Physical Therapy

Matthew Martinez

English III Standard Pd. 5

Mr. Alburger

February 23, 2017

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Matthew Martinez

Mr. Alburger

English III Standard Pd. 5

23 February, 2017

Physical Therapy

Late at night, a dog wants to go for a walk. Outside, the roads and sidewalks are covered

in white snow and are slippery. While walking the dog, a woman slips and falls on a patch of ice

and breaks her arm. The elderly woman can not get up and lies there for hours yelling for help.

When someone finally takes her to the hospital, who helps her recovery and strengthens her arm?

Physical therapists specialize in treating patients with weak limbs and can help strengthen the

patients to their normal abilities. After training, the physical therapist acts as part of the

healthcare team, using technology in order to assist patients who currently go through physical

impairments that may lead to disabilities.

To become a physical therapist in the United States students must go to college and study

the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT). This degree will take three years to complete, and

many schools offer this degree such as the University of Minnesota (Campbell). According to

Brittany MiKec, a physical therapist in Huntersville, she completed the accelerated 3+3 program

in which she finished her undergraduate in three years when it normally takes four and then went

on to take three years of physical therapy school (MiKec). Brittany also stated that in order to

succeed and stand out from other student you need to create a good work and study ethic to excel

and stay ahead of your work because the 3+3 degree is a rigorous degree (MiKec). Programs

also accept freshman, and the portion of new students could start a professional phase of Physical
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Therapy.These freshman must meet minimum GPA requirements for acceptance into the

professional phase. During the student's time at high school, some courses that benefit the

student for a college class are biology, psychology, anatomy, sociology, and mathematics. Also,

interning as a physical therapist will benefit students before going into the career and studying

physical therapy as a professional college level. Brittany MiKec said, During college I took four

internship opportunities and gained a collective total of over 200 hours in order to get into

physical therapy school (MiKec). The physical therapy field may grow approximately 34

percent from 2014 to 2024, which surpasses the growth rate of all other occupations

(Summary). Consequently, a student who studies and graduates with a physical therapy degree

will most likely find a job.

Most physical therapist education programs require applicants to earn a bachelor's degree

prior to admission into the professional DPT program. The average tuition fees for the DPT

degree are $14,427 for public in-state schools, $29,157 for public out-of-state schools, and

$31,716 for private schools (Physical). Colleges offer a three plus three degree in which

students get a bachelors degree in three years, and then they can be accepted into DPT degree,

the professional PT degree also known as Doctor of Physical Therapy requires three years of pre-

professional physical therapy. During the DPT degree, the curriculum consists of 80% classroom

and lab study work. The other 20% is clinical education which on average students spend twenty

seven and a half weeks in the clinical education experiences (Physical).

Physical therapists act as part of the healthcare team. They help patients prevent, improve

or manage physical impairments and dysfunctions that lead to disability (Brewer). Physical

therapists must acquire physical strength and flexibility to perform the best patient interactions
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throughout the workday. They have the ability to assist patients to enhance physical and

functional abilities, maintain patient wellness and fitness, and prevent disabilities (Brewer).

Throughout the day, physical therapists conduct hands on work and have close interactions with

people of all ethnicities. Physical therapists also have to work well in a team setting to help

patients with their issues as much as possible. Physical therapists work in a variety of different

work environments such as hospitals, schools, nursing homes, or rehabilitation clinics, and work

an eight hour day. This workday involves around four hours of sitting and four hours of standing.

Consequently, physical therapists need to be able to stand on their feet for long periods of time

(Brewer). Physical therapists require interpersonal skills and stamina to perform their job skills.

The median national wage for Physical Therapist is $40.73 per hour which is equivalent

to around $85,000 dollars a year (Brewer). This medium national wage is $15,000 higher than

the national wage in 2013 due to not only rising number of physical therapy offices but also a

higher number of people needing physical training. Most of the population seeks physical

therapy for many reasons: older baby boomers have a longer life span, more people get injured

in work related injuries, obesity in America is on a quick rise, and the population wants to seek

help to get in shape and become stronger.

There are so many different types of work settings for physical therapist such as acute

care, outpatient setting, rehabilitation hospital, school, home health, and hospice. In an acute care

setting, the physical therapist works with the patients to help them recover from their injuries and

release them as soon as possible. In rehabilitation physical therapy, the patients participate in

intense training for usually three hours a day and, and it teaches them how to care for

themselves. Outpatient clinics are also known as private practices. The patient comes to a clinic,
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and the focus is on musculoskeletal treatment to help recover faster. Home Health takes place at

the patient's home primarily because the patient is a senior citizen or has a injury which does not

allow them to leave the house (Brightfind). Physical therapists work with hospice to help people

who have incurable diseases and help them figure out movements that they can do that will not

hurt the patient. Physical therapists also work in the research center to help make improvements

to physical therapy and changes happen every single day (Brightfind). Obviously physical

therapists may work in many different areas which suit their preferences.

The physical therapy fields origin traces all the way back to the ancient Greeks. The only

treatments that the ancient Greeks could preform involved massages, manual therapy, and

hydrotherapy. In Ancient Greece circa 460 BC, Hector practiced a physiotherapy technique

called hydrotherapy which would be commonly known for water treatment in Greek (Das).

The first known practices occurred in ancient China, Greece, and India but the practice was not

referred to as physical therapy (Profession). During these practices the Ancient Greeks,

Chinese, and Indians figured out how to relieve pain, massage the body, or help patients recover

from injuries. Beginning in Europe in the 1400s, they began teaching physical education courses

and then later a book was introduced about exercise (Profession). Physical therapy has evolved

since the ancient Greeks.

Physical therapy was introduced into the army in 1922. In 1917 and 1918, physical

therapy widely spread throughout the United States to assist patients with injuries from World

War I. Ever since World War II, military physical therapist have worked with every single

military conflict. Physical therapy began taking place outside of hospitals in the late 1950s.

World War II was the changing point in the physical therapy field. Up until that war, physical
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therapist only worked in hospitals. Since 1913, Physical Therapy has changed dramatically

because of multiple reasons including political, social, economic, and technology changes

throughout the years in the United States.

Technology is growing in the physical therapy field which allows the physical therapist

to look at ultrasounds and electronic simulators to locate the patient's problem, and resolve it

much faster. Also, with more technology utilize, there are significantly more resources to find

cures and ways to heal patients. Electrotherapy is the use of electrical energy for medical

purposes. In physical therapy, electrotherapy is used for the following: muscle stimulation to

prevent disuse atrophy, relaxation of spasms and pain management. Electrotherapy also

improves muscle strength, muscle control and blood flow (What). MiKec said technology and

the medical field is growing every day because when I first began physical therapy things like

dry needling did not exist and now some physical therapist are using the method everyday

(MiKec). Virtual reality is another technology advancement in the physical therapy field.

Patients put on goggles and hold controllers in their hands. The patients feels as if they are in real

life and have to get through certain obstacles in the virtual reality. Studies show that this method

of physical therapy may be five times more effective than traditional therapy. This method works

because virtual reality stimulates the patient's creativity and thus involves the brain in the

process of healing (What). Traditional therapy does not involve the brain like virtual reality

does.

Physical therapy utilizes many exercise objects for training. For example, therapists use a

method called ramps which help people learn how to use their lower limbs again. Ramps are

commonly used by patients who have lost physical ability to use their lower limbs or who have
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had a stroke and are relearning how to walk. In the first couple of sessions with the patient,

physical therapist assists the patient with walking up and down the ramp. However as the patient

regains strength to their lower body, they can start walking up and down the ramp by themselves.

Exercise balls are also commonly used in the physical therapy field to help patients gain core

muscle and stability. First, the physical therapist makes the patients sit on the ball to make sure

they can balance. Throughout the following weeks, the patients regain core strength and can sit

on the ball for longer periods of time. Once the patient can sit on the ball, the physical therapist

adds exercises for the patient to do for more of a challenge. One of the most well known tools in

physical therapy is a resistance band. Patients use a resistance band for weak limbs or muscles

after a stroke or accident. The physical therapist makes the patient use a resistance band and do a

wide variety of exercises to help strengthen the muscles or limbs. As Brittany states, The best

part about being a physical therapist is helping people get better. It is rewarding to help relieve

people of their pain, and to get them back to functioning normally again. Helping patients get

back to recreational activities such as sports and exercise routines puts a smile on their face and

mine (MiKec).

Recent studies show that more and more people are using physical therapists in regards to

their obesity or being overweight. Physical therapists have adapted to that and are now using

gym equipment to help the patient lose weight. Physical therapists use stationary bikes, and

treadmills so that the patient burns calories and also loses weight. According to MiKec, some

patients take longer than others and some patients do not even improve which is very difficult to

work with but seeing the patient smile and be back to normal is more rewarding then however

hard the process was to get the patient there (MiKec). On average, a physical therapist may see
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from one patient to 18 patients in one day (MiKec).

The number of total knee replacement (TKR) surgeries, also known as total knee

arthroplasty, has grown substantially over the past two decades. Approximately 350,000 TKR

procedures were performed in 2002, but this number increased to around 500,000 by 2007 and

jumped even more to 719,000 by 2010 (Mitchell). Following knee surgery, surgeons can

recommend patients to see a physical therapist so that the patient may have have a quicker

recovery. Also, the patients want to go and pursue their recovery more than patients going to a

private physical therapist (Mitchell). Studies show that individuals that go to a physician owned

physical therapist office go twice as much as individuals who go to independent physical therapy

offices. Also studies show that patients who go to a physician owners after total knee

replacement surgery start therapy one day sooner than patients who go to independent physical

therapy offices (Mitchell).

Musculoskeletal injuries are a leading cause of health care utilization, medical

evacuation, and disability in the military (Shaffer). United States Army physical therapists have

served as physician extenders for the management of nonsurgical neuromusculoskeletal injuries

since the Vietnam conflict (Shaffer). In 2011, around 80% of all trained and active military

trained physical therapists were deployed at least once throughout the year and some were even

deployed twice (Shaffer). Soldiers were interviewed and the results indicated that 70% of the

missions that involved a physical therapist produced more positive missions for the soldiers

(Shaffer).

Musculoskeletal disabilities also known as MSI is the leading cause for healthcare visits.

In 2012, there was 2.2 million reported musculoskeletal diseases. Physical therapists in the
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United States Army specialize in musculoskeletal injuries, but they also specialize in burns, brain

injury, trauma, and amputated limbs. In the year of 2010 there were 2.5 million musculoskeletal

Injuries and in 2012 there were 2.2 musculoskeletal injuries (Shaffer). The military physical

therapists specialize in musculoskeletal injuries because that type of injury is widespread in the

military and without them the military would have more service men and women unable to work

due to their injuies. Physical therapy lessons include a continued focus on a soldier sports

medicine forward care model, a need for injury risk assessment, physical performance

screenings, and reconditioning programs that optimize readiness, and continued support for

physical therapy structure, training, and research that maximizes soldier readiness and health

(Shaffer).

Since the beginning of physical therapy, thousands of years ago, more and more people

not only utilize this field, but also work in it. As the population of the United States ages, many

people use physical therapy to stay healthy as they age, whether to lose weight or maintain their

strength for daily activities. People also use physical therapy to recover from illness or injury.

Many people, including those in the military, benefit from the technological advances which

produce much greater outcomes. Consequently, patients quality of life increases. Due to this

increase in the number of patients, many people decide to dedicate their life and help those in

need around them and become physical therapist.

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Works Cited

Brewer, Wayne, et al. "A Comparison Of Work-Related Physical Activity Levels Between

Inpatient And Outpatient Physical Therapists: An Observational Cohort Trial." BMC

Research Notes 9.(2016): 1-8. Academic Search Complete. Web. 30 Dec. 2016.

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Brightfind, Brightfind. "About Physical Therapist (PT) Careers." Brightfind Brightfind. Web. 22
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<http://www.apta.org/PTCareers/Overview/>

Brge, Elisabeth, et al. "Cost-Effectiveness Of Physical Therapy Only And Of Usual Care For

Various Health Conditions: Systematic Review." Physical Therapy 96.6 (2016): 774-786.

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Campbell, Chloe. "P Is For Physical Therapist." Minnesota Employment Review (2016): 1.

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Das, Prodyut, Dr. "History of Physical Therapy." Physiotherapy Treatment.

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Flynn, Simone Isadora. "Physical Therapist." Salem Press Encyclopedia (2016): Research

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Hanney, William J., et al. "The Influence Of Physical Therapy Guideline Adherence On

Healthcare Utilization And Costs Among Patients With Low Back Pain: A Systematic

Review Of The Literature." Plos ONE 11.6 (2016): 1-18. Academic Search Complete.

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