Physical Therapists are medical professionals that help people restore their function, relieve pain, and improve their mobility as well as limit or prevent their permanent physical disabilities if they are injured or ill. They work close with their patients in order to restore or promote their health condition through fitness and wellness programs to achieve a more active lifestyle. This therapy includes helping patients who are accident victims and individuals. A physical therapist job description can be summarized as one who works with disabling conditions, such as:
- Fractures
- Low back pain
- Head injures
- Heart disease
- Cerebral palsy
- Arthritis
All physical therapists have to take a close look into the patient’s history and determine which tests are going to be performed. The physical therapist must measure the patient’s strength, posture, balance, coordination, respiration, motor function and muscle performance in order to determine any kind of existing or potential problems. After the results from the tests arrive, the physical therapist can make a proper evaluation and determine the patient’s diagnose. The physical therapist has to make a plan of care which will describe all the treatment strategies, outcomes and prognosis of his therapy. The patient’s ability will be measured and this will be a key point for the physical therapist to decide whether he will let the patient reintegrate into his workplace again.
Work conditions
Physical therapists work in different settings which include outpatient clinics, hospitals, home health agencies, fitness facilities, sports facilities, nursing facilities and schools. Most of them work full-time such as 40 hours a week, but this may include working over weekends and evenings.
This is a physically demanding position because while working, the physical therapist must kneel, lift, or simply stand for a large amount of time. During his practice his job is to move heavy equipment and help patients to stand, walk or turn.
Physical therapist’s average salary
According to the BLS, the physical therapists median income for 2018 was $87,930 per year. This means that they earn $42.27 per hour. Unlike the juniors, the senior physical therapists earn much more. Their average income is $127,000 a year and this depends on where they are located, their experience, reputation and etc.
Where is there work?
Nevada is the Physical therapists’ golden state because the average salary is $119,670 per year, and it is 33% higher than the average physical therapist’s salary in the U.S. Among the State of Nevada there are other states in which the physical therapists are well paid such as: Alaska, New Jersey, Texas and California.
Not only that their salary may vary from state to state, but it may also vary from their work place. Those physical therapists who work in the Home Health Care Services are among the highest paid. Among the Home health Care Services, there are other industries in which the physical therapists are well-paid such as: Remediation Services, Technical Consulting Services and Employment Services.
