Physical Therapists

The work

Core tasks

1. 01Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
2. 02Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
3. 03Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
4. 04Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
5. 05Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
6. 06Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
7. 07Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
8. 08Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
9. 09Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.
10. 10Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.
11. 11Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.
12. 12Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.

Capabilities

Essential skills

Employment outlook

Where the role is heading