10/15/2012
Physical Therapist Physical therapists provide the service of the helping of restoring muscular or nerve damage upon a living organism. They improve the functions of mobility, help relieve pain, and prevent permanent physical damage of patients with injuries or disease. Fitness and health are key to helping patients get through physical therapy. Patient problems vary from physical disabilities such as car accidents to nerve damage like arthritis. Physical therapists, or also known as PT’s, start off by viewing the patients medical history, then they test the patients strength, range of motion, posture, balance and coordination, respiration, muscle performance, and motor functions. Also PT’s determine whether or not a patient is capable to be independent to reintegrate back into the workplace or community after their injury or illness. Finally, after screening the patient for all these test, they set up a treatment strategy, the purpose, and the anticipated time it will take to recover. Working conditions of a physical therapist are mainly physically demanding due to the patients inabilities of physical movement, therapist often have to bend over, kneel, crouch, and lift for extended periods of time. Therapist, in addition, also have to lift heavy equipment and patients, because they cannot stand, walk, turn, or perform a physical task that is demanded from them. To learn the basics of therapist duties, most PT’s practice in hospitals, clinics, or private offices, but some PT’s usually practice in hospital rooms, homes, or schools. A majority of full-time physical therapists usually work a forty hour week, some of those days might include weekends and evenings. Overall, a majority of physical therapists spend time on their feet due to the aid of patients. In order for a person to become a physical therapist one must have plenty of education and pass a few physical