Learn How to Prepare for a Physical Therapist Career in Northeast Ohio
Physical therapists and physical therapy assistants provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. There are two different levels in a physical therapist career track:
- Perform components of physical therapy procedures and related tasks under the supervision of a physical therapist.
- Assist physical therapists in providing services that help improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease.
- Perform a variety of tasks involving exercises, massages, electrical stimulation, paraffin baths, hot and cold packs, traction, and ultrasound.
- Record the patient’s responses to treatment and report the outcome of each treatment to the physical therapist.
- Review patients’ medical histories.
- Test and measure patients’ strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function.
- Develop treatment plans describing a treatment strategy, its purpose, and its anticipated outcome.
- Use exercise, electrical stimulation, hot packs or cold compresses, and ultrasound to relieve pain and reduce swelling, and also use traction or deep-tissue massage to relieve pain.
- Teach patients to use assistive and adaptive devices, such as crutches, prostheses, and wheelchairs.
- Show patients exercises to do at home to expedite their recovery, document patients' progress, conduct periodic examinations, and modify treatments when necessary.
- Determine patients’ ability to be independent and reintegrate into the community or workplace after injury or illness.
Physical therapists often consult and practice with a variety of other professionals, such as physicians, dentists, nurses, educators, social workers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists. Some treat a wide range of ailments; others specialize in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics, sports medicine, neurology, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy.
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Physical Therapy Assistant - A formal education plus clinical education in an accredited physical therapy assistant program (usually an associate's degree) is required.
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Physical Therapist - A master's degree in Physical Therapy is the current minimum requirement to enter the field. Physical Therapists must attend an academic program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in order to meet the eligibility requirements for the national certifying exam. Effective December 31, 2015, CAPTE will no longer accredit Master's professional programs; therefore a doctorate degree will be required.
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Licensure/Certification - More than 40 states require physical therapist assistants to be licensed, registered, or certified. Check licensure requirements with the department of health or board of occupational licensing for the state in which you plan to work. The state of Ohio requires physical therapy assistants to be licensed. Requirements can be found online at http://otptat.ohio.gov/.
All states require physical therapists to pass a licensure exam before they can practice. Licensure requirements for the State of Ohio can be found online at http://otptat.ohio.gov/.
Physical Therapy Assistant
- Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland (A)
- Kent State University, East Liverpool (A)
- Lorain Community College, Elyria (A)
- Stark State College, Canton (A)
Physical Therapist
- Cleveland State University, Cleveland (D)
- College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati (D)
- Ohio State University, Columbus (D)
- Ohio University, Athens (D)
- University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati (D)
- University of Dayton, Dayton (D)
- University of Findlay, Findlay (D)
- University of Toledo, Toledo (D)
- Walsh University, North Canton (D)
- Youngstown State University, Youngstown (D)
(Type of Program: A=Associate Degree; C=Certificate; M=Master Degree; D=Doctorate Degree)
- American Physical Therapy Association (www.apta.org/)
- Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org)