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

American Council on Exercise

Foundations of Exercise and Nutrition

Skills you'll gain: Nutrition and Diet, Kinesiology, Safety Assurance, Injury Prevention, Anatomy, Health Assessment, Rehabilitation, Coaching, Supervision, Goal Setting, Motivational Skills

Status: Free Trial

University of Colorado System

Wilderness First Aid - Introduction

Skills you'll gain: Patient Evaluation, First Aid, Patient Positioning, Emergency Medicine, Health Assessment, Trauma Care, Medical History Documentation, Vital Signs, Emergency Response, Neurology, Patient Safety

Status: Free Trial

Rice University

Physics 102 - Electric Potential and DC Circuits

Skills you'll gain: Basic Electrical Systems, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Systems, Electronic Components, Engineering Calculations, Engineering Analysis, Calculus, Linear Algebra

Status: Free Trial

University of Colorado Boulder

Real-Time Embedded Systems Theory and Analysis

Skills you'll gain: Real-Time Operating Systems, Embedded Systems, Embedded Software, Software Design, Linux, System Design and Implementation, Performance Tuning, C (Programming Language), Verification And Validation, Algorithms, Debugging

United Cities and Local Governments of Africa

Planning for Climate Change in African Cities

Skills you'll gain: Environmental Policy, Environmental Issue, Community Development, Environmental Resource Management, Mitigation, Policy Analysis, Natural Resource Management, Decision Support Systems, Governance, Vulnerability, Socioeconomics, Economic Development

Status: Free Trial

L&T EduTech

BIM Coordination

Skills you'll gain: Design Reviews, Autodesk Revit, Building Information Modeling, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Engineering Analysis, Architectural Engineering, 3D Modeling, Structural Engineering, Construction Management, Construction, Technical Standard

Status: New

Status: Free Trial

Duke University

Healthcare Leadership for Climate Change

Skills you'll gain: Health Disparities, Health Equity, Design Thinking, Environmental Issue, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Initiative and Leadership, Advocacy, Community Organizing, Leadership, Personal Development, Environmental Science, Environment and Resource Management, Community Health, Visionary, Health Care, Innovation, Environment, Physical Science, Energy and Utilities, International Relations

Status: Free Trial

EDHEC Business School

Economics and Policies of Climate Change

Skills you'll gain: Environmental Policy, Economics, Environmental Issue, Behavioral Economics, Cost Benefit Analysis, Policy Analysis, Environmental Regulations, Market Analysis, Tax, Financial Trading, Mathematical Modeling

The University of Edinburgh

Learning for a Sustainable Future: Live at COP28

Skills you'll gain: Discussion Facilitation, Environmental Issue, Research, Environmental Science, Student Engagement, Environmental Policy, Community Development, Advocacy, Creativity, International Relations, Social Justice

University of Arizona

Biosphere 2 Science for the Future of Our Planet

Skills you'll gain: Water Resources, Environment, Environmental Science, Biology, Environment and Resource Management, Life Sciences, Natural Resource Management, Systems Thinking, Physical Science, Research, Innovation, Emerging Technologies

Status: Free Trial

University of California, Davis

Predictive Models for Toxic Chemical Releases

Skills you'll gain: Chemical Engineering, Hazard Communication (HazCom), Safety Assurance, Process Engineering, Engineering Analysis, Pollution Prevention, Environmental Engineering, Engineering Calculations, Risk Analysis, Mathematical Modeling, Applied Mathematics

Status: Free Trial

Rice University

Anatomy & Physiology: Exchange and Energy

Skills you'll gain: Respiration, Anatomy, Respiratory Care, Patient Evaluation, Pathology, Internal Medicine, Nutrition and Diet, Biology

Physical Therapy Courses Online

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