Physical Therapy Programs

Find Physical Therapy Certification Programs in the United States and Canada. Prospective students who are interested in a career in physical therapy must first become certified and/or licensed in order to practice in the field. In most cases, graduates of an approved physical therapy certification program are eligible to take the National Physical Therapist Examination (NPTE) to become licensed and/or certified in their respective state of residence. If you’re a student in high school an excellent way to gain an understanding and relative experience in the field would be to volunteer as a school athletic trainer.

Whether individuals choose to pursue an Associate’s degree as a physical therapist assistant or are seeking higher education like a Master’s or Doctoral degree, physical therapy certification programs all begin with basic coursework in science including biology, chemistry and physics. Additional studies in a physical therapy certification program are human growth and development, pathology, biomechanics, and other associated subject matter.

Candidates who would like to pursue a Doctorate in a physical therapy certification program must meet certain academic prerequisites, including a Bachelor’s degree. Physical therapy certification programs such as this involve advanced coursework including human and clinical anatomy, histology, practice management, biomechanics, cardiovascular and pulmonary management, clinical pharmacology and nutrition, and primary care practice, among numerous other subjects of study. Read the rest of this entry »

Physical therapy services are offered in physical therapy clinics all across the country. These services usually comprise of therapeutic programs customized to each patient’s needs for the treatment of physical dysfunctions and prevention of further deterioration of certain body parts due to disease, injury or aging. Other programs may also comprise of supervised weight loss, physical strengthening or conditioning, and functional re-training.

The different types of physical therapy programs are supervised by licensed physical therapists. It is their job to evaluate and prescribe appropriate therapeutic measures according to their patient findings. Many times, therapists find themselves teaching patients basic motor skills like how to get up and out of bed then sitting on a chair from this position, walking with crutches on uneven ground, and retraining patients how to write or walk again either with damaged, but recovering limbs or with prosthetics.

The physical therapist needs to take an accurate and detailed patient history to be able to properly evaluate the problem. This includes performing certain function tests and taking meticulous measurements to assess the problem. Some examples of tests could be: coordination tests, joint motion, muscle strength, balance, flexibility, sensory and neurological tests, palpation, postural screening, movement analysis and other specific tests designed for specific problems. After evaluating the results of these tests, the therapist will then come up with the best treatment plan to help the patient recover and attain his goals of overcoming whatever dysfunction is present. Read the rest of this entry »

The field of physical therapy, the goal is to promote optimal functionality and health by applying techniques and skills that will help in the maintenance, development and helping to restore functional ability. Physical therapy programs are categorized within the allied medical profession.

According to the American Physical Therapy Association, the only programs that are recognized and accredited with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education are masters and doctorate degrees programs.

The 2008-2009 version of the Occupational Outlook Handbook states that physical therapy programs consist of various science courses such as chemistry, biology, mathematics, social science and physics. Afterward, more specialized courses in neurology, physiology, manifestations of disease, human growth and development, biomechanics, human anatomy, supervised clinical experience and therapeutic procedures. Read the rest of this entry »