The profession also received great impetus from the necessity to create new programs in order to rehabilitate the victims of poliomyelitis epidemics of the 1930's to 1950's. The first U.S. training program for physical therapy was begun in 1918 at Reed College in Oregon. Today dozens of institutions train physical therapists and extensive graduate programs exist as well. The physical therapist uses different types of rehabilitative treatment. Heat may be applied to ease stiffening and pain in the joints.
Massage is a standard physiotherapeutic technique bot for easing pain and improving circulation.
Hydrotherapy is useful for the slow work of rebuilding wasted muscles. The most frequent type of treatment, however, is exercise carefully chosen to increase join mobility or to improve muscle strength and coordination. Patients with physical handicaps may be trained in learning or relearning elementary motor functions such as holding a spoon or turning a doorknob or they may be taught how to use crutches, prosthetic devices, or other mechanical aids. Required Training . Becoming a physical therapist requires graduation from a physical therapy program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation on Physical Therapy Education.