A physical therapist by definition of the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) is a movement expert who improves the quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education.
Physical Therapy is a profession that has been around since the 18th century beginning in Sweden. It wasn’t until 1918 Physical Therapy found it's way overseas to the United States, during World War I. A group of 18 women came together to be known as Reconstruction Aides to assist the wounded soldiers with exercise and massage.
By 1921 the first lady of Physical Therapy Mary McMillan helped to establish the American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association.
In time this would become known as the American Physical Therapy Association, the professional organization for PT’s and PTAs.
Fast forward to present Day…
What do you need to become a physical therapist:
In order to apply for Physical Therapy schooling an individual must attain their Bachelors and complete the requirements for acceptance into an accredited program. Once accepted Physical Therapy students will undergo a 3 year intensive doctorate study which involves classroom and hands-on instruction as well as multiple clinical rotations.
During those 3 years in the classroom we study Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Kinesiology, Cardiopulmonology, Pharmacology, Neurophysiology, Psychology….. Lots of ologies =) .
Once a PT’s schooling is complete the individual must pass the National Physical Therapy Exam and become licensed in the state in which they practice.
The education doesn’t stop there. After passing their boards PT’s will undergo continuing education to specialize in their niche. I myself chose Orthopedics and Sports medicine.
So now that you know a little about what it takes to become a PT, what can we do for you:
Educate: Teaching the client about their body, how it moves, understanding a diagnosis, how to improve their health and mobility
Listen: Getting to know the patient and their background, their barriers and goals
Prevention: teaching safety, preventive exercises, body mechanics and how to stay healthy
Rehabilitate: Assessing the client to find what limits them. Addressing the problem through exercise and hands on treatment in order to get the individual back to where they were before the injury.
Most PT’s spend a fair amount of time with their clients getting to know them as a person. It says physical in the job title but it’s not just treating the body part and out the door. It’s understanding the person as a whole and working toward resolving their symptoms and achieving their goals.
Comments