If you choose to be Physical Therapists, you will provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. Their patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.

Physical Therapists have many tasks including:

     restoring, maintaining, and promoting overall fitness and health

     examining patients' medical histories

     testing and measuring their strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function

     determining a patients' ability to be independent and reintegrate into the community or workplace after injury or illness

     developing treatment plans describing a treatment strategy, the purpose and anticipated outcome

     teaching patients to use assistive and adaptive devices

     documenting progress

     conducting periodic examinations

     modifying treatments when necessary

If you plan to be a Physical Therapist a State license is required.

All States require physical therapists to pass a licensure exam before they can practice. All physical therapist programs seeking accreditation are required to offer degrees at the master's degree level and above.