Physical Therapist Assistant (major) Essay
My major is physical therapy. Physical therapist assistants perform their duties under the supervision of physical therapists. Core duties of physical therapist assistant include assisting patients to recover from illnesses, injuries, and surgeries. These are procedures, which help patients to manage pain and regain balance during movement.Physical Therapist Assistant (major) Essay
In addition, therapies are developed to enhance mobility, reduce permanent physical disability, and improve general conditions and fitness of patients (American Dental Education Association 1). Patients could be persons with short-term or long-term physical disabilities, heart conditions, head injuries, back pain, cerebral palsy, or arthritis.
A number of reasons have influenced me to major as a physical therapy assistant. Physical therapists have high–levels of education in the anatomy, locomotion, and operations of the body. Knowledge gained in physical therapy education helps the therapist to lessen aches, assist patients to move, avert permanent disabilities, and re-establish physical functions.
Hence, a physical therapist is an important part of patient care. Foundations of therapist’s work are practical training and therapeutic activities. Patients have different needs based on their conditions. However, physical therapists aim to initiate movement or operations by activating joints or working on muscles. In addition, physical therapists also apply other methods like ultrasound, hot packs, electrotherapy, and ice to treat their patients (Kilgore College 1).
Career as a physical therapist has great rewards. These specialists make a difference in individuals’ lives. Physical therapists work with patients closely and watch their progress through various stages of treatment. A physical therapist remains a rehabilitation specialist who promotes the patient’s maximal recovery and functions. The job also involves restoring mobility through fitness and wellness therapies, which improve the patient’s overall health and active life.Physical Therapist Assistant (major) Essay
A career as a physical therapist offers a job security. The job is resilient to economic downturns and struggling job markets. Today, the large number of aging Americans has driven the demand for physical therapists. Specifically, American baby boomers have become prone to chronic conditions and common health problems, which require them to seek services of physical therapists.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the demand for physical therapists would rise by 46 percent between the year 2010 and 2020 (Bureau of Labor Statistics 1). This rate of growth is faster than the average rate of growth in the job market because of health care needs of the aging population. This is good news for students of physical therapist assistant.
The job leads to a feeling of self-fulfillment among practitioners. Physical therapists help others to regain or attain their normal movement abilities and conduct their daily life activities. Surveys have shown that physical therapy job has an overall highest job satisfaction level (American Physical Therapy Association 1). More than a three-quarter of physical therapists who take part in surveys report that they are ‘very satisfied’. Certainly, this is the only best performing health care profession in terms of job satisfaction.
Physical therapists can perform their roles in any location with clients of different ages. As a result, they have a wide range of areas and settings for work, which may include outpatient clinics, private offices, hospitals, schools, sport facilities, health and fitness centers, and home health care facilities among others.Physical Therapist Assistant (major) Essay
Finally, physical therapy education would elevate me to be my own boss. A large number of physical therapists work as private consultants or own their physical therapy facilities.
Education is necessary for physical therapy assistant. Students should get a CAPTE-accredited two-year associate degree program (American Physical Therapy Association 1). This allows graduates to sit for a national examination for the license and allows them to join the profession of physical therapy with the necessary skill, behaviors, and knowledge. Most states need the certificate or license in order to work as physical therapist assistant.
Education would ensure that a physical therapist assistant is competent, adaptable, knowledgeable, and self-assured to provide physical therapy services.
Physical therapy assistant education ensures that the graduate can perform the job, gather patient’s information, ensure safety, and respond to all instructions as provided by the physical therapist in a manner that that meets legal, ethical, effective, and safe practices of the profession.
Moreover, a physical therapist assistant requires education in order to learn how to communicate with other stakeholders, client’s family, and caregivers, as a team and cooperatively with others in the health care sector.
The career of a physical therapist assistant is exciting, flexible, and highly rewarding, but students require necessary qualifications to join the profession.Physical Therapist Assistant (major) Essay