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What is a physical therapist?
Physical therapists are health care professionals with special expertise
in the science of movement. They use this knowledge to provide:
-
Education and preventive interventions to help people avoid injury
and lead to healthier living.
- Therapeutic
interventions including exercise to help people function to the
best of their ability.
Physical
therapists also play an important role in developing health policy
and managing the physical therapy services provided to patients
and clients.
Where do physical therapists work?
Physical therapists work in many settings, including hospitals,
rehabilitation centers, outpatient centers, nursing homes, schools,
home health agencies, industrial sites, colleges and universities.
Physical therapists can specialize in different areas of care, including:
- Orthopedics.
- Pediatrics.
- Cardiopulmonary
medicine.
- Geriatrics.
- Neurology.
- Sports
medicine.
- Aquatics.
-
Ergonomics.
-
Wound care.
What
kind of training do physical therapists have?
Physical therapy training usually begins after students have earned
a bachelor's degree. This allows physical therapy students to acquire
a broad-based education and to explore a variety of interests before
starting their therapy training. Professional education includes
academic study of the basic and clinical sciences, including anatomy,
physiology and movement, as well as supervised clinical training.
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