The primary goal of a physical therapist is to assist people who have been injured or disabled in regaining physical mobility and joint function through targeted exercise. Most therapists work with patients one-on-one, creating stretches and programs tailored to the injuries or concerns at hand. They frequently collaborate with hospitals or nursing homes and are typically classified as medical or healthcare professionals.
Physical therapy is usually sought for specific reasons. A person with a broken arm may seek short-term therapy to re-teach muscles how to do things like hold a pencil or type on a keyboard, for example, which may have been hampered months in a cast. Someone who has had a brain tumor removed or a foot amputated may need longer-term therapy, which can last several years, to learn coping skills and build muscle strength. Physical therapy may be required for the rest of a person’s life if they were born with disabilities or physical limitations. The physical therapist’s day-to-day work will inevitably be influenced the patient’s needs, but the framework is usually consistent.
Creating a Strategy
Treatment plans are one of the most important aspects of the job. In order to learn more about what needs to be done, therapists will usually meet with patients at least once in an informal, information-only setting. This meeting usually includes diagnostic stretches and, in some cases, a cursory examination so that the therapist can get a better idea of what’s going on. At this stage, medical records, charts, and other files are frequently reviewed.
The therapist will then devise a treatment plan that begins small but gradually expands. The program will typically include a variety of exercises aimed at improving range of motion, endurance, and motor skills. Weights and special stretching equipment are frequently used, and massage therapy, traction, and heat or water therapy may also be used in certain situations. The therapist’s job is to select the exercises that are best suited to the patient’s condition, then tweak them as needed to achieve the desired results.
Assisting with the execution of exercises
The majority of physical therapy sessions last an hour or longer. During this time, therapists work with patients one-on-one, first demonstrating the target exercise and then checking to see if it is being replicated correctly. The therapist has the ability to adjust the intensity as needed. He or she will almost always give patients “homework” in the form of at-home exercises that will reinforce what was learned in the session.
Affordability
Physical therapists, unlike many other medical professionals, have regular office hours and are not usually on call. Even so, most practitioners will give out their phone numbers or other contact information to patients, and may take after-hours calls or schedule emergency sessions as needed — though a lot depends on the practitioner in question.
Situations at Work
In general, a physical therapist works in a hospital, nursing home, or other medical facility, where he or she coordinates care with physicians, nurses, psychologists, and occupational therapists. Hospital therapists frequently only provide short-term or intermediate care. Patients who have recently undergone surgery or who have been diagnosed with degenerative diseases are frequently the mainstay of the patient base in these settings. Relationships typically last longer in nursing homes, veteran’s recovery centers, and rehabilitation clinics.
An experienced physical therapist may also choose to work on their own, usually in a private office or as a consultant. Success in this type of setting usually necessitates a well-established patient base, or else a method of securing consistent referrals; however, it often allows for a lot more flexibility.
Requirements for Training
The type of education and licensing required of a physical therapist varies jurisdiction, but the requirements are generally quite stringent. A bachelor’s degree is almost always required, and most places also require graduate work up to the master’s degree level. To begin seeing patients, graduates must typically pass a licensing or certification exam, which may or may not require a certain number of hours of fieldwork. Internships or apprenticeships are common ways for aspiring therapists to meet these challenges while still in school.