Physical Therapist

Summary of What they do:

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.

What Physical Therapists Do

Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain. They are often an important part of preventive care, rehabilitation, and treatment for patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries.

Duties

Physical therapists evaluate and record a patient’s progress.

Physical therapists typically do the following:

• Review patients’ medical history and referrals or notes from doctors, surgeons, or other healthcare workers
• Diagnose patients’ functions and movements by observing them stand or walk and by listening to their concerns
• Develop individualized plans of care for patients, outlining the patients’ goals and the expected outcomes of the plans
• Use exercises, stretching maneuvers, hands-on therapy, and equipment to ease patients’ pain, help them increase their mobility, prevent further pain or injury, and facilitate health and wellness
• Evaluate and record a patients’ progress, modifying the plan of care and trying new treatments as needed
• Educate patients and their families about what to expect from the recovery process and how to cope with challenges throughout the process

Physical therapists, sometimes called PTs, care for people of all ages who have functional problems resulting from back and neck injuries; sprains, strains, and fractures; arthritis; amputations; neurological disorders, such as stroke or cerebral palsy; injuries related to work and sports; and other conditions.

Physical therapists use a variety of techniques to care for their patients. These techniques include exercises; training in functional movement, which may include the use of equipment such as canes, crutches, wheelchairs, and walkers; and special movements of joints, muscles, and other soft tissue to improve mobility and decrease pain.

The work of physical therapists varies by type of patient. For example, a patient working to recover mobility lost after a stroke needs care different from that of a patient recovering from a sports injury. Some physical therapists specialize in one type of care, such as orthopedics or geriatrics. Many physical therapists also help patients maintain or improve mobility by developing fitness and wellness programs that encourage healthy, active lifestyles.

Physical therapists work as part of a healthcare team, overseeing the work of physical therapist assistants and aides and consulting with physicians and surgeons and other specialists.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Physical therapists must clearly explain treatment programs, motivate patients, and listen to patients’ concerns in order to provide effective therapy.

Compassion. Physical therapists spend a lot of time interacting with patients, so they should have a desire to help people. They work with people who are in pain and must have empathy for their patients.

Detail oriented. Like other healthcare providers, physical therapists should have strong analytic and observational skills to diagnose a patient’s problem, evaluate treatments, and provide safe, effective care.

Dexterity. Physical therapists must use their hands to provide manual therapy and therapeutic exercises. They should feel comfortable massaging and otherwise physically assisting patients.

Physical stamina. Physical therapists spend much of their time on their feet, moving to demonstrate proper techniques and to help patients perform exercises. They should enjoy physical activity.

Resourcefulness. Physical therapists customize treatment plans for patients. They must be flexible and adapt plans of care to meet the needs of each patient.

Time-management skills. Physical therapists typically treat several patients each day. They must be able to provide appropriate care to patients as well as complete administrative tasks, such as documenting patient progress.

Tasks On The Job

1. Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
2. Administer treatment involving application of physical agents, using equipment, moist packs, ultraviolet or infrared lamps, or ultrasound machines.
3. Conduct or support research and apply research findings to practice.
4. Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
5. Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices.
6. Direct group rehabilitation activities.
7. Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.
8. Discharge patient from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.
9. Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
10. Evaluate, fit, or adjust prosthetic or orthotic devices or recommend modification to orthotist.
11. Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.
12. Inform patients and refer to appropriate practitioners when diagnosis reveals findings outside physical therapy.
13. Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
14. Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
15. Participate in community or community agency activities or help to formulate public policy.
16. Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
17. 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.
18. Provide educational information about physical therapy or physical therapists, injury prevention, ergonomics, or ways to promote health.
19. Provide information to the patient about the proposed intervention, its material risks and expected benefits, and any reasonable alternatives.
20. Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
21. Refer clients to community resources or services.
22. Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.
23. Teach physical therapy students or those in other health professions.
24. Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.