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Physical Therapist Assistant Schools: Why You Should Attend
Physical Therapist Assistant Schools:
Why You Should Attend
Are you researching physical therapist assistant schools, and trying to decide if you should attend? If so, read this article and explore some of the reasons why training to become a physical therapist assistant could be the perfect career move for you.
Great Career Opportunities
As with many other health care careers, the job opportunities for physical therapist assistants are excellent. In fact, they are estimated to grow by 35 percent from 2008 to 2018.* This expansion in career opportunities can be attributed to several factors:
- Increased access to physical therapy services covered by insurance
- An aging population with chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic treatment
- As the sizable Baby Boom generation ages, the demand for physical and cardiac rehabilitation increases, due to higher incidents of stroke or heart attack
- Medical advancements have resulted in an increased survival rate for trauma victims creating further demand for therapy and rehabilitative services
Fascinating Work Environment
People find the health care industry fascinating for many reasons, including the opportunity to work with a diverse group of people. As a physical therapist assistant, you will be an important member of a team of skilled professionals, including physical therapists and physicians. You will also treat patients from all walks of life, and encounter challenges that will give you great satisfaction to solve.
Can you imagine helping to relieve a patient's chronic back pain? Or, seeing dramatic improvement in a patient's mobility over the course of many treatments? If making these scenarios a reality appeals to you, then it's more than likely you possess what they call a "service heart." Like many health care professionals, you find happiness in helping others. And, as a physical therapist assistant, you can experience great job satisfaction knowing you're helping people when they need it most.
Hands-On Health Care
Another aspect of physical therapy assisting that may appeal to you is the idea of working with your hands. Under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist, you will use a variety of techniques to treat patients, including:
- Balance and mobility exercises
- Massage therapy
- Electrical stimulation treatments
- Hot/cold therapy
- Mechanical traction therapy
Your direct patient contact will also include teaching individuals to perform various exercises at home, as well as accurately assessing and tracking the effectiveness of the treatment plan.
Now that you know why becoming a physical therapist assistant is a smart career move, are you ready to take the next step and get the necessary education? If so, a great place to start is this guide to physical therapist assistant schools!
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, web site accessed on Dec. 1, 2010.
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