Physical Therapy and Physical Therapy Assisting – In Demand!
Physical Therapy is a dynamic, licensed, allied health profession with an established theoretical and scientific foundation. The profession credits Mary MacMillian with formalizing it in the United States circa 1921. The field has widespread clinical applications and is focused on the restoration, maintenance and promotion of physical function and movement for individuals across the lifespan and anywhere on the physical health spectrum. Care can be delivered in a multitude of settings ranging from hospitals to a patient’s home. Physical therapy includes mediums of care such as active or passive exercises, gait and balance training, the use of physical agents to decrease pain, and tissue and joint manipulation to increase range of motion and improve quality of life. The field also offers specializations in areas such as orthopedics, geriatrics, neurology, pediatrics, manual therapy, and healthcare policy and leadership.