Physical Therapist Assistants
Career Snapshot
Physical therapists teach patients how to heal themselves by combining science, medicine, and humanitarianism. They are critical in assisting accident victims and the disabled in recovering from injuries, overcoming physical problems, and living with chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis.
Because many of their patients are in a vulnerable emotional condition, physical therapists must be sympathetic and kind when dealing with others. They must also be physically fit because lifting and carrying people and large goods are all part of the job.
Other activities, such as reviewing patients' medical histories and tracking their progress, are more diagnostic and administrative in nature. These responsibilities, however, are equally as crucial as 'hands-on' work because they have a direct impact on a patient's successful rehabilitation.
A profession in physical therapy allows you to specialise in fields such as paediatrics, sports medicine, or neurology. It also provides the pleasant feeling of assisting individuals in making consistent progress toward recovery.