subject: Physical Therapy Education To Advance Your Employment Options [print this page] Physical therapy is an interesting fieldPhysical therapy is an interesting field. This branch of medicine involves helping people who have mobility issues, long term health problems, injuries and muscle problems. Physical therapy can be used to help people regain their independence and get their mobility and strength back after suffering an injury.
Training to work in physical therapy can be done via a full time course with a vocational element. You can earn an Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapy by studying online. The associate course is a fairly short one compared to a traditional degree, and if you like what you learn you will have the option to enroll on a full course and continue your career.
Degree level qualifications in physical therapy cover many subjects, including biomechanics, therapeutic methods, human development and anatomy. Some courses also involve ethics and business elements to help you if you decide to run your own practice later on in your career. Having a well-rounded education allows you to keep your options open and gives you the chance to advance your career in a variety of ways as you gain experience.
The job of a physical therapist is quite varied and interesting. If you wish, you could specialize in helping the disabled, or those with chronic medical conditions. Others specialize in providing support for athletes, or working in hospitals rehabilitating people after surgery or if they have had a long stay and been bedridden for most of it. Depending on the type of work they do, a physical therapist may work out of a private practice, an outpatient facility, or a hospital.
The job of a physical therapist is different to the job of a personal trainer. The similarity between the names of the two professions and the shared initials is something to be aware of when you are talking to people outside of the profession. A certified personal trainer may use CPT as the initials of their qualification. The similarity of the names can lead to confusion when talking about exercises and injury rehabilitation in the context of sports and athletics.
The challenges that a physical therapist faces on a day to day basis are the things that make the job so interesting. As the average age of the population gets higher, and people become more health conscious, demand for trained physical therapists is increasing. A physical therapist can command a salary of $80,000 or more, depending on their experience and the area they are working in. Now is a good time to start studying.
