5 answers
Natalie
Student
Grafton, Ohio
4
Questions
Asked
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How will I know that I will not get bored if I want to do Physical Therapy?
I am not totally sure if I want to be a physical therapist and feel as if I have a better option but I don't know.
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5 answers
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
3825
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Natalie,
Here's a Guide to Assessing if a Career in Physical Therapy is Right for You:
Choosing a career path can be an overwhelming process, particularly when you're contemplating a profession such as physical therapy. Here's how you can assess if a career in physical therapy will keep you engaged:
Love for Helping Others: Physical therapy is all about working closely with patients, aiding them in their recovery from injuries or illnesses. If you have a deep-seated desire to help others and find joy in seeing people enhance their quality of life, physical therapy could be a rewarding career for you.
Diversity in Patient Cases: As a physical therapist, you'll encounter a wide array of patients, each with unique challenges and growth opportunities. This diversity can make the job fascinating and engaging, as you're constantly learning and tailoring your skills to cater to different individuals.
Ongoing Learning and Growth: The realm of physical therapy is continually progressing, with fresh research and methods appearing regularly. If you relish learning and keeping abreast with the latest healthcare advancements, physical therapy provides ample opportunities for professional development and growth.
Work Environment: Reflect on the work settings where physical therapists usually work. Whether you fancy working in a hospital, rehabilitation center, sports clinic, or private practice, pick an environment that matches your preferences and interests to ensure job satisfaction.
Job Satisfaction: Think about what aspects of a job bring you the most satisfaction. If making a positive impact on people's lives, working in a vibrant and cooperative team environment, and constantly challenging yourself to grow professionally are important to you, physical therapy might offer the fulfillment you're looking for.
Job Shadowing and Internships: To gain firsthand experience and insight into the daily duties of a physical therapist, think about shadowing professionals in the field or taking part in internships. This practical experience can help you determine if the role aligns with your interests and strengths.
Personal Reflection: Spend some time reflecting on your own strengths, interests, and values to see if a career in physical therapy aligns with your personal goals and aspirations. Assess how your skills and qualities match the demands of the profession to measure your potential for long-term satisfaction.
By thoughtfully considering these factors and seeking opportunities to familiarize yourself with the field of physical therapy, you can make an educated decision about whether this career path will keep you stimulated and satisfied in the long run.
Top 3 Credible Sources Used:
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA): APTA is a prominent professional organization representing physical therapists in the United States. Their resources offer valuable insights into the field of physical therapy, including career prospects, educational requirements, and industry trends.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): The BLS provides comprehensive data on occupational outlooks, including information on job growth projections, median salaries, and educational requirements for various professions like physical therapy.
Physical Therapy Web: This online platform provides a wealth of information on all facets of physical therapy, from educational pathways to job satisfaction insights from practicing professionals. It's a valuable resource for individuals considering a career in physical therapy.
God bless!
James Constantine Frangos.
Here's a Guide to Assessing if a Career in Physical Therapy is Right for You:
Choosing a career path can be an overwhelming process, particularly when you're contemplating a profession such as physical therapy. Here's how you can assess if a career in physical therapy will keep you engaged:
Love for Helping Others: Physical therapy is all about working closely with patients, aiding them in their recovery from injuries or illnesses. If you have a deep-seated desire to help others and find joy in seeing people enhance their quality of life, physical therapy could be a rewarding career for you.
Diversity in Patient Cases: As a physical therapist, you'll encounter a wide array of patients, each with unique challenges and growth opportunities. This diversity can make the job fascinating and engaging, as you're constantly learning and tailoring your skills to cater to different individuals.
Ongoing Learning and Growth: The realm of physical therapy is continually progressing, with fresh research and methods appearing regularly. If you relish learning and keeping abreast with the latest healthcare advancements, physical therapy provides ample opportunities for professional development and growth.
Work Environment: Reflect on the work settings where physical therapists usually work. Whether you fancy working in a hospital, rehabilitation center, sports clinic, or private practice, pick an environment that matches your preferences and interests to ensure job satisfaction.
Job Satisfaction: Think about what aspects of a job bring you the most satisfaction. If making a positive impact on people's lives, working in a vibrant and cooperative team environment, and constantly challenging yourself to grow professionally are important to you, physical therapy might offer the fulfillment you're looking for.
Job Shadowing and Internships: To gain firsthand experience and insight into the daily duties of a physical therapist, think about shadowing professionals in the field or taking part in internships. This practical experience can help you determine if the role aligns with your interests and strengths.
Personal Reflection: Spend some time reflecting on your own strengths, interests, and values to see if a career in physical therapy aligns with your personal goals and aspirations. Assess how your skills and qualities match the demands of the profession to measure your potential for long-term satisfaction.
By thoughtfully considering these factors and seeking opportunities to familiarize yourself with the field of physical therapy, you can make an educated decision about whether this career path will keep you stimulated and satisfied in the long run.
Top 3 Credible Sources Used:
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA): APTA is a prominent professional organization representing physical therapists in the United States. Their resources offer valuable insights into the field of physical therapy, including career prospects, educational requirements, and industry trends.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): The BLS provides comprehensive data on occupational outlooks, including information on job growth projections, median salaries, and educational requirements for various professions like physical therapy.
Physical Therapy Web: This online platform provides a wealth of information on all facets of physical therapy, from educational pathways to job satisfaction insights from practicing professionals. It's a valuable resource for individuals considering a career in physical therapy.
God bless!
James Constantine Frangos.
Andrew Meyer
Physical Therapist
1
Answer
Redondo Beach, California
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
One of the benefits of Physical Therapy is the variety. There are many different settings and specialities in physical therapy including: orthopedics (joint pain and sport injuries), neuro rehabilitation (stroke, spinal cord injuries, etc), pediatrics, and cardiovascular-pulmonary rehabilitation. These settings also include both inpatient (hospital, skilled nursing facility) and outpatient facilities.
As an example, I work in a typical outpatient orthopedic clinic and in the same day I see both pediatric sport injuries, chronic joint pain, as well as a geriatric population with declining balance and strength. If I ever get bored or need a new challenge, then it is possible to switch to another setting.
I always recommend shadowing a PT in each different setting(more than once) to see if it is right fit for you. A career in physical therapy is a time and financial commitment and you need to make sure you are passionate about it before making that investment.
As an example, I work in a typical outpatient orthopedic clinic and in the same day I see both pediatric sport injuries, chronic joint pain, as well as a geriatric population with declining balance and strength. If I ever get bored or need a new challenge, then it is possible to switch to another setting.
I always recommend shadowing a PT in each different setting(more than once) to see if it is right fit for you. A career in physical therapy is a time and financial commitment and you need to make sure you are passionate about it before making that investment.
Troy Thomas
physical therapist
2
Answers
Wylie, Texas
Updated
Troy’s Answer
1) Boredom is an eventual part of life. Everyone goes through periods of boredom in their job and in their life. Challenging yourself constantly is one way to avoid that.
2) If you think you have better options, then PT may not be for you. Why would you date someone if you thought you had better dating options?
3) Job shadowing is a good way to see what PTs really do during the day. Just make sure to visit multiple types of therapy settings.
2) If you think you have better options, then PT may not be for you. Why would you date someone if you thought you had better dating options?
3) Job shadowing is a good way to see what PTs really do during the day. Just make sure to visit multiple types of therapy settings.
Margaret Landry
Physical therapy assistant
6
Answers
Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Updated
Margaret’s Answer
I suggest you connect with local facilities to shadow a physical therapist before jumping in.
Lauren Ellis Triemstra
Physical Therapist Assistant
19
Answers
Joliet, Illinois
Updated
Lauren Ellis’s Answer
Hi Natalie!
I'm in my 40's and I've changed careers once (so far). I am a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. I got bored at my first career - a desk job in the marketing/advertising industry. I went back to school to become a PTA and it was a great choice for me! Now that I've been in that industry >10 years, I'm physically burning out a bit but still love it. I'm finding a way to do some part time work in each industry because it's a good physical and mental balance for me.
The schooling needed to become a PT is a doctorate program. If you're unsure if that's what you'd like to do, that's quite the commitment (in terms of time and cost). If you like the thought of physical therapy, the career path I took to become a Physical Therapist Assistant is less of a time and cost commitment and I get to participate in the same setting as a PT and have very similar job duties. That's one thought: PTA vs PT. And if you end up really liking Physical Therapy, the choice is yours to continue your education further to go back to PT school for your doctorate.
To decide if the industry of Physical Therapy is one that you'll like, you can start researching now. Your question here on CareerVillage is a good start! You can also observe in different Physical Therapy settings to see if you like it. That will give you a chance to sit in for a few hours here and there to see what it's like in person. I had the unlucky opportunity to be a patient several times growing up so I was familiar with the world of PT through the eyes of a patient.
The great thing about Physical Therapy is that it's so diverse. There's so many different settings and types of people and injuries you can work with. There's pediatrics - which is working with children in a school or outpatient setting; orthopedics - which is normally outpatient based where the patient comes to your office/clinic for their appointment to work with you for their musculoskeletal injuries; neurological - think more brain or spinal cord injury or stroke patients; hospitals; nursing home or long-term-care settings; home health care where you go to patients' homes to provide their care. And after schooling, there's still so much more to learn all the time because you'll continue to learn through experience and new research comes out all the time.
I haven't really heard complaints from therapists that they're bored in the area of PT. I have heard complaints more along the lines of them burning out physically from the physical demands of providing the care, and mentally from the high volume and amount of patients they have to see. They'll retire from PT to more of an administrative role or change careers completely to something slower paced for their mental and physical wellbeing, not because they got bored.
And if you're like me, you might change your mind. But I've never regretted having a different background and education because it's all been a great life experience. And now I'm learning how to combine my educational and work backgrounds to do a little bit of everything.
Good luck in your research!
Look into observing in a PT setting to see if you like it.
You can apply for an entry level position with a physical therapy provider as a rehab tech/aide to get work experience in it before you've invested too much time or schooling and end up not liking it.
Check out Physical Therapist Assistant programs to see if that's more to your interest.
Keep asking questions here! :)
I'm in my 40's and I've changed careers once (so far). I am a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. I got bored at my first career - a desk job in the marketing/advertising industry. I went back to school to become a PTA and it was a great choice for me! Now that I've been in that industry >10 years, I'm physically burning out a bit but still love it. I'm finding a way to do some part time work in each industry because it's a good physical and mental balance for me.
The schooling needed to become a PT is a doctorate program. If you're unsure if that's what you'd like to do, that's quite the commitment (in terms of time and cost). If you like the thought of physical therapy, the career path I took to become a Physical Therapist Assistant is less of a time and cost commitment and I get to participate in the same setting as a PT and have very similar job duties. That's one thought: PTA vs PT. And if you end up really liking Physical Therapy, the choice is yours to continue your education further to go back to PT school for your doctorate.
To decide if the industry of Physical Therapy is one that you'll like, you can start researching now. Your question here on CareerVillage is a good start! You can also observe in different Physical Therapy settings to see if you like it. That will give you a chance to sit in for a few hours here and there to see what it's like in person. I had the unlucky opportunity to be a patient several times growing up so I was familiar with the world of PT through the eyes of a patient.
The great thing about Physical Therapy is that it's so diverse. There's so many different settings and types of people and injuries you can work with. There's pediatrics - which is working with children in a school or outpatient setting; orthopedics - which is normally outpatient based where the patient comes to your office/clinic for their appointment to work with you for their musculoskeletal injuries; neurological - think more brain or spinal cord injury or stroke patients; hospitals; nursing home or long-term-care settings; home health care where you go to patients' homes to provide their care. And after schooling, there's still so much more to learn all the time because you'll continue to learn through experience and new research comes out all the time.
I haven't really heard complaints from therapists that they're bored in the area of PT. I have heard complaints more along the lines of them burning out physically from the physical demands of providing the care, and mentally from the high volume and amount of patients they have to see. They'll retire from PT to more of an administrative role or change careers completely to something slower paced for their mental and physical wellbeing, not because they got bored.
And if you're like me, you might change your mind. But I've never regretted having a different background and education because it's all been a great life experience. And now I'm learning how to combine my educational and work backgrounds to do a little bit of everything.
Good luck in your research!
Lauren Ellis recommends the following next steps: