There are many different areas in which a physical therapist can concentrate such as pediatrics, orthopedics, geriatrics, neurological rehabilitation, sports medicine and industrial clinical therapy. Also, physical therapists often work as a part of a team with physicians, occupational therapists, speech teachers and social workers. As a physical therapist, you have the ability to specialize in a specific type of physical therapy and, therefore, to choose who your clients will be. A specialization such as pediatrics, geriatrics, or sports medicine will give you a very specific type of client. If you prefer to work with patients who are rehabilitating from an injury, you should consider pursuing neurological rehabilitation or sports medicine.
Neurological rehabilitation involves helping patients recover from brain and spinal cord injuries.
If you think you would prefer to work with patients who are suffering from on-going disabilities, a concentration such as geriatrics or pediatrics might be the best option. In this case, you could be working with patients who have illnesses such as arthritis or cerebral palsy. Each of these concentrations also offers a very different work environment. For example, public schools often have physical therapists that make regular visits. These therapists are often involved in the school much like a teacher.