About the Profession

Physical therapists act as autonomous practitioners within a healthcare team in a wide variety of settings to preserve, develop and restore not only optimum physical function, but also optimal wellness, fitness, and quality of life as it relates to movement and health. The physical therapist works to optimize function by alleviating pain, preventing injury, and restoring function after injury, including strength, coordination, range of motion, cardiovascular fitness, and other dimensions of physical movement. When normal motor behavior has been permanently damaged, the physical therapist helps the individual learn to adapt personal motor performance within the limitations of a permanent loss. Physical therapists evaluate individuals and groups, define relationships between pathologies, impairments, functional limitations and disability, and design interventions to maximize function and minimize disability. They also provide leadership in the health care system and education to the community.