Therapy|Occupational

A kind of therapy.

Ick, this needs formatting, and I need to go to bed. Anyhow, this is from the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, which is a non-copyright government publication. (Actually, I need to more carefully investigate to be sure this is so, but in general publications of the Federal Government can not be copyright.)

(Also I realize I got the wrong information on this page. Double ick! I will fix all this in the morning, unless some magical wiki elves beat me to it by then.)

Although the effects of Federal limits on

reimbursement for therapy services will cause keen

competition for jobs during the first half of the

projection period, employment is expected to increase

over the 1998-2008 period.

Competition for entrance into physical therapist

educational programs is very intense.

By 2002, all physical therapist programs seeking

accreditation will be required to offer master’s

degrees and above.

Nature of the Work

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Physical therapists provide services that help restore

function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or

limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering

from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and

promote overall fitness and health. Their patients include

accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions

such as low back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures,

head injuries, and cerebral palsy.

Therapists examine patients’ medical histories, then test

and measure their strength, range of motion, balance and

coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and

motor function. They also determine patients’ ability to be

independent and reintegrate into the community or

workplace after injury or illness. Next, they develop

treatment plans describing a treatment strategy, the

purpose, and anticipated outcome. Physical therapist

assistants, under the direction and supervision of a physical

therapist, may be involved in the implementation of the

treatment plan. Physical therapist aides perform routine

support tasks, as directed by the therapist. (Physical

therapist assistants and aides are discussed elsewhere in the

Handbook.)

Treatment often includes exercise for patients who have

been immobilized and lack flexibility, strength, or

endurance. They encourage patients to use their own

muscles to further increase flexibility and range of motion

before finally advancing to other exercises improving

strength, balance, coordination, and endurance. Their goal

is to improve how an individual functions at work and

home.

Physical therapists also use electrical stimulation, hot packs

or cold compresses, and ultrasound to relieve pain and

reduce swelling. They may use traction or deep-tissue

massage to relieve pain. Therapists also teach patients to

use assistive and adaptive devices such as crutches,

prostheses, and wheelchairs. They may also show patients

exercises to do at home to expedite their recovery.

As treatment continues, physical therapists document

progress, conduct periodic examinations, and modify

treatments when necessary. Such documentation is used to

track the patient’s progress, and identify areas requiring

more or less attention.

Physical therapists often consult and practice with a variety

of other professionals, such as physicians, dentists, nurses,

educators, social workers, occupational therapists,

speech-language pathologists, and audiologists.

Some physical therapists treat a wide range of ailments;

others specialize in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics,

orthopedics, sports medicine, neurology, and

cardiopulmonary physical therapy.