Physical therapists assess and treat patients with mobility problems. They require an undergraduate degree followed by graduate school and must pass a national test to be licensed. Required courses cover anatomy, pathology, rehabilitation, and clinical practice. Clinical hours are a significant part of the program.
Physical therapists – informally referred to as PTs – are healthcare professionals who assess, plan appropriate treatment modalities, and administer that treatment to patients who have mobility problems secondary to illness, injury, or disability. PTs are prepared to practice with an undergraduate degree followed by graduate school to specifically study a physical therapy curriculum. Upon graduation from an accredited school, physical therapy students must pass a national test to be licensed by examination. Physical therapists are employed in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, nursing homes, university athletic departments, and home health care agencies. Required physical therapy courses should therefore take into account all these possible areas of practice and include classes covering normal functional anatomy and physiology, diagnosis and treatment of injuries, and various clinical stages.
While most physical therapy students have studied human anatomy and physiology in undergraduate school, required physical therapy courses in graduate school include more in-depth classes such as human anatomy, surface anatomy, human pathology, and kinesiology. The principles of the health discipline itself are established with courses such as Introduction to the Practice of Physical Therapy and a year-long study involving Principles of Physical Therapy I and Principles of Physical Therapy II. Other mandatory normative physical therapy courses include neuroscience courses, health promotion classes, and a year of classes involving management and administration of a physical therapy department. Pediatric Physical Therapy and Principles of Motor Control are also required physical therapy courses.
Required pathology-based physical therapy courses make up a large component of a student’s schedule. Pathomechanics – the study of abnormal body mechanics secondary to injury – is studied, usually in conjunction with normal body movement, or kinesiology. Applied Clinical Medicine courses refer to those that study the application of rehabilitation and health principles to pathology or dysfunction. Integumentary-related classes, pain management courses, pharmacology instruction, and radiology classes—or x-ray reading—are also completed. In addition, physical therapy students are trained in the use of orthoses and prostheses.
Required physical therapy courses include a significant number of clinical hours, starting very early in the program. These courses can be partially completed with clinical research classes and courses known as service learning, but the vast majority of clinical hours occur in physical therapy departments and on the sidelines of sporting events. Here, under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist or a member of the physical therapy staff, students can practice and refine their skills.
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