Why I Want to Be a Physical Therapist

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The technology of Physical Therapy is becoming more advanced, giving them a higher success rate for their patients. One new innovation in physical therapy is an interactive motion robot. This robot fits around the patient’s arm or leg and gently nudges the appendage to move. This process regains brain connection and motor skills to a temporarily disabled arm or leg. (Kessel 2009, 2). The device that goes over the appendage has the technology similar to a video game. It also works in an opposite way, once the appendage is able to move correctly on its own (Kessel 2009, 3). Using this device helps the patient regain everyday motor skills such as walking or simply lifting a glass of water to drink.

Through my coursework as an undergraduate student of Kinesiology and volunteering with physical therapists this upcoming summer, I see myself working in one or all of the following three areas of the profession; working with developmentally disabled children, aquatic therapy, and geriatrics. I know I have the skills to be a great Physical Therapist. I believe compassion ranks highly on the list of necessary qualities for being a good physical therapist. As a physical therapist I’ll be working with patients who are in pain, either injury-related or chronic. The physical pain can lead to frustration and depression. My job will be playing both coach and cheerleader. Patients may have to relearn basic skills or go through painful rehabilitation processes. I understand that as a physical therapist you must know when to exhort and when to cajole being honest about the prognosis, while trying to keep spirits from flagging is really important.

Becoming a physical therapist has many pro's and con's. For me, I think that this job has many more pro's then con's. I honestly think that I would love this job because the fact that you get to help people and see them get better is something that really is amazing. Another pro of this job is that it is in demand. That means as a future Physical Therapist I won’t have to worry as much about losing my job as other people. Another pro for me is that a physical therapist chooses their own hours and is pretty much their own boss. Another pro for this occupation is that I would earn a good salary. I mean $104,000 a year, that's pretty good, if you ask me. One con about being a physical therapist is the fact that any job in the medical field can be very stressful, especially when you want to help a patient and all they want, is to not be helped. Despite this con and in light of all of the pros, I believe that this occupation is an excellent job to have.

Bibliography:

Becker, Bernard, women in health sciences

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Published by the Bernard Becker Medical Library

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Resnik and Hart. 2003.