is expected to increase the need for physical
therapists. The elderly are more vulnerable to conditions that require therapeutic services,
therefore increasing the need for more individuals granting these services. In addition, the
generation of baby boomers is entering the age where most are more vulnerable to conditions
like heart attacks and strokes. Often times recovering from these health conditions requires the
help of physical therapists. With the advent of many new medical technologies and
advancements, many individuals with potentially fatal conditions are surviving, increasing the
need for therapeutic services to help them with their recovery (United).

Additionally, the federal government has recently passed the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act. This act makes it mandatory that students have access to services provided by
physical therapists, increasing the demand for therapists in schools across the country.

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As the population begins to learn more and become more interested in living healthy lives,
the demand for physical therapists is expected to continue to grow. More and more people
are becoming interested in making healthy lifestyle changes which has caused an increasing
number of people to contact physical therapists to help them develop exercise programs.
Employers have also begun working with physical therapists in order to evaluate worksites and
teach employees safe work habits in an effort to reduce the number of workplace related injuries
(Asenjo).

Figure 2. Source: http://www.indeed.com/jobtrends/Physical-Therapist.html

The above graph shows that job opportunities for physical therapists have continued to increase
since July of 2005. Job opportunities for physical therapists are expected to continue to increase
in all work environments in the coming years and should be particularly good in acute hospital
and orthopedic settings. These are the settings with the highest number of elderly patients. Job
opportunities are also expected to be plentiful in rural areas. This is due to the high number of
physical therapists who tend to prefer to practice in urban and suburban areas (United).

Earnings

In May of 2008, the average yearly earnings of physical therapists was $72,790. The average
yearly earnings based on percent of physical therapists was as follows:
 Lowest 10%: < $50,350
 Middle 50%: $60,300 - $85,540
 Highest 10%: > $104, 350

The average yearly salary depends somewhat on what setting the physical therapist is working
in. The middle average salaries for physical therapists working in the industries that employed
the largest number of physical therapists in May of 2008 were:
 Home health care services: $77,630
 Nursing care facilities: $76, 680
 General medical and surgical hospitals: $73,270

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  Offices of physicians: $72,790
 Offices of other health practitioners: $71,400

How much a physical therapist earns also depends on the number of years of experience they
have had working in the field. The graph below shows the median yearly salary of pediatric
physical therapists based on the number of year’s experience they have. As told by the graph, the
more experience one has in working in the field, the more they earn on a yearly basis (United).

Figure 3. Source: Salary Survey for Job: Pediatric Physical Therapist.

http://payscale.com/research/US/Jobs=Pediatric_Physcial_Therapist/salary

Specialty Areas

The realm of knowledge of physical therapy is quite large. Due to this, some physical therapists
specialize in certain areas. The five most common areas that physical therapists specialize in are:

Orthopedic Physical Therapy

Orthopedic physical therapists diagnose and treat patients who have obtained injuries to the
musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic physical therapists commonly treat patients that are
recovering from orthopedic surgeries. Physical therapists that specialize in orthopedics are
trained to treat a variety of conditions including:
 Fractures
 Sports injuries

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  Arthritis
 Sprains
 Back and neck pain
 Spinal conditions

Orthopedic physical therapists use a number of different treatments to help rehabilitate patients.
The most commonly used treatment techniques are electrical stimulation and hot and cold packs.

Neurological Physical Therapy

Neurological physical therapists specifically work with patients who suffer from a neurological
disorder or disease. They work with these patients to improve the areas of dysfunction and treat
the patient so they can manage their condition in the best way possible. Conditions that are most
commonly seen by neurological physical therapists include:
 Alzheimer’s disease
 Cerebral palsy
 Parkinson’s disease
 Paralysis
 Multiple sclerosis
 Stroke
 Vision impairment

Geriatric Physical Therapy

Geriatric physical therapists work with patients who are experiencing normal adult aging, but the
main focus is generally on the elderly. There are many conditions that geriatric physical
therapists treat that affect people as they get older including:
 Osteoporosis
 Hip replacement
 Joint replacement
 Incontinence
 Cancer
 Balance problems
 Arthritis

Geriatric physical therapists help individuals suffering from these conditions by helping to
reduce pain and restore mobility while helping the individual improve their health and fitness
levels.

Pediatric Physical Therapy

Pediatric physical therapy is focused on detecting health problems in children. Pediatric physical
therapists diagnose and treat children with various health disorders. Physical therapists that
specialize in pediatrics are specially trained to diagnose health problems early on in children so
they can be treated as soon as possible in an effort to reduce problems as an adult. Pediatric
physical therapists treat many different diseases including congenital, skeletal, developmental,
and neuromuscular conditions. Treatment usually includes improving the child’s strength and
endurance as well as improving their gross and fine motor skills. Pediatric physical therapists

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also work with children on their cognitive and sensory skills. Common conditions seen by
pediatric physical therapists include:
 Cerebral palsy
 Spina bifida
 Torticolllis

Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Physical Therapy

Physical therapists that specialize in cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation treat
individuals who have undergone cardiac or pulmonary surgery. This includes:
 Heart attack victims
 Patients recovering from bypass surgery
 Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
 Patients suffering from pulmonary fibrosis

Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation physical therapists focus on increasing the

endurance of patients and getting them back to where they can function on their own. Often
times these therapists have to use manual therapy to clear lung secretions due to conditions like
cystic fibrosis (Brunken and Nordqvist).

Related Occupations
Physical therapists work to rehabilitate patients that have disabilities that interfere with daily
functioning. Other professions that work to rehabilitate patients include:

Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists work with individuals who are stricken with mentally, emotionally,
physically, or developmentally debilitating conditions. Occupational therapists help these
patients improve their basic motor functions in an effort to assist the patient in living as normal
of a life as they can with their disability. The main goal of occupational therapists is to help
patients live an independent and satisfying life.

Audiologists
Audiologists assist individuals who suffer from hearing, balance, and other ear related problems.
Audiologists work with patients of all ages with various hearing disorders in an effort to help the
individual manage their disability in the best way possible. Audiologists do this by using
computers, audiometers, and other testing devices.

Speech-Language Pathologists
Speech-language pathologists, also referred to as speech therapists, diagnose and treat a number
of disorders related to speech, voice, language, and fluency. Speech language pathologists work
with patients who exhibit a wide range of speech related disorders including those with speech
rhythm and fluency problems, those with trouble producing sounds, and individuals who have
problems with stuttering (United).

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 Works Cited

APTA. “The Physical Therapist.” The American Physical Therapy Association 3 Feb. 2009.
28 Feb. 2010 <http://www.apta.org/AM/PrinterTemplate.cfm>.
Asenjo, Bill. “Physical Therapy.” Healthline 2002. 28 Feb. 2010
<http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/physical-therapy>.
Brunken, Brian L. “Physical Therapy.” PhysicalTherapyPedia 27 Feb. 2010. 1 Mar. 2010
<http://www.physicaltherapypedia.com>.
Connecticut Department of Public Health. “Board of Examiners for Physical Therapists.”
State of Connecticut 17 Sept. 2009. 27 Mar. 2010 <http://www.ct.gov/dph>.
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<http://health.yahoo.com/fitness-injury/physical-therapy/healthwise>.
Indeed. “Physical Therapist Job Trends.” Indeed.com 2010. 27 Mar. 2010
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Inverarity, Laura, D.O. “Do I Need Physical Therapy?” About.com: Physical Therapy 30 Nov.
2008. 1 Mar. 2010 <http://physicaltherapy.about.com/od/typesofphysicaltherapy>.
Medical Career Info. “Physical Therapists.” MedicalCareerInfo.com 28 Feb. 2010
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Nordqvist, Christian. “What is Physical Therapy (physiotherapy)? What Does a Physical
Therapist (physiotherapist) Do?” Medical News Today 14 Aug. 2009. 1 Mar. 2010
<http://www.medicalnewstoday.com>.
Payscale. “Salary Survey for Job: Pediatric Physical Therapist.” Payscale.com 22 Mar. 2010.
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Santiago, Andrea. “Physical Therapist Career Profile – Education, Compensation, Skill Set, and
More.” About.com Health Careers 2010. 26 Feb. 2010 <http://healthcareers.about.com/
od/alliedmedicalprofiles/p/PhysicalTherapist>.
The University of Michigan Flint. “Physical Therapy (DPT) Entry-Level Program.” University
of Michigan-Flint 2009. 1 Mar. 2010 <http://www.umflint.edu/graduateprograms/
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