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The High Demand
for Physical Therapists
Physical
therapists can deal with pain.
They fix or improve everything from back and neck aches to ankle
sprains or knee problems. They can even help patients with arthritis or
asthma. Name any health problem, and chances are there's a physical
therapy treatment you could try.
That's partly why this is a great career choice. People demand
solutions for problems that result from injuries or disease. Physical
therapy offers non-surgical, drug-free treatment.
The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) says
there were about 161,850 physical therapists in the U.S. in 2007.
Aches and pains caused by disabilities and illnesses are a reality of
an aging population. That increases the demand for these services.
"There will be an increased demand for physical therapy in geriatrics,
nursing homes and home and community care as the population ages," says
Signe Holstein. Holstein is the executive director of a physical
therapy association.
Another reason there may be more demand for physical therapy is that
technological advances allow doctors to save newborns with severe birth
defects more often than in the past. "For those infants, it's important
that they get treatment early on," says Statton.
"Future medical developments should also permit a higher percentage of
trauma victims to survive, creating additional demand for
rehabilitative care," says the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH).
"I would anticipate that the present demand will continue for about 20
years," says Diarmid McVicar. McVicar owns a physical therapy center.
The OOH predicts employment of physical therapists will increase faster
than average through 2016, despite federal limits on reimbursement for
therapy services.
The moratorium has put the demand for physical therapists in the U.S.
back on the upswing, according to Johnson. American Physical Therapy
Association statistics suggest the unemployment rate during the worst
time for the profession peaked at 3.2 percent.
Close to half of physical therapists work in hospitals. The rest work
out of private offices, in community or industrial health centers, in
sports facilities, nursing homes, schools or pediatric centers,
rehabilitation centers or home health agencies. Others work in research
institutions or teach in colleges and universities.
It's good if you gain experience in specialty areas where the demand is
high. In some areas, for example, physical therapists with experience
in neurology and pediatrics are in short supply.
Physical therapists spend some time stooping, crouching, bending,
kneeling and even lifting. They stand for long periods of time.
Sometimes they move heavy equipment and physically move patients by
lifting or turning them, or assisting them to stand or walk.
"Many retire early in this profession because it tends to be a
physically demanding job," says Statton.
A huge part of the job is educating patients about their treatments.
You need to have interpersonal skills and a desire to help people.
Physical therapists typically work 40 hours per week, sometimes
evenings and weekends. Many work part time -- about 25 percent in the
U.S., according to the OOH.
In the U.S., physical therapists earned $69,760 per year in 2007.
That's according to the OES.
You'll need a four-year degree from an accredited program. Another
option is to get a four-year degree in another field and then complete
physical therapy training at the master's or doctoral level.
Physical therapist graduates must also pass a national exam before they
can work. To practice, physical therapists must be registered with
state regulatory boards.
The prospects for work in this field are strong. The pain of getting
into physical therapy as a career could definitely be worth the gain!
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Net
Sites
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American Physical
Therapy Association
An excellent comprehensive site
http://www.apta.org
Physical Therapy
A good collection of links
http://physicaltherapy.about.com/health/physicaltherapy/mbody.htm
Physical Therapy
Corner
For those interested in athletic injuries
http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/
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