Physical Therapy Careers

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: February 5th, 2010

What types of healthcare professionals do physical therapists commonly work with?

Physical therapist careers involve working with a variety of health care professionals. Typically a person with a condition that requires rehabilitation sees a specialist physician who then refers them on to a physical therapist. Most states require a prescription from a physician for physical therapy services. For instance, orthopedic surgeons refer patients recovering from total joint replacement surgery, a torn rotator cuff, or a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) to name a few. Neurologists refer stroke patients. Ear Nose and Throat doctors refer patients with vertigo, dizziness or balance issues. Physical therapists provide their evaluation and report the progress of the therapy to these referring physicians.

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When a physical therapist receives a new patient, they perform an evaluation that includes an assessment of the patient’s range of motion, strength, and other criteria at the initial visit, along with developing short and long-term goals to be accomplished Physical Therapy Careers

throughout the course of treatment. After the patient is evaluated and an individualized plan is developed for their care, oftentimes the physical therapist has a staff of individuals who can help execute the plan for treatment. A physical therapy assistant, commonly referred to as a PTA, works under the license of a physical therapist, to help rehabilitate a patient. PTAs are only required to have a two-year associate’s degree but are also licensed professionals. While they cannot perform diagnosis, evaluations, or discharge a patient, they are able to follow a rehabilitation plan a physical therapist has developed and make suggestions to modify or enhance the plan.

Other professionals who work under a licensed physical therapist include physical therapy techs, also referred to as PT Aides. Oftentimes physical therapy techs do not have formal post-high school education but instead are trained while on the job. Physical Therapy Techs cannot perform hands-on stretching for a patient since it is considered a skilled treatment, but they can take patients through an exercise routine that has already been established by the physical therapist. Techs can also apply heat or ice and set a patient up with electrical stimulation or ultrasound treatments.

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Athletic trainers (ATCs) working in the clinic setting oftentimes perform the same duties as a physical therapy assistant but specialize in working with athletes and are more apt to be employed in a sports clinic or for a sports team where they provide care on the field. Athletic trainers are experts at taping techniques that prevent injury on and off the field.

In some sports and fitness facilities, physical therapists may work with personal trainers. While personal trainers and physical therapists both use exercise as a huge component of their care with clients, the exercise prescription is different for each of these professions. Physical therapists look at the whole picture and how the different parts of the body work together as a chain. They work under the understanding that by improving one area of the body it may cause another area to start working more effectively too. Physical therapists usually have goals geared toward injury prevention (commonly referred to as “prehab”), strengthening certain muscle groups, and increasing flexibility and balance. While a personal trainer may share some of these goals, oftentimes their main goals are centered on a visible result such as weight loss or bodybuilding. Personal trainers may also be hired to help prepare a client to participate in a marathon or a specific sport.

Multifunction rehabilitation clinic settings typically employ occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists to work on teams with physical therapists to provide patients with the best care possible. The role of occupational therapists in a patient’s rehabilitation focuses on the Activities of Daily Living such as getting dressed, eating, writing, and other activities that use fine motor skills. The goals of the physical therapist and occupational therapist can certainly overlap but the PT is more concerned with movement and mobility whereas the OT focuses on fine motor skills.

Speech-Language Pathologists may work with physical therapists in multifunction rehabilitation clinics. Speech-language pathologists focus on patients with speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders. Some patients, such as a stroke patient, would benefit from the services of all three types of professionals in a multifunction rehab clinic.