Physical therapists help patients manage or prevent injuries by developing individualized treatment plans using techniques to promote mobility, reduce pain, and restore function. The author wants to become a physical therapist to help others avoid long-term issues from injuries as they experienced, and is fascinated by the human body and relationships with patients. Physical therapy is a growing field with good career prospects and salary.

1. PHYSICALTHERAPY
Sarah Parks
Health 4190
January 15, 2015

2. What do PhysicalTherapists do?
■ “PhysicalTherapists can teach patients how to prevent or manage their
condition so that they will achieve long-term health benefits. PTs
examine each individual and develop a plan, using treatment techniques
to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and
prevent disability.” (WhoAre PhysicalTherapists?)

3. Why do I want to be a Physical
Therapist?
■ In high school I played a wide variety of sports, and during the course of
these sports I tore my gastrocnemius, or calf muscle. I wore a boot for 8
weeks while my muscle healed, but the boot caused my right hip to
adjust, changing the orientation of my pelvis which resulted in nine
twisted vertebra that took several months of therapy on two different
occasions to get oriented correctly.To this day I struggle with back pain,
and on some days it prevents me from being as active as I would like.
■ I want to provide holistic treatment that leads to the eradication of
injury and pain so that no other individuals have treatment lead to other
physical issues.

4. Why do I want to be a Physical
Therapist?Contd.
■ I am fascinated by the human body and the ways that it moves and
operates in the presence and absence of injury.
■ I am extremely relational, and possess a personality that puts people at
ease.
■ I am very empathetic and have a natural tendency to help people when I
am skilled to do so.
■ A career as a physical therapist provides me the opportunity to help
people, study the human body, and form relationships both with my co-
workers and my patients.

5. History of PhysicalTherapy
■ Hippocrates is often referred to as the father of medicine and was the
first physician to research joints and their movements. (Pettman, 165)
■ Hippocrates was known for his work with manipulative therapy.
(Pettman, 165)
■ The first physical therapy association was formed in 1921 and named
the “AmericanWomen’s PhysicalTherapeutic Association” and
contained 274 charter members. (APTA History)
■ The following year the association changed their name to the
“American Physiotherapy Association” and allowed men to join. (APTA
History)
■ The profession grew due toWorldWar II and the polio epidemic in the
1940s and 1950s. (APTA History)

6. Growth Potential & Salary
■ As of 2014 there were 210,900 employed PhysicalTherapists in the US.
(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
■ According to the Bureau of Labor the projected percent change in
employment from 2014 to 2024 is 34%.This is much greater than the
average for all occupation growth at 7%. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
■ The projected numerical employment change for the physical therapy
profession from 2014-2024 is 71,800. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
■ The 2014 median pay was $82,390 a year, or $39.61 per hour. (Bureau of
Labor Statistics)
■ According to O*Net Profiler sources, the physical therapy profession
has a “Bright Outlook” meaning new job opportunities are very likely in
the future.

7. Skills & Qualities
■ My top O*Net Profile results consisted of a Social score of 38, an
Investigative score of 22, an Artistic score of 16, and a Realistic Score of
14.
■ The interest code for PhysicalTherapists is given as SIR, which matches
my scores very well. (O*Net)
■ I am a very social individual. I enjoy working with, and helping people, as
well as helping others reach goals. I enjoy solving problems and coming
up with new ideas. I am a kinesthetic learner and would prefer to work
with my hands, this is one of the main identifiers for the Realistic
interest.
■ I value hard work and determination, while still being aware of others
and their emotions. Recovery is a long and often painful process, and is
best accomplished in different ways with different individuals.

8. South Carolina vs. United States
(O*Net)

9. Fun Facts
■ According to Forbes’ “TheTen Happiest Jobs,” social interaction and
helping people make this job the third the happiest, surpassed by Clergy
and Firefighters. (TheTen Happiest Jobs)
■ 21.6% of PhysicalTherapists are owners of, or partners in, a physical
therapy practice. (Benefits)
■ PhysicalTherapists work with a variety of ages all across the country, in
a wide range of clinical and nonclinical settings. (Benefits)

10. Graduate Programs
■ There are only two schools in South Carolina that have accredited
PhysicalTherapy Schools.
– University of South Carolina
– Medical University of South Carolina
■ A Master’s degree or Doctoral degree is usually needed to practice.
(O*Net)
■ I plan to pursue a Doctorate of PhysicalTherapy, and will be applying to
between 10 and 20 schools across the country for the 2017-2018
matriculation year.

11. Applications & Admissions
■ Most physical therapy schools in the country use the PhysicalTherapist
Central Application Service (PTCAS), an online application for
admissions. While many schools also include supplemental items to this
application, the centralized system makes the application process much
easier.
■ Most schools have the same prerequisite classes that are required for
admittance to the program:
– Biology
– Chemistry
– Anatomy & Physiology
– Physics
– Psychology
– Statistics

12. Conclusion
■ A career in PhysicalTherapy affords me the chance to bring my skills
and experience, personality, and the things that I enjoy together in a
way that provide an opportunity for me to make a difference on both an
individual level as well as a greater scale.
■ PhysicalTherapy is a growing field that allows for flexibility in location
and time demand.
■ PhysicalTherapy is a field where there is still much being learned. I will
have the opportunities to further my understanding while still working
in a field that I love.

13. References
■ APTA History. (2015, November 20). Retrieved January 15, 2016, from http://www.apta.org/History/
■ Benefits of a PhysicalTherapist Career. (2013, March 28). Retrieved January 15, 2016, from
http://www.apta.org/PTCareers/Benefits/
■ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17
Edition, PhysicalTherapists,
on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm (visited January 15,
2016).
■ O*NET Interest Profiler. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15, 2016, from
http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip
■ Pettman, E. (2007). A History of ManipulativeTherapy. TheJournal of Manual & Manipulative
Therapy, 15(3), 165–174.
■ TheTen Happiest Jobs. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15, 2016, from
http://www.forbes.com/pictures/glmm45gi/physical-therapists/