A Career In Physical Therapy

Karsyn Howard

English III Honors Pd. 4

Mr. Alburger

February 23, 2017

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Karsyn Howard

Mr. Alburger

English III Honors

February 23, 2017

A Career In Physical Therapy

The bottom of the 9th with one out, the pitcher has a no-hitter and state record on the line.

He winds up, and POP! There goes his shoulder again; and there goes his full-ride scholarship to

play in college. If only he had listened to his doctor to have surgery and go through therapy two

weeks ago when he threw out his arm the first time. Luckily nowaday professionals try to avoid

sob stories like this. And because of educated physical therapists, injury recovery and prevention

become an everyday occurrence. Physical therapys advancements throughout history aid the

existing career studied today. Physical therapy, one of many medical fields, carries the

responsibility to aid and rehabilitate injuries in and outside of the clinic. Physical therapists must

also bear an extensive education to uphold and carry out a successful career. Any examination

into the field of physical therapy must analyze the required education, distinct fields within this

industry, and different day-to-day opportunities working in this field.

Physical therapy has drastically changed over time which caused the development of new

techniques and technology. The new approaches have increased how the therapists diagnose and

treat someone. Although some developed throughout history, therapists still use these techniques

today. One type of physical therapy, kinesiology, began use in World War II and still provides

the main techniques used today and developed over time (Green). These techniques impact the

field of physical therapy greatly as well as changed the diagnosing process and treatment. New
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technologies used now reduce the time of recovery. One of these technologies, Low Level Laser

Technology, improves the quality of healing an injury and shortens the recovery process

(Valent). Many physical therapists use different technologies in order to diagnose and treat

patients. Many of these resources increase the chances of a full recovery. Some therapists see

patients that have lost the ability to walk and use a partial weight bearing technology in order for

the patient to gain some or all abilities back (Technology). With these newly developed

technologies comes growth within this field as well as helping the therapists with daily

rehabilitation. The field of physical therapy has grown drastically and continues to develop

today, making it easier to diagnose and treat a patient in the most effective possible way.

When pursuing a career in physical therapy, one will first go through a demanding

educational process. A student wanting to become a physical therapist has choices of the degree

received in college; for example, some receive a bachelor's degree and others receive a master's

degree (Green). With the choice of degrees students should choose the best route for them while

considering factors like pay, demand, and responsibilities. In order to start a career in the field of

physical therapy, one needs to complete many hours in a clinical internship and pass an

examination (Green). All physical therapy programs offer the highest Doctor of Physical

Therapy degree and usually last about three or more years. All of these physical therapy

programs that offer a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree require prerequisite classes in order to

qualify for admission to the program. Some of these programs allow freshmen in college to skip

the prerequisite classes before the three-year program. The colleges place the freshmen into a

six- or seven-year program which allows them to graduate with their bachelor's and doctoral

degree together. After completing the college educational process and passing the Federation of
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State Boards of Physical Therapy examination, physical therapists must obtain a license within

the state they will practice the career of physical therapy. After obtaining the license, one has the

opportunity to become a board-certified specialist. This presents many opportunities to become

certified in eight clinical specialty areas: Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Clinical

Electrophysiology, Geriatrics, Neurology, Orthopaedics, Pediatrics, Sports, and Womens Health

(Summary). A student completing this educational process needs to find the most effective

way to complete these tasks which will increase the person's productivity during this process.

The tasks one need to complete during this educational process helps improve the sucessfulness

of a future career in this field.

To focus on a few clinical studies, sports therapists deal with patients that have sports

related injuries. Many athletes obtain their injuries from over working their bodies, which may

cause musculoskeletal injuries (Saragiotto). The most common injuries examined and treated by

a physical therapist include strain and sprains to major muscles, tears to the ligaments, tears to

the tendons, dislocations of joints, and fractures to bones (National). These sport related

injuries require precise protocol in order for the athlete to heal and continue with athletics after a

full recovery. For example, when athletes dislocate their knee during a performance of a sport,

the therapist must identify the pain tolerance of the individual and promptly set up the most

effective way to carry out the treatment and therapy that best suits the individuals injury. With

an injury related to a tendon such as the patellar tendon, the therapist must examine the amount

of pain inflicted by physical activity; and then assess the most productive way to work out and

strengthen the tendon to a stable form strong enough to support the kneecap as the patellar

tendons role. Understanding a patient's pain tolerance helps the recovery process because the
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sports therapist will take into consideration how much patients can push their body. Along with a

patient's pain tolerance, a sports therapist needs to study and observe an athlete's mindset. This

procedure crucially identifies the path to recovery because a therapist will understand if an

athlete will continue to practice while healing and endure pain throughout the recovery process,

the therapist will consistently monitor the patient's behavior (Killick). If the sports therapist

understands the patient's pain tolerance and mindset, the therapist can create a successful plan for

recovery and will see better results than one that does not understand these things. The total

rehabilitation of an athlete needs the step of sports therapy when dealing with a serious injury to

regain their original performance.

Post surgery therapy occurs often for the recovery of serious injuries and operations. Post

surgery physical therapy recommended or required by a doctor helps regain use of the affected

body (Effectiveness). In a case where someone has had knee surgery and through that knee

surgery had a metal plate to replace ones kneecap, the operation requires staples along the

kneecap. Post operational therapy helps guarantee the individuals movement to the newly

replaced knee. More than likely an exercise machine of various types helps an individual become

strong enough to perform the physical activities needed to recover completely without any

assistance. This type of therapy helps many people that suffer from any operation that may affect

the body movement. Some post surgery therapists not only see physical injuries but also see

operations such as an operation for breast cancer. In cases like this the physical therapist will see

to the patients need to the chest to strengthen the shoulder, chest and neck muscles to recover

from the operations the individual went through. Post surgical therapy may include stretching

and active exercises that prove to treat postoperative pain (Effectiveness). Resistance bands
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and muscle rollers may aid these stretches, but most consist of body weight exercises. Post

surgery therapists help a patient regain movement after an operation and help reduce pain in

order for the patient to have a pain free future.

Pediatric therapy cares for children whose ages can vary. Believe it or not, pediatric age

requirements (minimums and maximums) differ from state-to-state across the country depending

on legislature. Although pediatric physical therapists will only have patients consisting of

children, they see a wide range of injuries and types of patients. Pediatric physical therapists see

patients that have physical disabilities, sports related injuries, and post surgery therapy. Pediatric

physical therapists have to plan out and effectively carry out a rehabilitation protocol that will

hook the childrens attention. Also, physical therapist's plan to keep the rehabilitation process

exciting while at the same time making sure the patient receives the necessary treatment to

properly and effectively rehabilitate the childs injuries or disabilities. One technique frequently

used for pediatric therapy involves the use of trampolines. Trampolines can focus on, strengthen,

and recover muscles and tendons that have either endured an injury or weakened. Another

technique carried out by pediatric therapists involves the use of games usually followed by

rewards. Pediatric therapy can help treat many different injuries. For example a child born with

undeveloped rotator cuffs, a physical therapist has to show the individual the correct workouts to

strengthen the muscles around the rotator cuff to keep the shoulder from becoming dislocated.

The workouts with the resistance bands have to appeal to the child, if the physical therapists

expects their patient to continue the rehabilitation procedure outside of the clinic. Another

therapeutic strategy for children has the therapist prepare a premeditated assortment of pictures

such as animals. The patient reaches out to touch a particular animal. The goal of the reach uses
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specific joints to isolate the wrist, elbow, or rotator cuff. These few example procedures provide

pediatric therapists with new and engaging ways to improve the rehabilitation process by making

the process fun and provides rewards for the child. Without knowing it, the young patient still

fights towards recovery. Although pediatric therapy looks interesting, physical therapy with

children can demand so much from the professional. The therapists have a very difficult job

because they have to dig deeper into the children and figure out the best plan for each child.

Pediatric therapists have to account for many factors such as age, development level, the childs

family, and their daily environment (Kenyon). Therapists need to take these things into account

in order to see how these impacts may affect the childrens healing process. During pediatric

physical therapy the therapist has to conduct a long interview process in order to receive

information about the patient's living situations and why the patient needs and seeks physical

therapy (Kenyon). During the interview, the therapist may bring up personal questions such as

the home the patient lives in to understand if the home suits the disability the child may have.

The crucial interview process helps inform the patient's family who might not understand certain

risks the environment may have for the children. On the other hand the therapist has a different

perspective and will help reduce the risks.

Geriatrics physical therapy involves many elderly patients recovering from different

types of injuries or disabilities. Patient must always have their health, any illness, and physical

abilities taken into consideration before the patient goes through the diagnosing process

(Physical). For example, any patient can have a high sensitivity with ones emotions after

experiencing a stroke. The therapist must have the ability to identify any emotional stress the

patient may have and provide the best possible solution. The use of physical therapy to
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strengthen joints and tendons can expedite recovery from an existing injury and reduce future

risk of injuries. Physical therapy within geriatrics therapy does not contain as many enduring

exercises and most physical therapy programs. The majority of the exercises used for geriatrics

physical therapy includes light weights and stretches to recover and strengthen major tendons

and muscles (Physical). In some cases if a patient has endured a stroke and lost mobility within

ones hand, physical therapists use a technique such as making the patient's pick coins up and

place them in a bucket to gain their motor skills. These tasks may seem simple, but the patients

that have suffered setbacks such as a stroke can find these tasks very challenging. Physical

therapists in this field have to create effective treatment plans in order for the patient to receive

the most effective rehabilitation.

Physical therapy for veterans affairs contains many patients and resembles geriatrics

physical therapy. The physical activities given to the veterans varies based off of age, weight,

sensitivity, and heavily affected by post traumatic stress disorder. A large number of veterans

suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder and the physical therapy needed for these veterans

should not only help restore and rehabilitate their bodies, but also help rehabilitate their minds

through gaining back their everyday motor skills and movements they had prior to war. This path

of physical therapy has high demands and stress due to the fact that the individuals stay until

they have reached complete health or reach the goal they set out to reach at the beginning of the

therapy sessions. If a veteran has lost a limb or suffered an injury to that severity the physical

therapist diagnoses the patient with a neurological disability called phantom limb, where the

patients feel the limb that they lost, but sometimes their brain has trouble processing the limb

which becomes a problem when dealing with prosthetic limbs. A veterans affairs physical
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therapist has to find an effective way to work out the muscles around the prosthetic to help the

brain to accept it and have the ability to function properly and efficiently. This job can take long

hours and as well as many patients and creativity to trick the human brain with physical activities

to accept something foreign as its own. The veterans affairs physical therapists have a main role

in veterans recovery and why many veterans who suffered a major injury can go back to their

everyday life activities such as driving, walking, and even bathing themselves. Veteran Affairs

physical therapist contain the best help to prevent and rehabilitate injuries to those fighting for

our country (Peterson). With great responsibilities and high stress levels, a veterans affairs

physical therapist has a high calling on the career field.

This career changes on a daily basis due to therapists needing to repeatedly diagnose,

treat, and reevaluate many different injuries each day. The constant changing on a daily basis can

make the job more interesting and challenging. Depending on where a physical therapist may

work, his or her career may determine what the therapist will do on a daily basis. Physical

therapists that work in large hospitals may have a very busy day because of the constant flow of

patients. Therapists that travel to patients homes have a more personal job that requires them to

check on the patient and how the patient's home may affect the recovery process. Therapists that

work in a patient's home must first evaluate and complete an assessment of the home to make

sure that it follows the proper safety precautions. During this assessment the therapist will look

for unsafe furniture, stairs, and if the smoke detectors work if any of these factors may risk a

patient's recovery process the therapist will help improve the living environment (Green). These

assessments completed by therapists can lead to a better living arrangement for patients and

improve the patient's daily lifestyle as well as their recovery. A therapist that chooses a career in
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a smaller work environment may experience slower days and not receive many patients.

Although working in a smaller environment has many disadvantages, some advantages may

include a closer relationship with patients and more one-on-one time to work with each patient.

When thinking of pursuing a career in this field, one needs to experience each work environment

to determine what the best work environment contains while considering multiple factors of what

they want to see on a daily basis.

This career appeals to many because of the personalities needed and because most love

helping others recover from many different injuries. When pursuing a career in physical therapy

one may need to understand the qualifications and different personalities needed for this career to

know if this career matches how the person works. Required internships help provide a hands-on

perspective into the career of physical therapy. One pursuing this career will learn what

personalities best fit each field and although one can obtain different degrees they still need to

complete a thousand hours in a clinical internship where these personalities will test the student

(Green). A therapist that has personality traits can improve a work environment, create more

business, and improve the moods and determination of patients. Some traits that fit best in a

career of physical therapy include people that can easily solve problems, organized, and that can

follow a routine procedure (Personality). In order to have a successful career in physical

therapy, the qualifications include someone who has great organizational and problem-solving

skills even when tested under the pressure and strict requirements that physical therapists deal

with on a daily basis. Along with the personality traits, one should possess certain qualities to

have success within the field of physical therapy. Patients with stress and agony need a physical

therapist who carries an attitude with an abundance of compassion. The physical therapy field
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requires a great deal of dexterity. A large portion of recovering patients will need assistance with

physical aid. With the aspect of treating each patient differently a physical therapist has to use

their resources. Most patients bodies react differently to injuries, so a physical therapist must

have the capability to identify and create an effective treatment plan based purely off of the

individual. This career field has a high need for interpersonal skills. When working with patients,

a physical therapist must possess great interpersonal skills as well as carry a confident, calm, and

encouraging demeanor when directing the patient during the treatment, along with the capability

to understand patients with slurred speech, primarily with the geriatrics patients (Summary).

When a therapist can understand the patient it makes the process of therapy easier. According to

a professional in this field when asked what the most important qualifications for this field

include, she responded by stating, Great people skills is a must. You meet people when they are

at their worst and you need to find what things motivate them (Cox). This proves that a physical

therapist needs to have the proper people skills. These qualities provide the physical therapist

with the tools necessary to have a successful career.

Physical therapy has existed for many years and continuously expands and develops

throughout time. With new technologies and techniques developing like kinesiology, a technique

used in world war two, has continued to change and advance. With all of these developments and

advancements new fields and paths for physical therapy have emerged and grown into there own

solidworks. Sports physical therapy, where therapists rehabilitate athletes back to their best and

healthiest shape. Post surgery physical therapy, where they aid individuals in need after surgery

and operations to strengthen the muscles, tendons, and ligaments back to their original form.

Pediatrics physical therapy, who take care of young children and experience all kinds of patients
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with different injuries, disorders, and individuals who require specialized attention and

rehabilitation. Geriatrics physical therapy, where therapists aid the elderly to help individuals

prevent injuries and strengthen muscles, tendons, and ligaments that endured an injury to allow

them to continue with the individual's everyday life. Veteran affairs physical therapy aids and

assists veterans who have suffered injuries during and after war. All of these fields of physical

therapy require hard work and perseverance. These fields of work require extensive amounts of

college education, along with additional programs outside of the standard prerequisites classes

that allow one to get certified to obtain ones license for a certified physical therapist. The day to

day basis of a physical therapist can differ based on the person. This career can have many

demands, cause stress, and require vast skill sets and qualities; those of which could decide if a

career succeeds or not. The most successful career could have saved the one of that baseball

pitcher.
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