The document discusses the career path of physical therapy. It provides a history of the field from its origins in ancient Greece to its growth in the United States in the early 20th century. Physical therapists work to rehabilitate patients with injuries or chronic conditions using techniques like exercise and massage. The career is expected to grow significantly in coming years. Becoming a physical therapist requires obtaining a doctorate of physical therapy after completing undergraduate courses in subjects like anatomy and exercise science. The average salary for physical therapists is around $82,000 nationally.

1. Career in Physical
Therapy
Tori Gar

2. Introduction
• Starting a future in the field of physical therapy
leads to the opportunity for growth both
personally and professionally. The incorporation
of science along with getting to help patients
daily is what sparked my interest in this career
path. It is a growing and dynamic profession
that I am excited to enter into after completing
graduate school.

3. International History
• 460 B.C. Greece– Hippocrates and Hector believed
in massage and hydrotherapy
• 1813 Sweden – Royal Central Institute of
Gymnastics used many practices that are still used
in physical therapy today
• 1894 England – Charted Society of Physiotherapy
was formed by a group of nurses
• 1913 New Zealand - School of Physiotherapy at the
University of Otago was one of the first to start
formal training

4. American History
• WWI brought about the great need for soldier rehabilitation
in the early 1900’s
• 1914 – Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. formed one
of the first physical therapy units
• 1921 – American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association
• 274 members
• 1922 – American Physiotherapy Association (APA)
• 1930’s – Men admitted along with first “Code of Ethics”
• Over 1,000 members
• 1940’s – American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
• Full time staff and office in New York City
• 1960’s – APTA reached almost 15,000 members with 52
programs across the country
• Present – APTA has over 90,000 members with 213
educational programs

5. Description
• Physical therapist or PT’s work with many different types
of patients in the area of rehabilitation.
• Most often these patients suffer from injury or a chronic
condition
• As a PT, you must accurately assess and diagnose each
patient in order to form and implement an effect
treatment plan.
• These plans often include techniques and exercises that
increase mobility and strength while reducing pain.
• Physical therapists can work in a variety of
environments, but some of the most common are offices
or clinics, hospitals and nursing homes.

6. Focus Areas
• Within the field of physical therapy there are many
different areas of interest or focus.
• Some examples of these areas are:
• Neurological – treats patients who have suffered a stroke or
that have conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, brain
injury, cerebral palsy and more
• Pediatric – focuses on the needs of children ranging from
infancy to adolescence with varying injury or illness
• Geriatric – focuses on the unique needs of the elderly
• Orthopedic – many sports injuries fall into this category,
that focuses on the musculoskeletal system
• Cardiopulmonary – treats patients who have suffered from
things such heart attacks and COPD

7. Growth Potential
• Physical therapy is one of the fastest growing
jobs in the medical profession.
• Nationwide job opportunities are expected to
increase 36% by the year 2022.
• Specifically in South Carolina the total number
of jobs is expected to rise from 2,850 in 2012 to
3,790 in 2022.
• This is one of the many reasons I feel secure in
and excited for my future career in PT.

8. Salary
• The average salary of a certified physical
therapist ranges depending on both experience
and geographic location.
• The average national median wage in 2014 was
roughly $82,400 annually, or $40 hourly.
• South Carolina is pretty closely inline with this
nationwide number, falling just a couple
thousand dollars short annually.

9. Skills & Qualities
• In order to be a great physical therapist you not only
need adequate knowledge and physical abilities but also
exceptional people skills and the desire to serve and help
others in need.
• Full knowledge and understanding of anatomy and
physiology, medicine, and even psychology are all needed in
order to treat and help rehabilitate a patient.
• It is essential that you are able to effectively examine,
monitor, document, communicate, and listen to a patient
all while being encouraging, maintaining self control, and
being compassionate.
• Necessary physical skills include both dexterity, physical
stamina and strength.
• I believe that I posses all of these skills and qualities,
plus many more that will allow me to one day become a
highly successful and loved physical therapist.

10. Academics
• While earning my undergraduate degree, I have
taken courses such as anatomy and physiology,
physics, chemistry, biology, psychology and
statistics that are required to continue on to PT
school.
• After entering a physical therapy program I will
continue my education with more extensive
coursework in the areas of biomechanics, anatomy,
physiology, neuroscience, and pharmacology. Along
with clinical internships where I will learn vital
information and techniques needed by all PT
students.

11. Graduate Programs
• The fact that physical therapy is considered to be in job
zone five indicates that a high level of preparation and
education must go into this job field.
• In order to become a certified physical therapist you must
first attend and graduate from an accredited physical
therapy program.
• While in graduate school you will gain knowledge,
experience and job training that is crucial to developing
your career.
▫ This includes rigorous coursework, clinical rotations and
hours of research.
• Throughout the US there are 213 physical therapy
programs, that are highly competitive, last around 3 years
on average and have a variety of requirements for
acceptance. Some of these include:
• Prerequisite course work in the sciences, high GRE scores,
letters of reference, and hours of volunteer work or
internships.

12. MUSC
• An example of a university that offers an exceptional
physical therapy program that I would love to attend is
the Medical University of South Carolina.
• It is located in Charleston, South Carolina, and begins
each year with 64 new students in late May.
• 97% of students graduate from this program and pass
the National Physical Therapy Exam on the first try. The
employment rate is a perfect 100% for these students.
• Overall MUSC is an excellent choice for anyone
interested in physical therapy, with its award winning
staff and professors, state of the art research facilities
and amazing location.

13. Related Fields
• There are other career paths that are similar to
physical therapy in the aspects of helping others
while also being centered around medicine.
• Some examples of jobs that relate to physical
therapy are:
• Occupational therapy
• Chiropractors
• Physicians assistants
• Speech language pathologist
• Recreational therapist
• Athletic trainers/Exercise physiologist
• Physical therapist assistant

14. Conclusion
• Though it takes extreme amounts of hard work,
long hours and determination, it is all worth it in
the end when you have a doctorate in physical
therapy and a full time job doing what you love.
• Overall physical therapy is a wonderful
profession that is equally challenging and
rewarding.
• I am excited to continue on my journey of
earning my DPT and finding a job as a physical
therapist in an office or clinic, all in South
Carolina.

15. Works Cited
APTA History. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2015, from http://www.apta.org/History/
Five Types of Physical Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2015, from
http://www.oleanpt.com/library/4299/FiveTypesofPhysicalTherapy.html
History of Physical Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2015, from
http://eugenept.com/history.html
Occupation Profile: Physical Therapy in SC. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2015, from
http://www.onetonline.org/link/wages/29-1123.00?e=1&st=SC&g=Go
Physical Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2015, from https://www.musc.edu/chp/pt/
Physical Therapy Summary. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2015, from
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-1
Salary and Benefits. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2015, from
http://www.onetonline.org/link/wages/29-1123.00?w=1&st=SC&g=Go
Summary Report For: Physical Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2015, from
http://www.mynextmove.org/profile/ext/online/29-1123.00