Reasons for Becoming a Physical Therapist

by Damin Chu

Overview

Physical therapy is a job that requires patience and people skills. It is also a profession that may be perfect for you if you are interested in helping people improve their health.
Hands-On Work

Although physical therapists have a decent amount of paperwork, they spend most of their working day working one on one with their patients. Physical therapy is all about helping people learn how to walk and use their bodies again. Physical therapists help them stretch and do a variety of therapy exercises. Unlike many other professions, including other health professions, physical therapists interact and understand their patients on a deeper level. If you want an active profession working closely with people, then physical therapy may be a great fit.

Flexibility

Master's of Physical Therapy programs (MPT's) or Doctor of Physical Therapy programs (DPT's) take, on average, three years to complete, but after you graduate, physical therapy offers flexibility that other health professions can't beat. If you want to take a few years off to pursue other interests, physical therapy is a profession that you can easily fall back into once you decide to return to it. There are currently a number of options for physical therapists, from working in a hospital to freelancing as an independent, self-employed physical therapist, allowing you to build your own business.
Physical Therapy is Expanding

In 2005, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) reported that 43.5 percent of physical therapists earned on average $50,000 to $60,000 annually, with 10.4 percent making approximately $80,000 to $100,000. Additionally, the baby boomer generation is getting older. This means that the demand for physical therapists will only increase as the nation's largest generational population seeks out individuals who can keep them going on a physical level.