Physical Therapists

Summary

Physical therapists help people with injuries or disabilities build and maintain mobility.

Quick Facts: Physical Therapists
2010 Median Pay	$76,310 per year $36.69 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Doctoral or professional degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	198,600
Job Outlook, 2010-20	39% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	77,400

What Physical Therapists Do

Physical therapists help people who have injuries or illnesses improve their movement and manage their pain. They are often an important part of rehabilitation and treatment of patients with chronic conditions or injuries.

Work Environment

Physical therapists typically work in private offices and clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes. They spend much of their time on their feet, actively working with patients.

How to Become a Physical Therapist

Physical therapists typically need a doctoral degree in physical therapy. All states require physical therapists to be licensed.

Pay

The median annual wage of physical therapists was $76,310 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of physical therapists is expected to increase 39 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for physical therapy services will come, in large part, from the aging baby boomers, who are staying active later in life than previous generations did.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of physical therapists with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about physical therapists by contacting these additional resources.

What Physical Therapists Do About this section

Physical therapists use different forms of treatment called "modalities" depending the type of patient they are caring for.

Physical therapists, sometimes referred to as PTs, help people who have injuries or illnesses improve their movement and manage their pain. They are often an important part of rehabilitation and treatment of patients with chronic conditions or injuries.

Duties

Physical therapists typically do the following:

• Diagnose patients’ dysfunctional movements by watching them stand or walk and by listening to their concerns, among other methods
• Set up a plan for their patients, outlining the patient's goals and the planned treatments
• Use exercises, stretching maneuvers, hands-on therapy, and equipment to ease patients’ pain and to help  them increase their ability to move
• Evaluate a patient’s progress, modifying a treatment plan and trying new treatments as needed
• Educate patients and their families about what to expect during recovery from injury and illness and how best to cope with what happens

Physical therapists provide care to people of all ages who have functional problems resulting from back and neck injuries; sprains, strains, and fractures; arthritis; amputations; stroke; birth conditions, such as cerebral palsy; injuries related to work and sports; and other conditions.

Physical therapists are trained to use a variety of different techniques—sometimes called modalities—to care for their patients. These techniques include applying heat and cold, hands-on stimulation or massage, and using assistive and adaptive devices and equipment.

The work of physical therapists varies with the type of patients they serve. For example, a patient suffering from loss of mobility due to Parkinson’s disease needs different care than an athlete recovering from an injury. Some physical therapists specialize in one type of care, such as pediatrics (treating children) or sports physical therapy.

Physical therapists work as part of a healthcare team, overseeing the work of physical therapist assistants and aides and consulting with physicians and surgeons and other specialists. Physical therapists also work at preventing loss of mobility by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs to encourage healthier and more active lifestyles. For more information, see the profiles on physical therapist assistants and aides and physicians and surgeons.

Work Environment About this section

Physical therapists help patients do specific exercises.

Physical therapists held about 198,600 jobs in 2010. Physical therapists typically work in private offices and clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes. They spend much of their time on their feet, being active. Some physical therapists are self-employed, meaning that they own or are partners in owning their practice.  

As shown below, most physical therapists worked in offices of health practitioners or hospitals in 2010:

About 7 percent of physical therapists were self-employed in 2010.

Work Schedules

Most physical therapists work full time. About 29 percent worked part time in 2010.

How to Become a Physical Therapist About this section

Physical therapists use a variety of techniques, such as massage and stretching, to treat patients.

Physical therapists typically need a doctoral degree in physical therapy. All states require physical therapists to be licensed.

Education

Physical therapists are required to have a postgraduate professional degree. Physical therapy programs usually award a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, although a small number award a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) degree. Doctoral programs typically last 3 years; MPT programs require 2 to 3 years of study. Most programs, either DPT or MPT, require a bachelor’s degree for admission, and many require specific prerequisites, such as anatomy, physiology, biology, and chemistry.    

Physical therapy programs often include courses in biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, and pharmacology. Physical therapy students also complete clinical rotations, enabling them to gain supervised work experience in areas such as acute care and orthopedic care.

Physical therapists may apply to and complete residency programs after graduation. Residencies last 9 months to 3 years and provide additional training and experience in advanced or specialty areas of care. 

Important Qualities

Compassion. Physical therapists are often drawn to the profession in part by a desire to help people. They work with people who are in pain and must have empathy to help their patients.

Detail oriented.­ Like other healthcare providers, physical therapists should have strong analytic and observational skills to diagnose a patient’s problem, evaluate treatments, and provide safe, effective care.

Dexterity. Physical therapists should be comfortable using their hands to provide manual therapy and therapeutic exercises.

Interpersonal skills. Because physical therapists spend their time interacting with patients, they should enjoy working with people. They must be able to explain treatment programs, educate their patients, and listen to the patients’ concerns to provide effective therapy.

Physical stamina. Physical therapists spend much of their time on their feet, moving as they work with their patients. They should enjoy physical activity.

Licenses

All states require physical therapists to be licensed. Licensing requirements vary by state but typically include passing the National Physical Therapy Examination or a similar state-administered exam. A number of states require continuing education for physical therapists to keep their license.

Certification

After gaining work experience, some physical therapists choose to become board certified in a particular clinical specialty, such as pediatrics or sports physical therapy. Board certification requires passing an exam.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of physical therapists was $76,310 in May 2010. The median annual wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $53,620, and the top 10 percent earned more than $107,920.

Physical therapists who own their own practice or who are partners in owning their practice must provide their own benefits and those of their employees.

Most physical therapists work full time. About 29 percent worked part time in 2010.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of physical therapists is expected to increase 39 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Demand for physical therapy services will come, in large part, from the aging baby boomers, who are staying active later in life than previous generations did. Older persons are more likely to suffer heart attacks, strokes, and mobility-related injuries that require physical therapy for rehabilitation.

Advances in medical technology have increased the use of outpatient surgery to treat a variety of injuries and illnesses. Physical therapists will continue to play an important role in helping these patients recover more quickly from surgery.

Medical and technological developments also are expected to permit a greater percentage of trauma victims and newborns with birth defects to survive, creating additional demand for rehabilitative care. In addition, the incidence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, has increased in recent years, and more physical therapists will be needed to help patients manage the effects of these diseases.

Job Prospects

Job opportunities will likely be good for licensed physical therapists in all settings. Job opportunities should be particularly good in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and orthopedic settings, where the elderly are most often treated. Job prospects should be especially favorable in rural areas because many physical therapists live in highly populated urban and suburban areas.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about physical therapists and a list of accredited educational programs in physical therapy, visit

American Physical Therapy Association