3 answers
Ashlynn
Student
Newton Falls, Ohio
3
Questions
Asked
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What is physical therapy look like as a career path?
What does a normal day in a physical therapy place look like because that is my main choice of a future career and I want to see if it's actually a good fit for me. I'm interested in learning why things are hurting or like why things happen in the human body. I was also wondering what are some positives of the career and what are some negatives? I've never heard any negatives. How do you manage your time between schooling and normal life? I know there are lots of years to be able to have your degree.
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3 answers
Donna Calvert, PT, PhD
physical therapist
69
Answers
Mission, Kansas
Updated
Donna’s Answer
As a physical therapist for 35+ years in several different settings, I found each setting had its own rewards and challenges. PT's can work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities,home health, school systems, etc. In each setting, it was extremely rewarding to work with patients to achieve their highest level of independence, improve their function or decrease their pain. A typical day had regularly scheduled patients for the PT to see, either for an initial evaluation or ongoing treatment. Some settings have PT Assistants or aids to help with aspects of treatments; others the PT does the entire treatment themselves. As patients improve, you change their treatment goals and set up a new program for them to work on, so the work is ever-changing and can be very challenging when a patient isn't improving or cooperating. Most patient interactions are very enjoyable.
There is always the paperwork/computer charting aspect of the job and that can be exasperating some days, but it is necessary to do that well so someone else can step in to work with your patient if you can't. PT is hard work with some long days but patients and colleagues make it worthwhile.
PT school is difficult and intense. But it is Temporary! Keep this in the forefront of your mind: you are working this hard for your FUTURE patients. They should always remain your main focus. These sacrifices you make now, are for them, later.
Tell yourself, “I need to know this for my future patients, not just for the test tomorrow.”
Good luck!
There is always the paperwork/computer charting aspect of the job and that can be exasperating some days, but it is necessary to do that well so someone else can step in to work with your patient if you can't. PT is hard work with some long days but patients and colleagues make it worthwhile.
PT school is difficult and intense. But it is Temporary! Keep this in the forefront of your mind: you are working this hard for your FUTURE patients. They should always remain your main focus. These sacrifices you make now, are for them, later.
Tell yourself, “I need to know this for my future patients, not just for the test tomorrow.”
Good luck!
This was super helpful, thank you!
Ashlynn
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1452
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Ashlynn,
From what you’ve described, physical therapy sounds like a career worth exploring. Your interest in understanding why the body hurts, how it moves, and how people recover lines up well with the work.
A normal day can vary depending on the setting, but a physical therapist may see several patients with different problems. You might evaluate how someone moves, ask about their symptoms and goals, create a treatment plan, demonstrate exercises, help patients practice movements, track their progress, and explain what they can do between visits. PTs also spend a lot of time communicating with patients, so it isn't a career where you're sitting quietly studying anatomy all day.
There are some great positives. You get to work directly with people, see their progress over time, use science in a practical way, and specialize in areas such as sports, orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, or working with older adults. The career also has strong demand in the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12% employment growth for physical therapists from 2025 to 2035.
The negatives are worth knowing too. The education is a serious commitment. In the U.S., becoming a physical therapist generally requires a bachelor's degree followed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, which typically takes about three years. You also have to complete clinical training and meet licensing requirements.
The job itself can be physically demanding. You're usually on your feet and may sometimes need to help move or support patients. You also have documentation and administrative work, and some therapists work evenings or weekends.
For managing school and normal life, don't wait until you're overwhelmed to create a schedule. Block out study time, protect some time for friends and activities, and avoid assuming you have to study every waking hour to succeed.
Before committing to the career, I'd strongly recommend shadowing a physical therapist or talking with one about their actual workday. That's probably the best way to find out whether you like the reality of the job, not just the idea of it.
Best wishes!
From what you’ve described, physical therapy sounds like a career worth exploring. Your interest in understanding why the body hurts, how it moves, and how people recover lines up well with the work.
A normal day can vary depending on the setting, but a physical therapist may see several patients with different problems. You might evaluate how someone moves, ask about their symptoms and goals, create a treatment plan, demonstrate exercises, help patients practice movements, track their progress, and explain what they can do between visits. PTs also spend a lot of time communicating with patients, so it isn't a career where you're sitting quietly studying anatomy all day.
There are some great positives. You get to work directly with people, see their progress over time, use science in a practical way, and specialize in areas such as sports, orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, or working with older adults. The career also has strong demand in the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12% employment growth for physical therapists from 2025 to 2035.
The negatives are worth knowing too. The education is a serious commitment. In the U.S., becoming a physical therapist generally requires a bachelor's degree followed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, which typically takes about three years. You also have to complete clinical training and meet licensing requirements.
The job itself can be physically demanding. You're usually on your feet and may sometimes need to help move or support patients. You also have documentation and administrative work, and some therapists work evenings or weekends.
For managing school and normal life, don't wait until you're overwhelmed to create a schedule. Block out study time, protect some time for friends and activities, and avoid assuming you have to study every waking hour to succeed.
Before committing to the career, I'd strongly recommend shadowing a physical therapist or talking with one about their actual workday. That's probably the best way to find out whether you like the reality of the job, not just the idea of it.
Best wishes!
Christina Owens
Senior Technical Writer/Career Identity Architect
34
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Christina’s Answer
Hello again Ashlynn, I love that you’re asking about both the positives AND the negatives before deciding. 🔎 A career can sound wonderful from the outside, but understanding what the everyday work actually feels like is how you determine whether it fits you.
🦴 What does a physical therapist actually do?
Physical therapists help people improve movement, reduce pain, regain strength, and recover after injuries, surgeries, illnesses, or other conditions. A typical day might include evaluating patients, testing strength and movement, developing treatment plans, teaching exercises, tracking progress, documenting care, and communicating with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals.
Since you said you're fascinated by why something hurts and why things happen inside the human body, that's an important clue! 🧠 You may really enjoy subjects such as anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and kinesiology.
🌟 Some positives:
Physical therapy can be incredibly rewarding because you get to watch someone's progress happen. A patient might arrive struggling to walk, move an arm, return to a sport, or complete everyday activities—and you can become part of helping them regain those abilities. There are also different environments to explore, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, schools, sports facilities, and home healthcare.
⚖️ But there are negatives too.
The work can be physically demanding because you're on your feet and may assist patients with movement. Progress isn't always fast, and some patients may become discouraged or frustrated. There is documentation and paperwork in addition to patient care. The education also requires a serious commitment of time and money.
🎓 If you want to become a physical therapist in the United States, the typical path is college followed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program and then meeting licensing requirements. That means you're right—it is a long educational journey.
But don't look at all those years as one giant mountain. 🏔️ Take it one semester at a time. Building good study habits, keeping a calendar, and protecting some time for family, friends, hobbies, and rest can make school much more manageable.
💡 Here's something I'd encourage you to do now: explore both veterinary medicine and physical therapy since you've expressed interest in both. If possible, job-shadow professionals or volunteer in environments where you can see these careers firsthand.
Then ask yourself:
❤️ Which activities do I love doing?
🧠 Which subjects make me curious enough to keep learning?
⚡ Which skills feel natural to me?
🌎 Who—or what—do I most want to help?
You don't have to choose your entire future today. You're collecting clues about your skills, interests, and passions. Eventually those clues begin pointing toward a career identity that fits YOU.
And sometimes the biggest clue is finding something you enjoy so much that doing it barely feels like work. 🚀
To your success!
Christina Owens
Career Identity Architect
CoachOwens
🦴 What does a physical therapist actually do?
Physical therapists help people improve movement, reduce pain, regain strength, and recover after injuries, surgeries, illnesses, or other conditions. A typical day might include evaluating patients, testing strength and movement, developing treatment plans, teaching exercises, tracking progress, documenting care, and communicating with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals.
Since you said you're fascinated by why something hurts and why things happen inside the human body, that's an important clue! 🧠 You may really enjoy subjects such as anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and kinesiology.
🌟 Some positives:
Physical therapy can be incredibly rewarding because you get to watch someone's progress happen. A patient might arrive struggling to walk, move an arm, return to a sport, or complete everyday activities—and you can become part of helping them regain those abilities. There are also different environments to explore, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, schools, sports facilities, and home healthcare.
⚖️ But there are negatives too.
The work can be physically demanding because you're on your feet and may assist patients with movement. Progress isn't always fast, and some patients may become discouraged or frustrated. There is documentation and paperwork in addition to patient care. The education also requires a serious commitment of time and money.
🎓 If you want to become a physical therapist in the United States, the typical path is college followed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program and then meeting licensing requirements. That means you're right—it is a long educational journey.
But don't look at all those years as one giant mountain. 🏔️ Take it one semester at a time. Building good study habits, keeping a calendar, and protecting some time for family, friends, hobbies, and rest can make school much more manageable.
💡 Here's something I'd encourage you to do now: explore both veterinary medicine and physical therapy since you've expressed interest in both. If possible, job-shadow professionals or volunteer in environments where you can see these careers firsthand.
Then ask yourself:
❤️ Which activities do I love doing?
🧠 Which subjects make me curious enough to keep learning?
⚡ Which skills feel natural to me?
🌎 Who—or what—do I most want to help?
You don't have to choose your entire future today. You're collecting clues about your skills, interests, and passions. Eventually those clues begin pointing toward a career identity that fits YOU.
And sometimes the biggest clue is finding something you enjoy so much that doing it barely feels like work. 🚀
To your success!
Christina Owens
Career Identity Architect
CoachOwens