Howard Said:

Physical Therapy question?

We Answered:

I would say it depends on how well you've adapted to your disability. It certainly will make it a challenge as you will be in class for about 30 hours a week. It might qualify as a disability per your institutions policy. Should you need special adaptation it is good to notify your professors early on in the semester. As far as whether to mention it at the interview, I would not specifically mention it unless a major adaptation would need to be made that would put an unfair burden on the department. I would review the policies for students with special needs that are in place at your institution.

Christian Said:

is physical therapy considered a good job?

We Answered:

Certainly! I've known quite a few PTs though my son's therapy and my grandmother's as well. All seemed very devoted to their work. They all seemed happy and were great with kids and elderly (depending on location). Think of what the results of your work would be: you'd be helping people over problems they are having. You'll have some patients that you'll be able to help walk again after being injured. Or helping a stroke victim recover the use of their limbs or help them live around their problem. What could be better than helping people feel good about themselves. The only drawback I see is sometimes patients won't get better. If you are a "coach" -- a type of person who loves helping other people achieve their goals -- then this would be a great career for you. You'll work roughly 8-5 and you'll be helping so many people.

My cousin is a physical therapist. She works in sports medicine, so she helps athletes. She loves her job.

Information about jobs in the PT field and what the requirements are. Good luck!

Chad Said:

Occupational therapy or physical therapy?

We Answered:

If you are considering OT, why are you considering PTA instead of PT? At this time, you can still get a PT degree at the MS level (although many are now DPT). The careers are similar in terms of the role they play in evaluating and assessment of movement problems and designing treatment programs. OT will focus more on either specific tasks such as dressing, driving, writing, cooking, etc, but also many are experts in hand and elbow related disorders. PT deals more with generalized mobility...regaining the ability to walk, climb stairs, balance, use the arm for normal function, rehabilitate the back so one can resume a more functional life...but both PT and OT do overlap a little bit. As a PTA, you would do the same things as a PT, but no formal assessment. If you don't want to do any formal assessment, then I would recommend either PTA or COTA, but if you want to be the "detective" then go for either PT or OT. Then it would depend on which area interests you more.

Gloria Said:

Undergrad (AT or Sports Med) + Master(PT) or just 5 yr Masters program in Physical Therapy?

We Answered:

I think these careers compliment each other well. Altough, it is not necessary to obtain your ATC prior to admission to PT school, you could enter a doctorate (DPT program) with your BS in ATC. Having your ATC would be of benefit if you wish to work with the athletic population.

However, another consideration to make is to complete either your MS or DPT in PT, then sit for sports medicine in PT or othopedic clinical specialist after you've been in practice a couple years...this would probably benefit your resume more than the ATC degree. Also, once employed as a PT, you may be able to get your employer to subisidise your sports med or OCS credentialing.

Billy Said:

advantages and disadvantages of physical therapy?

We Answered:

Physical therapy is beneficial in the rehabilitation of injuries, especially serious ones. For example, a patient who has been in a cast for six weeks will have a weakened extremity. Physical therapy helps strengthen that extremity so that subsequent injury is less likely and that the patient can assume a normal lifestyle with fewer setbacks.

Physical therapy is almost an absolute necessity after certain surgeries such as hip replacements. Some (not the surgeons) might consider it more important than the surgery itself.

PT is beneficial for many stroke victims, helping them to regain lost function.

Disadvantages: no pain, no gain. It requires effort and persistence.

Lillian Said:

Physical Therapy Residencies and Fellowships Advantages?

We Answered:

apta based residencies and fellowships will help you gain specialized skills in an organized way. It will help you obain specialization in your area by the ABPTS ie become board certified. It may help you get you a better job. It should increase your salary. I wish I would have had that opportunity earlier in my career. At that time there was only ortho and sports programs. Now there is neuro and peds, hand, geriatrics, and womens health

From the APTA

As the physical therapy
profession continues
to mature and evolve,
postgraduate training and
education of therapists is becoming
even more important.
Direct access can be achieved
only if we are able to demonstrate
that our training and
expertise enable us to be a
“point of entry” into the
healthcare system. Hence, we
can expect to become practitioners
of choice only if we
are prepared educationally
for this challenge. Other issues
on the horizon, such as
pay for performance, will
require therapists to be accustomed
to using evidence
to guide their practices. Moving
toward the Doctor of
Physical Therapy (DPT) degree
is one way our profession
is demonstrating educational
preparation for independent
practice. Another
way physical therapists can
demonstrate advanced competence
is to become Board
Certified Specialists.
Postgraduate residency
programs are designed to
train therapists in a defined
specialty area. Curricula in
residency programs must reflect
an accepted practice
analysis if the residency is to
be recognized by the American
Physical Therapy Association
(APTA) as a specialty
area.1 Training received in a
credentialed residency program
can provide participant
therapists with the skills required
to become Board certified
within a specialty area
recognized by the APTA. In
addition, these programs are
poised to create a “fast track”
toward advanced expertise —
something that is required
for practice to be evidencebased
and for physical therapists
to be able to treat without
referral. This article discusses
the credentialing process
for residency programs,
describes two residency models,
gives examples of administrative
issues related to
these models, and explains
the linkage between residency
programs and Board
specialist certification.
Credentialing Residency
Programs
The APTA credentials
clinical residency programs
to ensure that they
reflect current advanced
practice in the designated
area.2 To become credentialed,
a residency program
must provide evidence that
the program includes content
that addresses all of
the areas described in the
Description of Advanced
Clinical Practice (DACP)
or the Description of Specialty
Practice (DSP) for a
particular specialty area
[i.e., the practice analyses].
2 While the curricular
content of a residency program
typically focuses on
clinical practice, some didactic
content is required.
Residents are mentored by
expert faculty within the
residency programhallmark of residency education.
Each residency program
may arrive at the desired
outcome (covering all
areas of the DACP/DSP)
however it chooses, provided
all areas are covered
and progression is logical
and sequential. The length
of a residency is also established
by the program itself
and can last anywhere
from 9 to 36 months. Regardless,
a minimum of
1,500 hours is required.2
Recall that residents
must be licensed physical
therapists, not students or
student interns. Residency
programs offer postgraduate
training that is designed
to train a generalist,
or novice, for specialty
practice. Moreover, many
programs include objectives
that are clearly associated
with preparing residents
for a Board certification
exam. The level of
training that occurs in a
residency program is always
aimed toward advanced
clinical practice. It
includes one-on-one
mentoring, independent
treatment, as well as didactic
work. Residents are
evaluated through written
exams and live-patient exams,
in addition to other
criteria determined by the
program itself.