About Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a deeply rewarding healthcare profession that improves the lives of people who have suffered a serious injury or are living with a chronic disease. If you enjoy the academic rigor of the health sciences and the opportunity to forge real connections with patients, you should consider a career in physical therapy, one of the fastest-growing jobs in America.
Physical therapists, or PTs, are healthcare professionals who evaluate, diagnose and treat individuals of all ages with health-related concerns that limit their ability to participate fully in their work/school, leisure/play and daily functional activities. PTs assess joint motion, muscle strength and endurance, and function of heart and lungs, and engage their patients in exercises and therapies to improve physical function and quality of life.
As a physical therapist, you may:
- Prevent and treat sports injuries
- Teach parents how to play with their children with developmental disabilities
- Increase coordination and prevent falls
- Counsel and educate in pre- and post-natal care
- Design user-friendly homes and workplaces
- Educate clients in the use of devices such as canes, crutches and wheelchairs
- Help individuals return to work successfully after an injury
- Restore the ability of individuals to participate in their daily activities by alleviating their pain
Learn about the physical therapy industry and career opportunities, our pre-physical therapy program for undergraduates, or our Doctor of Physical Therapy professional program.
Changing Patients’ Lives
Physical therapy is the profession that I have been pursuing since I was a teenager in high school. It has allowed me to build relationships with my patients, learn about their families and lives, and have the opportunity to help them heal and succeed at reaching their goals. I enjoy nothing more than making those connections with people and being lucky enough to become part of their success story!"
– Megan Haught, Doctor of Physical Therapy student and recipient of the 2010 Melissa A. Walsh ’03 ’05 Memorial Endowed Scholarship
