Physical therapy is a rewarding profession. It gives people the opportunity to help others in numerous ways. If you have a passion for helping people regain their mobility, overcome pain, and enjoy a higher quality of life, this may very well be the career for you. This is also a diverse field that offers an array of possible career paths. If you’re interested, keep reading to learn more about the opportunities that might be at your disposal as a physical therapist.
Pediatric Physical Therapy
Pediatric PTs work with children to address developmental delays, disabilities, and injuries. You’ll also work with those who have congenital conditions. You’ll help children improve their coordination, motor skills, and other essential functions. You’ll also work with families to enable them to be proactive in addressing their children’s challenges. Numerous pediatric physical therapist job listings are currently available, and the demand for these services will only grow moving forward.
Orthopedic Physical Therapy
Orthopedic physical therapists specialize in musculoskeletal conditions, meaning they focus on bones, tendons, and muscles. They work with patients who are recovering from surgeries, broken bones, joint replacements, and chronic conditions like arthritis. You’d be helping patients improve their mobility, manage pain, improve their circulation, and overcome balance issues, among other tasks.
Sports Physical Therapy
Sports physical therapists work with athletes to help them prevent injuries or to treat existing ones. They aid in rehabilitation, optimizing athletic performance, and preventing further damage to injured joints and muscles. You could help athletes safely and effectively return to sports after they sustain injuries, possibly even preserving their careers.
Neurological Physical Therapy
In the field of neurological PT, therapists help people overcome conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, and Parkinson’s disease. They create rehabilitation programs to improve coordination and mobility. They can address issues caused by neurological impairments and help people who suffer from these conditions restore or maintain their independence.
Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy
Therapists in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary PT work with people who are living with heart and lung conditions. Those could include COPD, heart attacks, and cardiac surgeries. You’d be creating exercise and breathing programs to improve people’s heart and respiratory function.
Geriatric Physical Therapy
In geriatric physical therapy, you’d work with elderly patients. They may need help with managing conditions like osteoporosis, loss of balance and coordination, reduced mobility, or arthritis to name a few. You could help them recover from injuries, prevent falls, and improve their quality of life. With your help, they may be able to lead more active, independent lives.
Home Health and Telehealth Physical Therapy
All fields of physical therapy are in high demand right now, and home health PT is no exception. In this arena, you’d provide services in patients’ homes. Some may be unable to travel to a clinic. Others may simply benefit more from physical therapy sessions in the environments they’re most familiar with. Telehealth is also a rapidly growing field. As a telehealth PT, you’d provide your services remotely. This can be challenging, considering the nature of physical therapy, but it’s certainly not impossible.
Following your Physical Therapy Dreams
If you’re dreaming of a career in physical therapy, numerous opportunities are available. You can specialize in a specific branch of physical therapy or provide general services in a clinical setting. You could even choose an administrative position or open your own physical therapy clinic. Either way, you’ll be part of a rewarding field that provides essential services for people who are living with a broad range of challenges.
