Help people get back on their feet as a physical therapy assistant
Sometimes, a car accident or other unfortunate event is only the beginning of people's difficulties. Recovering from an accident can be a long and difficult process, and many patients wouldn't be able to get back on their feet without the skills and support of a physical therapist and their assistants. What do these professionals do, and how can you become one?
Every step of the way
Physical therapists play an instrumental role in helping people recover from their injuries after accidents or serious illness. If you're looking for a rewarding career path with great prospects, enrolling in physical therapy programs is a step in the right direction.
Individuals who've been involved in traffic accidents, serious trips or falls, or suffer from degenerative ailments often need physical therapists to regain control of their bodies. Courses of treatment can involve everything from muscular exercises to psychological rehabilitation. Physical therapy assistants work alongside practicing therapists and use a range of equipment to help people get back on their feet, including the kind of machines you might see at a gym. From treadmills to medicine balls, physical therapists and their assistants use whatever it takes to help their patients on the road to recovery.
A step in the right direction
Working as a physical therapist assistant can be incredibly rewarding, but it's not just a great career in terms of job satisfaction - these professionals can also command competitive salaries. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual income for a physical therapist assistant is more than $37,000. If that weren't reason enough to look into becoming a physical therapist assistant, demand for these professionals is expected to increase by 45 percent through 2020 - much faster than the national average for all occupations.
Finding the perfect fit
Once you graduate from a physical therapy program, you can look for work in a variety of environments. Many physical therapists began their careers as assistants before going on to earn additional qualifications.
Some clinics specialize in the treatment of patients suffering from degenerative motor diseases, and many physical therapy assistants work in rehabilitation hospitals. Gaining valuable experience as a physical therapist assistant could be a real asset when you choose to seek a more advanced degree further down the road.
No matter how you choose to seek new employment opportunities in this rapidly expanding field, pursuing a career in physical therapy could be one of the most rewarding decisions you'll ever make.
