Physical Therapists evaluate and treat patients with health problems or disabilities resulting from injury, disease or overuse of muscles or tendons. They also help prevent future injuries with regular assessments.
PTs use a variety of treatment methods, including massage, manipulation, therapeutic exercises, cold, heat (including short-wave, microwave, and ultrasonic diathermy), hydrotherapy, electric stimulation and light. Their goal is to restore mobility and function.
Education and Training
Physical therapists provide health care services to patients in a variety of settings. They may work in a hospital, rehabilitation center or outpatient clinic, or in a private practice setting.
A physical therapist’s job duties may include examination and evaluation of patients, treatment or rehabilitative techniques, instruction in movement and home exercise programs, supervision of therapy workers and consultation with other health care providers. They also perform research and develop and teach new and improved methods of treatment.
To help ensure you are treating your patients correctly, it is recommended that you earn a degree from an accredited physical therapy program and pass the state licensing exam. You also should pursue board certification in a specialty area such as sports or neurological physical therapy.
Licensing
The physical therapist is an essential member of the healthcare team. They evaluate, plan and administer medically prescribed treatment for patients with a range of conditions. They also supervise physical therapy assistants, techs and students.
In order to practice, physical therapists need licensure. This is usually obtained after graduating from a physical therapy program and passing the National Physical Therapy Examination, which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
Many physical therapists then complete a residency to specialize in specific areas of care. These residencies often last a year and require additional training.
Some physical therapists choose to become board certified in specialty areas, such as geriatric or orthopedic physical therapy. This requires completing an APTA-accredited residency and at least 2000 hours of clinical experience in the specialty area.
Working Conditions
Physical Therapists in Birmingham AL enjoy a highly successful and dynamic work culture. They are rewarded for their hard work and accomplishments with an excellent quality of life.
A career in Physical Therapy can allow you to help patients regain their ability to move and rebuild their lives. Physical therapists provide services in both office-based and medical-based environments.
Whether you’re an office personnel or a doctor, working in Physical Therapy is a rewarding and fulfilling career. It gives you the opportunity to help people regain their normalcy and rebuild their lives, all while earning a competitive wage and working in a professional environment.
The City of Birmingham promotes a “Putting People First” approach to employment, which means that employees and the citizens of the city are the top priority. It also strives to offer a highly competitive compensation structure, excellent health and medical benefits, and a strong and secure retirement plan, along with employee wellness programs.
Career Opportunities
Physical Therapists are among the fastest-growing health care professions in the country. Demand for the field is expected to grow by 21% before 2030, a faster growth rate than the national average of 8%.
This is a rewarding career that allows you to help patients overcome injuries, manage chronic conditions, and regain their mobility and independence. You need to be compassionate and knowledgeable about your patients’ health to succeed as a physical therapist.
With an aging population and increasingly stressful work environments, demand for physical therapists will increase. Increasingly, work-related health plans are using physical therapy as an efficient way to manage and prevent workplace injuries.
Birmingham offers one of the best job markets in the Southeastern United States. Its cost of living is 19% lower than the US average, and housing prices are more than 40% cheaper. This combination of affordability and ample job opportunities makes Birmingham a popular place to live.