What Do Physical Therapists Do?
Physical therapists (PTs) are licensed health care professionals who help people with injuries or illnesses improve their movement and manage their pain. PTs are often an important part of rehabilitation and treatment for patients with chronic conditions or injuries that limit their ability to move well or comfortably or do functional activities as well as they would like in their daily lives. PTs help patients recover from physical injuries, diseases, or disabilities and aim to relieve patients’ pain, improve their body movement, restore function, and limit impairment. PTs will assess a patient, then plan and implement treatment to improve strength, coordination, flexibility, range of motion, and endurance. Treatment may include stretching and strengthening exercises; applying heat, cold, water, or electricity to reduce pain and inflammation; and therapeutic massage.
PTs frequently work with accident victims and individuals with a variety of conditions, such as back problems, sports injuries, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.
In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.
While most physical therapists treat a wide array of patients and conditions, some specialize in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, brain injury, or sports medicine. For more information, go to: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm.
Where Do Physical Therapists Work?
PTs work in hospitals, outpatient clinics and private offices that have specially equipped facilities. PTs also work in rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, home health agencies and schools. A small percentage of PTs are self-employed.
A PT’s job can be physically demanding, because PTs may have to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift and stand for long periods of time. In addition, PTs may move heavy equipment and lift patients or help them turn, stand or walk.
What Do Physical Therapists Earn?
In 2022, the average annual income reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for physical therapists in the United States was $97,960. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) reports that, in 2023, physical therapists in New York earned a median annual salary of $100,917 (physical therapists in the 25th percentile made approximately $75,584 while those in the 75th percentile made approximately $123,555).
Supply and Demand
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of jobs for physical therapists in the U.S. will increase by 17% between 2021 and 2031. The New York State Department of Labor projects that the number of jobs for physical therapists in the state will increase by 28% between 2020 and 2030.
The increasing older adult population in the U.S. will drive growth in the demand for physical therapy services because this age group is staying active in sports and exercise later in life than previous generations did. In addition to various sports- and exercise-related injuries, the active baby boom generation is just entering the prime age for arthritis, heart attacks, and strokes, increasing the demand for physical therapy services and rehabilitation care. Medical and technological developments will permit a greater percentage of trauma and accident victims and newborns with birth defects to survive, creating additional demand for rehabilitative care by PTs. Sports-related injuries for people of all ages are also more frequently referred to and improved by physical therapy.
For more information on projections of PTs by New York State labor regions, (2018-2028), click here.
Educational Program Requirements
PTs are required to have a postgraduate professional degree. Physical therapy programs usually award a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, although a small number award a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) degree. Doctoral programs typically last three years; MPT programs require two or three years of study. Most physical therapy degree programs require a bachelor’s degree for admission, and many require specific prerequisites, such as anatomy, physiology, biology, and chemistry.
Coursework includes biology, anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics, pathology, and basic medical sciences. Studies will also focus on the evaluation and treatment of the heart, lungs, muscles, bones, and the nervous system. PT programs will also require behavioral science courses, such as evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning. Some of the clinically-based courses include medical screening, examination tests and measures, diagnostic process, therapeutic interventions, outcomes assessment, and practice management. In addition to classroom and laboratory instruction, students receive supervised clinical experience. Some PT’s complete a residency and obtain board certification, both of which are optional.
New York Licensure Requirements
In order to be licensed as a physical therapist in New York, an applicant must complete an accredited education program in physical therapy and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
For more information on state licensing requirements, go to: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/pt/.
Financial Support
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) offers scholarships and other information for students in physical therapy education programs. Please visit their Web site at http://www.apta.org/ and see information about scholarships at http://www.apta.org/CurrentStudents/ScholarshipsAwards/
Education Programs in New York
| Daemen College 4380 Main Street Amherst, NY 14226 (800) 462-7652 |
D’Youville University 320 Porter Avenue Buffalo, NY 14201 (716) 829-8000 |
| Nazareth College 4245 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14618 (585) 389-2525 |
University at Buffalo-SUNY 3425 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214 (716) 829-5000 |
| Ithaca College 953 Danby Road Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 274-3011 |
SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Health Professions 788 Irving Aveue Syracuse, NY 13210 (315) 464-6560 |
| Utica College 1600 Burrstone Road Utica, NY 13502 (315) 792-3006 |
The Sage Colleges School of Health Sciences 65 1st Street Troy, NY 12180 (518) 244-2000 |
| Dominican College of Blauvelt 470 Western Highway Orangeburg, NY 10962 (845) 359-7800 |
Touro College Manhattan Campus 320 W 31st St New York, NY 10001 (631) 665-1600 and Bay Shore Campus 1700 Union Blvd. Bay Shore, NY 11706 (631) 665-1600 |
| New York Institute of Technology Northern Blvd. Old Westbury, NY 11568 (516) 686-1000 |
Stony Brook University-SUNY 110 Nicolls Rd. Stony Brook, NY 11794-8201 (631) 444-2252 and Southampton Campus 239 Montauk Highway Southampton, NY 11968 (631) 444-8356 |
| Columbia University Neurological Institute 710 West 168th Street New York, NY 10032 (212) 305-2862 |
College of Staten Island-CUNY 2800 Victory Blvd. Staten Island, NY 10314 (718) 982-2000 |
| Hunter College 425 E. 25th Street New York, NY 10010 (212) 772-4000 |
Long Island University Brooklyn Campus School of Health Professions 1 University Plaza Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 488-1011 |
| Mercy College 555 Broadway Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 (877) 637-2946 |
New York Medical College 40 Sunshine Cottage Road Valhalla, NY 10595 (914) 594-4000 |
| New York University Steinhardt School 380 Second Ave., 4th Floor New York, NY 10010 (212) 998-9413 |
Marist College 3399 North Rd Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 (845) 575-3000 |
| Clarkson University 8 Clarkson Avenue Potsdam, NY 13699 (315) 268-6400 |
Additional Web Links
For more information on physical therapists go to:
American Physical Therapy Association: http://www.apta.org
New York Physical Therapy Association: http://www.nypta.org
Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy: http://www.fsbpt.org
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