What are Physical Therapists
Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
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Common Job Titles
Physical Therapist (PT)
Physiotherapist
Acute Care Physical Therapist
Junior Physiotherapist
Associate Physiotherapist
Sports Physiotherapist
Geriatric Physical Therapist
Per Diem Physical Therapist
Home Care Physical Therapist
Pediatric Physical Therapist
Sports Physical Therapist
Registered Physical Therapist (RPT)
Personality & Work Styles
Empathy
Cooperation
Attention to Detail
Dependability
Optimism
Social Orientation
Cautiousness
Integrity
Sincerity
Perseverance
Work Activities
Assisting and Caring for Others
Documenting/Recording Information
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
Getting Information
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Work Environment
Contact With Others
Physical Proximity
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Freedom to Make Decisions
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
Frequency of Decision Making
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
Telephone Conversations
Skills You Will Receive
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Monitoring
Writing
Active Learning
Learning Strategies
Science
Mathematics
Other Attributes Important To Know
Oral Comprehension
Written Comprehension
Oral Expression
Written Expression
Fluency of Ideas
Originality
Problem Sensitivity
Deductive Reasoning
Inductive Reasoning
Information Ordering
Related Careers
Physical Therapist Assistants
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
Occupational Therapists
Physical Therapist Aides
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Occupational Therapy Aides
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Technology/Tools Used
Medical software
Action games
Analytical or scientific software
Word processing software
Accounting software
Spreadsheet software
Office suite software
Electronic mail software
Calendar and scheduling software
Work Values
Relationships
Achievement
Recognition
Independence
Working Conditions
Support
Knowledge You Will Receive
Administration and Management
Administrative
Economics and Accounting
Sales and Marketing
Customer and Personal Service
Personnel and Human Resources
Production and Processing
Food Production
Computers and Electronics
Engineering and Technology
Education Requirements
Doctoral or professional degree
Job Zone 5
Tasks Associated with This Career
Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.
Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.