Go to Physical Therapist Career Profile »
Physical Therapist Career Interview
Adriana Garcia is a physical therapist with a focus in orthopedic physical therapy at Northwest Physical Therapy in Illinois.
Physical Therapist Career Path
Adriana combined her desire to teach with her experience in sports to discover the world of physical therapy.
“In college, I had a part-time job as a physical therapy aide,” she says. “I volunteered and had an internship at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago’s Sports and Fitness Center. I also volunteered for the University of Illinois men’s wheelchair basketball team.”
“All these experiences brought me to appreciate the power of exercise,” Adriana continues. “Its power to heal, to prevent disability and to maximize function. I knew that a career in PT would enable me to teach my patients ways to decrease pain, restore function and to prepare them for a return to their prior level of function in work, sports, and recreational activities.”
Physical Therapist Experiences
Adriana started her undergrad studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, but she earned her Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She also received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
“All schools include clinical education experiences/rotations into their curriculum,” she explains. “The number and duration of each is dependent on the school. I participated in 4 different rotations: sub-acute, neurological/orthopedic, pediatric, and orthopedic.”
She currently works at Northwest Physical Therapy in Illinois with a focus in orthopedic physical therapy.
Physical Therapist Degree Programs
Before you can apply to physical therapy school, you need a Bachelor’s degree that includes a minimum number of science and math courses, which is determined by each individual PT school. You also need a certain number of contact hours, which includes work, volunteer, and observation hours in the area of physical therapy.
After being accepted into a physical therapy program, you need a master’s or doctorate of physical therapy in addition to passing the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) to become licensed to practice.
Depending on the state, physical therapists must also taking continuing clinical education in order to renew their licenses.
Physical Therapist Job Description
“The physical therapist is a licensed health care professional who performs an examination and evaluation on a patient,” Adriana explains, “and, based on the results, makes an assessment to develop an individualized plan of care to restore and maximize movement and function.
Physical Therapist Daily Routine
Physical therapists typically work eight-hour days, seeing between 10 – 14 patients.
Adriana says, “This includes: examining new and re-examining current patients’ muscle strength and function, range of motion, ability to perform activities of daily living and work activities, gait, posture, balance and coordination; developing and progressing treatment plans (therapeutic exercise, gait training, application of modalities, manual therapy) including mobilizations for pain or increased mobility, instruction in a home exercise plan (HEP); and discussing patient’s progress with referring doctors or nurse case managers.”
Physical Therapist: Steps to Success
In addition to having a passion to help and teach people, a successful physical therapist needs a desire to broaden their mind.
“You need to keep learning,” Adriana advises. “This includes keeping up-to-date with the latest research through journals and clinical education courses. You should also be open-minded. Take into consideration the patient’s medical history, social history, age, sex, and what language they speak.”
Physical Therapist Job Opportunities
“The competition to get into physical therapy schools is strong,” says Adriana. “In Illinois, there are seven accredited physical therapy schools, and the class size is typically under 100 students.”
Another way to find work is to become specialized in areas of physical therapy.
“Fellowships and various certifications allow the PT to pursue specialized training,” Adriana explains.
Physical Therapist Favorite Aspect
“I enjoy seeing and assisting patients in reaching their physical goals,” says Adriana.
Physical Therapist’s Future Ambitions
Adriana hopes that the physical therapy career opportunities in Illinois broaden so that physical therapists can have direct access to patients.
“Illinois law requires that a patient seeking physical therapy services must first have a prescription from a doctor,” she explains. “Approximately 40 out of 50 states allow patients to have direct access to physical therapy services.”
Advice for Prospective Physical Therapists
“The market for physical therapists is always changing,” says Adriana. “Sometimes it’s good (such as when I graduated from PT school) and sometimes it’s not so good (as when I was applying to school). Many people told me that I would have a very difficult time finding a job because, at the time of my application process, there was a surplus of physical therapists.”
Adriana also recommends being un-afraid of dabbling in all areas of physical therapy before specializing.
“Try all areas (acute, sub-acute, neurological, pediatric, orthopedic, geriatric, aquatic, women’s health, cardiopulmonary, and more) during your clinical education to determine where you feel more comfortable,” she advises. “Research the clinic, the manager, and opinions of past students before choosing a program. Also make sure that your longest rotation is in your preferred area. It will help when looking for jobs upon graduation.”
“There will always be a need for physical therapists,” she adds. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!”
