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ExploringTheWorldofPhysicalTherapy

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EnglishIIIStandardPd.2/6
Mr.Piatak
February26,2015

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WithinthedevelopmentofPhysicalTherapy,manyaspectsplayapartinbeing
successfulonthejob.Importantpartsoftheroadtosuccessconsistofbeingawareofspecific
classesincollegethatcanhelpalongtheway.Anotherfactoralsoinvolvesknowinghowthe
everydaylifeinthefieldofphysicaltherapy,remainsimportanttotheknowledgeand
understanding,andservesapurposeinalreadybeingpreparedwhenyoujumpintothefield.In
studyingthisfieldknowthatbeingawareofthehistorythatmadethecareerpossibleis
importantandhowthejobwasfirstestablishedisjustassignificant.PhysicalTherapyremains
oneofthemostoutstandingcareerchoicesduetothedramaticgrowthofthecareerandthe
amazingworksdonetohelpitthriveinboostingotherslivesthroughtreatments.
Usuallypeoplesperceptiononphysicaltherapyoriginatesfromthemthinkingitisonly
forthosepeoplethataretryingtolearnhowtowalkorrecoverfromseriousinjuries.Althoughit
maybetruethatisnotallphysicaltherapyconsistof.Inrealitytheactofphysicaltherapycan
actuallybeaslittleasrubbingabruiseorscratchinganinsectbite(McGuire).Asanationwe
justtendtopointourmainfocustowardsthebigidealinjuriesbecausethatswherewetendto
seethemostattentiongivenbyprofessionals.Physicaltherapycameupontheworldinavast
movementaroundtheyear1917.Manyliveswereputintodangerbecauseofwarresultingin
numerousinjuriesneedingmedicalhelp,thuscreatinganuproarofattentionfromindividuals
whowouldworkwithinjuredpatientstogetbackontheirfeet.Thesepeopleandtheiractions
resultedintheformationofthetitleofphysicaltherapy.Thefirstprofessionalassociation
formedbyphysicaltherapistwasin1921(AmericanPhysicalTherapyAssn.).Oncephysical
therapyexpandedacrossamerica,theoriginalnameofWoman'sPhysicalTherapeutic

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associationwaschangedtotheAmericanPhysiotherapyAssociation,whichlaterchangedtothe
AmericanPhysicalTherapyAssociation.Allthroughtheyearsthatthenamechangedthegroup
alwayshelpedservepatientswithillnessesandcontinuedtoshowtremendousgrowthin
specializationofphysicaltherapyalongtheway.Duetotheattentionofthisnewjobinwhich
blewupinlargeproportions,peoplebeganrealizingtheimportanceofthejobcausingan
increaseofdemandforphysicaltherapytoexpanditshorizonsacrossthenation.Bytheyear
1992,274individualscommittedtobeingchartermembersfortheassociation.Physicaltherapy
neverstoppedexpanding,andwhilemorewarscontinuedtobefought,thefieldcontinuedto
grow,thriveandprogressonward.Allsoldiersclearedofmanyillnessesfromdoctorsstillvisited
physicaltherapistsbecauseittookapathinwhichitbecamepopular,makingitbecomeanother
keyaspecttoasoldier'srecovery.Asthedemandandpopularityofthejobgrewsodidnew
ideas,waysofhealing,newtechnology,andallsortsofamazingthingscamealongtoevolve
physicaltherapyintoanimportantpartofmanypeopleslivestoday.
WhilephysicaltherapybeganmakingappearancesallovertheU.S.andsomeofthe
world,Thecareerdidnotjustgetnoticedorcomeaboutonitsown.Goingbackandlooking
uponthejobalotofthingsplayedtheirpartintheexposureofphysicaltherapy,andcontributed
dramaticallytohelpthecareerfinditsplaceinthisworld.Wefirstcomeacrossrealizingthat
soldiersgoingintowarandcomingbackhomebecauseofillnessesplaysabigpartinthe
creationofthisjob.Thosecomingbackfromwarwouldseekattentionfromdoctorsandmedics
totreatalloftheirinjuries.Thisprovedsignificantbutsoonpeoplebeganrealizingthatmore
importantstepsshouldbetakenintherecoveryprocessofsoldiersbodies,bringingphysical
therapyintoplay.Soldiersleftwithwardefectafterbeingtreatedbydoctorsseekedhelpfrom

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physicaltherapistshopingtheoutcomeresultedinbetterandfastermethodsofrecovery.While
experimentingwithphysicaltherapynothingbutgoodcameuponthosegivingtheirtimeand
effortinhopesofbetteroutcomesforthemselves.Theworldofphysicaltherapycontinuedto
thrivesincethewarandpartnershipswithdoctorsandmedicshelpedalongtheway.Somuch
successcamefromdoctors,medics,andphysicaltherapistsastheyallcametogetherfora
commoncausetohelptheworldbytreatingpeoplewithillnessesandinjuries.Thishelpedplay
akeypartintheexposureprocessofphysicaltherapy.
Whensomeoneevaluatesthejobofphysicaltherapy,itscleartorecognizethe
importanceithaswithintheworldbecausealotofliveswouldnotbethesamewithoutit.With
thisbeingsaidtheyonlywantthebesttrainedskilledworkerswhoareupforthetaskathand,
whichleadstothetalkabouthowtobethebest.Inordertosuccessfullymakeyourwayintothe
field,collegeisadefinitemust,justlikealmostanyothercareer.Thespecificrequirementsmay
differdependingonyourcollegechoicebutmanysharealotofthesamerequirements.Inorder
togointothefieldthespecificclassesyouencounterincollegeareimportant.Asetofrequired
classesshouldbeavailabletoyourknowledgeinorderforyoutofulfillthefulltrainingforthe
career.Themostcommonlyrequiredcourseareanatomy,physiology,biology,chemistry,
physics,psychology,statistics,andenglishcomposition(AmericanPhysicalTherapyAssn).
Whengettingacceptedintocertainphysicaltherapyprograms,arequirementtotakethe
GraduateRecordExaminationakaGREdiffersateachschoolalongwiththescoreneededto
pass.Manytimeswhatcollegeswilldointheprocessofpreparingstudentsforthenearfuture
ofbeingaphysicaltherapist,theyrecommendworkingwithalicensedphysicaltherapistsonthe
jobandassistingthethemwhiletheyattendtotheneedsofpatients.Indoingsoyouareatleast

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requiredtohave40hoursofvolunteeredserviceunderthesupervisionoftheprofessional.The
voluntaryworkusuallyservesalargepurposeintheprogressionforwardtobeingsuccessfulin
thecareerofphysicaltherapy.
Throughalloftheclasses,trainings,andstepsyouhavetotaketojumpintothecareerof
physicaltherapy,thetypeofdegreeyouchoosetogoafterwillalwaysremainsignificant.
Dependingonthestagesomeonesettlesintointheprocessofbeingaphysicaltherapists,the
educationleveldiffers.Forthestudentsapplyingattheentrylevelorpostprofessionallevel,
studentsreceiveeitheradoctorateoramastersinPhysicalTherapy.Thisdiffersfromsomeone
whoisfurtheralongandalreadyapplyingforthelicensetopracticeinthefield.Inordertoget
thepracticelicense,abasictestcalledthenationalboardexaminationdeterminessomeone's
eligibilitytoapplyforthepracticelicence.Oncetheprocessforthepracticelicenseiscomplete,
thetraditionalprogramsforthosepursuingthebigaspectsofthejobsuchasdoctorateorclinical
basedprogramsrequireaPhDoredDetc(McGuire).Throughalloftherigorouscollege
journeysphysicaltherapistsmayface,theyusuallygoontograduatefromcollegeafter24years
inschool.Thelongerstudentsstayinschoolandfurthertheireducation,thebetterjob
opportunitiesavailableafterwards.Thebetterthejobopportunitiesaftercollegeleadtothe
betterthepaywhentheyarefinallywithinthefield.Theseareallthestepsand
accomplishmentsrequiredforgrowthinthemasteringofphysicaltherapy.
Physicaltherapyissuchagreatjobandonethingthatcomplimentsthisstatementisthe
amountofincomeaphysicaltherapistsreceives.Althoughitisverydifferentformany
individualsdependingonexperience,education,location,andskillsets,allphysicaltherapists
makeangreatamountofmoneytohavethemsetinlife.Thisdiffersfromtheaverageincomeof

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anAmericanby103TodayintheUnitedStatestheaveragePhysicalTherapysalaryis$86,520a
year.%.ThemedianpayforPTsis$7,210permonth,$1,663perweekand$41.59perhour
(Barrious).Youseethe103%differencefromtheaverageAmericanbecausetheir
medianpayis$20.45perhour,$818perweek,$3,545permonth,andthisgivesthemanannual
incomeof$42,540.Alotofexperienceplaysabigpartinincome.Withonlyoneyearof
experienceinthefieldofphysicaltherapy,incomecouldbeupto$60,600ayearwhichisagood
amount.
Asyourexperiencegrowssodoesyoursalary.After57yearsofexperienceitis
possibletomakeupto$120,000ayeardependingonotheraspectssuchaslocationand
education.TodaythetoppayingstatewithintheUnitedStatesisNevada.Theaveragepayin
Nevadais$115,670peryear,whichis33%higherthanthemedianPhysicaltherapistsincome
(Barrious).PlacinginatsecondisAlaska,wheretheincomeofPhysicaltherapyis
$94,950peryear.TodaythestateofNorthCarolinaholdsthe39thspotoutof50inpayingof
physicaltherapists.NorthCarolinaphysicaltherapistsreceiveanannualamountof$81,740per
year.WithinmetropolitanareasaroundtheUnitedStates,LosVegasisthehighestpayingofall
citiesat121,880annually.BehindLosVegasisFairbanksat$114,120annually.Outsideof
metropolitanareas,upperEasternShoreMarylandholdsthehighestannualsalaryat$119,920
peryear,whichisveryclosetothehighestpayingcityLosVegas.Althoughitisimportantto
knowthehighestpayingstatesforphysicaltherapy,knowingthelowestpayingstatesisjustas
importanttosomeone'sknowledge.ThelowestpayingstateisNorthDakotaat$68k(hammer).
Sittingataclosesecondandthirdintheraceforthelowestpayingstatesforphysicaltherapyis
Montana,andSouthDakota.TheannualsalaryforNorthDakotais$67,950peryearandthe

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annualsalaryforMontanais$68,900yearlyalongwithSouthDakotawhichis$69,700yearly
(Hammer).Eventhoughweseethatthesestatesarethelowestpayingstatesforaphysical
therapists,theannualincomeisstillhighanditjustgoestoshowthatphysicaltherapyiswhere
youwanttobewhenitcomestotalkingaboutmoney.
Physicaltherapyisagreatprofession.wheninthefieldyouhavetoknowitisallabout
helpingothersandthisiswhatyoudoonaeverydaybasis.Everydayonthejobyoutreatthose
whohaveproblemswiththeirmuscles,jointsandotherpartsoftheirbody.Numeroustimes
throughoutthedayaccidentvictimsandindividualswithdisablingconditionssuchaslowback
pain,arthritis,heartdisease,fractures,headinjuries,andCerebralpalsycomepayyouavisit.
Whenincontactwhichthesepeople,yougoaboutperformingtestsanddoingdifferentthingsto
helpassesstheindividual'sproblems.CertaintestPTexecuteincludesmusclestrength,joint
motion,sensoryandneurological,coordination,balance,observation,palpation,flexibility,
posturalscreening,movementanalysis,andspecialteststhataredesignedforaparticular
problem(VonDrehle).OncetestarecompletetheGeneralPhysicaltherapistsdevelopsa
treatmentplan,setsupgoals,andfiguresouttheappropriatetreatmenttoaidinrecoveryofthe
individualsillnesses.
Physicaltherapistsareabletotreattheirpatientsbyusingmanydifferenttreatments
dependingonthetypeofinjury.Someofthetreatmentsusedtoreducetheamountofpaininthe
bodyarehotandcoldpacks,infraredandultrasound,orelectricalstimulations.Thesetreatments
areusedtohelpdecreasethepainandincreasemovementandrecovery.Dependingoncertain
illnesses,manyexerciseswillhelprestorestrength,andmovementinthebodyofthepatientif
needed.Physicaltherapyprovides"handsontechniques"likemassageorjointmobilizations

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skillstorestorejointmotionorincreasesofttissueflexibility(Staples).Whenhelpingpatients
physicaltherapistspointalotoftheirfocustowardshelpingpatientsbeabletogetupandoutof
bed,walkingsafelywithcrutchesorawalker,andmovingspecificjointsandmuscleswithinthe
body.Oncealotofthephysicalthingsareover,manyphysicaltherapisttreatpatientsby
informingthemonhowtodealwithacurrentproblemandhowtopreventtheprobleminthe
future.Onceapatientisreleasedfromthecareofaphysicaltherapiststhepatient'sprogressis
stillmonitoredsothatthestrengthsandweaknessesoftheirrecoverycanbeevaluatedtoseeif
thepatientmayneedmoreorlessattentioninthefuture.Usuallyonceaphysicaltherapistshas
helpedtoimproveapatient'slifeatworkandhome,theyhavecompletedtheirtaskandhave
accomplishedtheirmaingoal.
Accordingtostatistics,therewereapproximately198,600PhysicalTherapistsemployed
intheUnitedStatesin2014,earninganaverage$76,310annually,or$36.69perhour,with39%
growthinemploymentprojectedbytheyear2020(VonDrehle).ThenumberofPhysical
Therapistscontinuestogrowdramaticallyeachyear.TheUnitedStateskeepsseeinghowall
thesepeoplearewillingtoputotherpeople'shealthintheirhandsandmakeabetterlifefor
others.Thisistremendouslygreatthatweseegrowthinpeoplethatwanttoserveinawaythat
benefitsothers.Theeverydaylifeofaphysicaltherapistsisnotalwayseasywork,andtonsof
peoplelearnedavaluablelessonthatpushingyourselfandexcellingpastyourgoalscantakeyou
alongway.Onthejobasaphysicaltherapistsyouhavetolovewhatyoudoandwhyyoudoit
orelseyouwon'tbesuccessful."Mygoalistoempowerpatientsandfamiliesandshowthemthe
toolsandexercisestheyneed"(Staples).Whetheryou'retreatinga7yearoldchildwitha

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brokenarmora78yearoldwomansufferingbackpains,yourmainfocusistohelpthesepeople
andyouwon'tdosowellatthatifyoudon'tevenenjoywhatyouaredoing.
CoveringThehistory,courseswithincollege,andthelifeaftercollege,isimportanttoall
futurephysicaltherapistsandstillthosethatareinthecareernow.Withouttheknowledgeonall
ofthesethingsyou'vefallenshortofabigaspectthatwillhelpleadyouintothecareer.Allof
thethingsaddressedaboveareimportanttoknow,andhelpsprovidetheimportantstepsinthe
processtogetintothecareerthatwillleadyoutothriveinboostingotherslivesonestepata
timethroughphysicalTherapy.

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