Through these means, the therapist provides relief from pain and helps the patient develop strength, mobility and coordination. He develops a continuing program of physical rehabilitation for the patient. With the advent of World War II, physical therapy came into its own as a full-fledged health profession. Today, the demand for physical therapists is great and growing. Expanding programs within community health agencies, the increase in numbers of elderly and chronically ill persons, and growing needs for teachers and researchers in the field, all point to rapidly rising opportunities for the physical therapist.
Personal qualities are important in providing the unique services of physical therapists.
You have to really like people, want to help and work with them. Physical strength is not a prime requisite, but stamina, good health, good coordination, and manual dexterity are. To work successfully with other members of the health team, the therapist must have a fine spirit of cooperation. And because many treatments are long and arduous, he should display a wealth of patience and persistence. If you are considering becoming a Physical Therapist, you should begin preparing in high school with classes in biology, chemistry, psychology, and physics besides basic units of history, social studies, language, and mathematics.