4 answers
Lily
Student
Grafton, Ohio
2
Questions
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What is the everyday life like and duties of being a physical therapist?
I am Lily, a senior in HS. I am looking to study exercise science and get a doctorate in PT.
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4 answers
Al Sallette
Technical Writer
4
Answers
San Jose, California
Updated
Al’s Answer
Lily, the value of physical therapy is immense as it paves the way for a superior quality of life. The physical therapists who partnered with my wife dedicated a solid hour each weekday to her progress. They were masters in deciphering the intricate interplay between the brain, central nervous system, and muscles, which is crucial for performing everyday tasks.
Moreover, they skillfully employed a range of specialized tools and techniques to aid my wife's recovery. If needed, they could guide us to experts who could offer medical treatments, further enhancing my wife's ability to participate in physical therapy.
What's more, they generated weekly progress reports that served a dual purpose. Not only did these updates shed light on my wife's progress towards her goals, but they also demonstrated the ongoing medical necessity of her therapy, a key factor for insurance support.
The daily routine of the physical therapists we collaborated with seemed to be a source of great satisfaction for them and brought immense benefits to us.
Moreover, they skillfully employed a range of specialized tools and techniques to aid my wife's recovery. If needed, they could guide us to experts who could offer medical treatments, further enhancing my wife's ability to participate in physical therapy.
What's more, they generated weekly progress reports that served a dual purpose. Not only did these updates shed light on my wife's progress towards her goals, but they also demonstrated the ongoing medical necessity of her therapy, a key factor for insurance support.
The daily routine of the physical therapists we collaborated with seemed to be a source of great satisfaction for them and brought immense benefits to us.
Morgan Sarver
Physical Therapist
4
Answers
Owings Mills, Maryland
Updated
Morgan’s Answer
Hi Lily!
I am a physical therapist and practice in the “acute care” (hospital) based setting. Physical therapy like a lot of health care professions can take place in a variety of settings. These include: outpatient clinic (what most people think of when they think of PT), acute care (hospital), inpatient rehab - there are two different settings here typically skilled nursing (nursing home based) and acute rehab, there are also sometimes a few other types of inpatient rehabs such as “swing units” that are a mixture of the 2 but less common, there is also home health (going into someone’s home to provide services), and school based (work with children within a school).
As previously mentioned the primary role of physical therapists is to assess patients using an evaluation in order to identify deficits and possible goals for treatment. Depending on the setting the therapy takes place in, the goals and assessments can vary. Patients also often have to qualify for treatment due to their insurance being involved but there are some therapists who offer “cash-based” services, although this is less common. In every setting as a PT you will collaborate with many different professionals, often interacting with he largest variety in the hospital setting. Each setting varies greatly in terms of the type of therapy offered and how your day is structured. Even down to how busy or slow you may be on a normal basis so it is very important as a student to get a feel for which settings interest you, most however, this may change over time if you pursue PT school so I wouldn’t worry much about “picking” one setting right away.
If you haven’t yet shadowed a therapist, I would definitely recommend starting there. You can work with your counselor or if you happen to know any family or friends who work in therapy and see if they would be ok with you shadowing. It is often easiest to shadow in the outpatient setting. If you dont have any luck through that route I would simply find a clinic near you and go in and talk to a therapist, we are often very open and welcoming with students.
Obviously this is just a small overview of the profession but I would be happy to answer any further specific questions you have.
Hope this helps! And good luck!!
I am a physical therapist and practice in the “acute care” (hospital) based setting. Physical therapy like a lot of health care professions can take place in a variety of settings. These include: outpatient clinic (what most people think of when they think of PT), acute care (hospital), inpatient rehab - there are two different settings here typically skilled nursing (nursing home based) and acute rehab, there are also sometimes a few other types of inpatient rehabs such as “swing units” that are a mixture of the 2 but less common, there is also home health (going into someone’s home to provide services), and school based (work with children within a school).
As previously mentioned the primary role of physical therapists is to assess patients using an evaluation in order to identify deficits and possible goals for treatment. Depending on the setting the therapy takes place in, the goals and assessments can vary. Patients also often have to qualify for treatment due to their insurance being involved but there are some therapists who offer “cash-based” services, although this is less common. In every setting as a PT you will collaborate with many different professionals, often interacting with he largest variety in the hospital setting. Each setting varies greatly in terms of the type of therapy offered and how your day is structured. Even down to how busy or slow you may be on a normal basis so it is very important as a student to get a feel for which settings interest you, most however, this may change over time if you pursue PT school so I wouldn’t worry much about “picking” one setting right away.
If you haven’t yet shadowed a therapist, I would definitely recommend starting there. You can work with your counselor or if you happen to know any family or friends who work in therapy and see if they would be ok with you shadowing. It is often easiest to shadow in the outpatient setting. If you dont have any luck through that route I would simply find a clinic near you and go in and talk to a therapist, we are often very open and welcoming with students.
Obviously this is just a small overview of the profession but I would be happy to answer any further specific questions you have.
Hope this helps! And good luck!!
Lauren Swansinger
Physical Therapist Assistant
13
Answers
Wyandotte, Michigan
Updated
Lauren’s Answer
A day in the life of a physical therapist is about the assessment of patient ailments, disabilities and appropriately designing or progressing a program to address their goals. It can vary from each facility since an outpatient clinic may see orthopedic (post surgical) pts, patients with chronic pain from car crashes, even patients with neurological diseases (cerebral palsy, stroke, brain injury, neuropathies, etc). When working with post surgical, you have guidelines/protocols to follow and progress with. In chronic pain, you will have more pain management which includes learning to live with a certain level of pain, learning how to breath through pain, regaining strength to move through pain free ranges of motion. In a neurological setting you will work with more balance, coordination, flexibility, retraining patients how to walk with their current abilities.
In a hospital patients are still sick, may have wounds still healing, blood pressure issues, you are often interacting with nurses and doctors about the patient care. Patients are not feeling well and there may be encouragement /education needed to get them moving (who wants to walk when they are sick).
Documentation is a huge part of the job as well, you will be reviewing charts, making sure patients are good to work with, reviewing surgical protocols, and documenting what you did with the patient that day. Billing falls into documentation and is often included in this part of your day.
It all depends on setting. This is not all inclusive and there are more settings (such as schools, skilled nursing, subacute) but this gives a glimpse into some of the settings and patients you may see.
Shadow at an out patient facility
Shadow at a hospital in patient setting
Shadow at a hospital acute care
Shadow at a skilled nursing facility
Shadow at a school
In a hospital patients are still sick, may have wounds still healing, blood pressure issues, you are often interacting with nurses and doctors about the patient care. Patients are not feeling well and there may be encouragement /education needed to get them moving (who wants to walk when they are sick).
Documentation is a huge part of the job as well, you will be reviewing charts, making sure patients are good to work with, reviewing surgical protocols, and documenting what you did with the patient that day. Billing falls into documentation and is often included in this part of your day.
It all depends on setting. This is not all inclusive and there are more settings (such as schools, skilled nursing, subacute) but this gives a glimpse into some of the settings and patients you may see.
Lauren recommends the following next steps:
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6183
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hi Lily!
Being a physical therapist is like embarking on a rewarding journey every day. These healthcare warriors help people of all ages and abilities to move better, ease their pain, and ward off disabilities. If you're thinking about a career in physical therapy, it's good to know what a typical day looks like in this profession.
A physical therapist's day usually kicks off with a quick review of patient records and assessments from the day before. This helps them track each patient's progress, spot any changes in their condition, and plan the day's treatments. Physical therapists meet a diverse range of patients, including those bouncing back from injuries, surgeries, or illnesses, and those who simply want to enhance their physical function.
A key part of a physical therapist's job is to conduct detailed evaluations of patients’ conditions. This means checking their movement patterns, strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and overall functional abilities. Based on these evaluations, they craft personalized treatment plans that could include exercises, manual therapy techniques, modalities like ultrasound or electrical stimulation, and education on preventing injuries and managing their condition.
Besides hands-on treatment sessions, physical therapists also spend time documenting patient progress, liaising with other healthcare professionals involved in the patient’s care, and guiding patients and their families on home exercise programs and adaptive equipment. They're also strong advocates for their patients’ needs within the healthcare system.
A physical therapist’s daily routine also includes keeping up with the latest in the field. This could involve attending professional development courses, reading research articles, and swapping knowledge and best practices with colleagues. As a high school senior keen on pursuing exercise science and eventually earning a doctorate in physical therapy, remember that this career path calls for a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.
To become a physical therapist, you'll need to complete a doctoral degree program in physical therapy, usually after getting an undergraduate degree in exercise science or a similar field. Once you've earned your doctorate in PT, you'll need to get state licensure by passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and meeting any other requirements specific to your state.
In a nutshell, a day in the life of a physical therapist is dynamic and varied. It involves working closely with patients to help them reach their functional goals, teaming up with other healthcare professionals, staying updated about advancements in the field, and advocating for the best patient care within the healthcare system.
The top three authoritative references I used are:
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
- Physical Therapy Journal
- Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
May blessings abound in your life!
James.
Being a physical therapist is like embarking on a rewarding journey every day. These healthcare warriors help people of all ages and abilities to move better, ease their pain, and ward off disabilities. If you're thinking about a career in physical therapy, it's good to know what a typical day looks like in this profession.
A physical therapist's day usually kicks off with a quick review of patient records and assessments from the day before. This helps them track each patient's progress, spot any changes in their condition, and plan the day's treatments. Physical therapists meet a diverse range of patients, including those bouncing back from injuries, surgeries, or illnesses, and those who simply want to enhance their physical function.
A key part of a physical therapist's job is to conduct detailed evaluations of patients’ conditions. This means checking their movement patterns, strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and overall functional abilities. Based on these evaluations, they craft personalized treatment plans that could include exercises, manual therapy techniques, modalities like ultrasound or electrical stimulation, and education on preventing injuries and managing their condition.
Besides hands-on treatment sessions, physical therapists also spend time documenting patient progress, liaising with other healthcare professionals involved in the patient’s care, and guiding patients and their families on home exercise programs and adaptive equipment. They're also strong advocates for their patients’ needs within the healthcare system.
A physical therapist’s daily routine also includes keeping up with the latest in the field. This could involve attending professional development courses, reading research articles, and swapping knowledge and best practices with colleagues. As a high school senior keen on pursuing exercise science and eventually earning a doctorate in physical therapy, remember that this career path calls for a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.
To become a physical therapist, you'll need to complete a doctoral degree program in physical therapy, usually after getting an undergraduate degree in exercise science or a similar field. Once you've earned your doctorate in PT, you'll need to get state licensure by passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and meeting any other requirements specific to your state.
In a nutshell, a day in the life of a physical therapist is dynamic and varied. It involves working closely with patients to help them reach their functional goals, teaming up with other healthcare professionals, staying updated about advancements in the field, and advocating for the best patient care within the healthcare system.
The top three authoritative references I used are:
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
- Physical Therapy Journal
- Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
May blessings abound in your life!
James.