What is physical therapy?

Physical therapy is a medical practice that helps those with injuries, diseases, and other physical limitations move and function better, as well as manage pain, through various treatments. The overall goal of physical therapy is to improve the life of the patient. Reaching that goal may involve the use of exercise, manipulation, manual therapy, electrophysical modalities, devices, and medication. The origins of physical therapy date back to the time of the famous Greek physician Hippocrates , who used hydrotherapy to help people with skin, joint, and muscle problems.

What kind of people are best suited for roles in physical therapy?

Anyone who is interested in a career in physical therapy and related practices should be interested in helping others better themselves. You should be able to maintain a positive attitude, even through trying circumstances, and you should be an excellent communicator. It's also important to be a keen observer and pay close attention to detail. You'll need to be physically strong as well, since the job sometimes requires you to lift and hold patients who can't stand on their own.

Why learn physical therapy?

Learning about physical therapy can lead to an exciting career as a physical therapist. Physical therapists who enter this profession can help patients in private offices, hospitals, hospice facilities, nursing homes, home health care, schools, and rehab clinics. They may also open their own practices. Even if you don't want to pursue a career in the field, learning about physical therapy can help you better understand your own body. You'll discover new ways to stay physically healthy.

What are some typical careers that use physical therapy?

Most people who study physical therapy become physical therapists. However, there are several other options in this area. You may go on to become an athletic trainer for sports teams or a chiropractor with your own practice. You can become a personal trainer, exercise instructor, or exercise physiologist. Some people who study physical therapy go on to explore other therapeutic careers, such as speech, recreational, or occupational therapy. You can use your education as the basis for a career as a physician's assistant, nurse practitioner, or audiologist too.

What are the benefits of taking an online Physical Therapy course?

Online Physical Therapy courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Physical Therapy skills. Choose from a wide range of Physical Therapy courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

Top Physical Therapy Courses - Learn Physical Therapy Online

Status: Free Trial

L&T EduTech

Resource and Waste Management in Buildings

Skills you'll gain: Waste Minimization, Environmental Engineering, Environment and Resource Management, Energy and Utilities, Building Codes, HVAC, Environmental Regulations, Water Resources, Construction, Architectural Engineering, Building Design, Construction Management

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Geographical Information Systems - Part 1

Skills you'll gain: Geographic Information Systems, GIS Software, Spatial Data Analysis, NoSQL, Data Modeling, Database Design, Databases, Data Storage Technologies, SQL, Data Storage, Data Capture, Query Languages, Relational Databases

Status: New

Coursera Project Network

AutoCAD for beginners: Drafting blueprints and schematics

Skills you'll gain: AutoCAD, Architectural Drawing, Drafting and Engineering Design, Blueprint Reading, Blueprinting, Technical Drawing, Computer-Aided Design

University of California, Irvine

Life 101: Mental and Physical Self-Care

Skills you'll gain: Stress Management, Personal Development, Emotional Intelligence, Self-Awareness, Mindfulness, Personal Care, Resilience, Mental Health, Nutrition and Diet, Preventative Care, Mental Concentration, Self-Motivation, Behavioral Health, Environment and Resource Management, Chronic Diseases

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Global Postharvest Loss Prevention: Fundamentals, Technologies, and Actors

Skills you'll gain: Loss Prevention, Waste Minimization, Food Quality Assurance And Control, Supply Chain Management, Materials Management, Production Process, Market Dynamics, Economics, Capacity Planning, Stakeholder Management, International Relations, Education and Training, Innovation

University of California, Irvine

Emergent Phenomena in Science and Everyday Life

Skills you'll gain: Systems Thinking, Analysis, General Science and Research, Computational Thinking, Biology, Scientific Methods, Mathematical Modeling, Physics, Psychology, Emerging Technologies

Indian Institute for Human Settlements

Net-Zero Building Fundamentals

Skills you'll gain: HVAC, Energy and Utilities, Architectural Engineering, Building Design, Building Information Modeling, Water Resources, Civil and Architectural Engineering, Thermal Management, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Resource Management, Building Codes, Cost Estimation, Simulation and Simulation Software, Engineering Calculations, Financial Analysis

Status: Free Trial

Università di Napoli Federico II

Autonomous Aerospace Systems

Skills you'll gain: Control Systems, Systems Architecture, Simulation and Simulation Software, Global Positioning Systems, Automation, Computer Vision, Mathematical Modeling, Estimation, Real Time Data

Emory University

Extinctions: Past, Present, & Future

Skills you'll gain: Environment, Physical Science, Environmental Issue, Environment and Resource Management, Environmental Science, Ancient History, World History, Timelines, Biology

UBITS

Accountability y gestión del desempeño

Skills you'll gain: Accountability, Employee Performance Management, Goal Setting, Performance Management, Professional Development, Constructive Feedback, Leadership, Leadership and Management, Personal Development, Employee Engagement, Proactivity, Communication, Assertiveness

Technical University of Munich (TUM)

Space Exploration

Skills you'll gain: Commercialization, Transportation Operations, Resource Utilization, Organizational Strategy, Growth Strategies, Environment and Resource Management, Strategic Planning, Strategic Partnership, Physical Science, Market Opportunities, Science and Research, Innovation, Environmental Science, Research

Status: Free Trial

Rice University

Physics 102 - AC Circuits and Maxwell's Equations

Skills you'll gain: Basic Electrical Systems, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Engineering Analysis, Electronic Systems, Electrical Systems, Mathematical Modeling, Applied Mathematics, Advanced Mathematics, Calculus

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Resource and Waste Management in Buildings

Geographical Information Systems - Part 1