Health Professions
What is a Physical Therapist?
A physical therapist is a health professional with goals to improve mobility, manage pain, and reduce the development of disabilities. Physical therapists are a great alternate to surgery and prescription medications in many ways but is also used in conjunction with medication and before or after surgical procedures. Their first step is to evaluate their patients, develop a healthcare plan, and work with the patient on exercises and activities to improve their condition.Click here for more information
What is the difference between an Occupational and Physical Therapist?
Because OTs and PTs often work close together in the workplace, some confuse the duties of the two therapists. Often the duties of PTs and OTs overlap in certain settings. Overall, though, occupational therapists work with patients to overcome certain daily tasks, whereas, PTs are mainly focused on physical mobility rehabilitation, not necessarily certain tasks. Occupational therapists use elements of psychology in their treatment plans, which are not directly used by physical therapists. Some settings differentiate the two professions differently. For example, some believe that physical therapists work with the lower body and occupational therapists focus on the upper body but this is not necessarily true in many cases.
What medical areas can PTs work in?
Physical therapists can work in an assortment of environments from hospitals, private practice offices, home healthcare, nursing homes and many more. Click here for more information
How much do they make on average?
The salaries for physical therapists varies based on location and workplace. In general, the average salary for physical therapists is about $82,000 a year for a full-time employee. Salaries range from $56,800 to $116,090. Click here for more information