The career has many specialties including musculoskeletal, orthopedics, cardiopulmonary, neurology, endocrinology, sports medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, women's health, wound care and electromyography.

[2] Physical therapy addresses the illnesses or injuries that limit a person's abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.

[3] PTs use an individual's history and physical examination to arrive at a diagnosis and establish a management plan and, when necessary, incorporate the results of laboratory and imaging studies like X-rays, CT-scan, or MRI findings.

[citation needed] Physical therapy is a professional career that has many specialties including musculoskeletal, orthopedics, cardiopulmonary, neurology, endocrinology, sports medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, women's health, wound care and electromyography.

Physical therapists are involved in the medical-legal field serving as experts, performing peer review and independent medical examinations.

[20] The School of Physiotherapy at the University of Otago in New Zealand in 1913,[21] and the United States 1914 Reed College in Portland, Oregon, which graduated "reconstruction aides.

Following this, American orthopedic surgeons began treating children with disabilities and employed women trained in physical education, and remedial exercise.

The first school of physical therapy was established at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., following the outbreak of World War I.

In the same year, the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists was formed,[29] which has ever since played an important role in advancing manual therapy worldwide.

Students must then enter graduate school to complete a master's degree in physical therapy, which normally requires one and a half to two years of study.

In the province of Quebec, physical rehabilitation therapists are health care professionals who are required to complete a four-year college diploma program in physical rehabilitation therapy and be members of the Ordre Professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ)[45] to practice legally in the country according to specialist De Van Gerard.

After completing their technical college diploma, graduates have the opportunity to pursue their studies at the university level to perhaps obtain a bachelor's degree in physiotherapy, kinesiology, exercise science, or occupational therapy.

Successful completion of either of these education streams and their respective examinations allows physiotherapists the opportunity to apply to the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy (CAMPT) for fellowship.

Fellows of the Canadian Academy of manipulative Physiotherapists (FCAMPT) are considered leaders in the field, having extensive post-graduate education in orthopedics and manual therapy.

[49] WCPT recommends physical therapist entry-level educational programs be based on university or university-level studies, of a minimum of four years, independently validated and accredited.

Physical therapist assistants in the United States are currently trained under associate of applied sciences curricula specific to the profession, as outlined and accredited by CAPTE.

[citation needed] Physical therapy–related jobs in North America have shown rapid growth in recent years, but employment rates and average wages may vary significantly between different countries, states, provinces, or regions.

[59] In a Polish study, job burnout among the physical therapists was manifested by increased emotional exhaustion and decreased sense of personal achievement.

The APTA also reports turnover rates for physical therapists as 10.7% in outpatient private practice, 11.9% in acute care settings, 27.6% in skilled nursing facilities.

There are many conditions that affect many people as they grow older and include but are not limited to the following: arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, hip and joint replacement, balance disorders, incontinence, etc.

[74] The current body of evidence suggests that physical rehabilitation may be effective for long-term care residents in reducing disability with few adverse events.

These therapists are specialized in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of infants, children, and adolescents with a variety of congenital, developmental, neuromuscular, skeletal, or acquired disorders/diseases.

Treatments focus mainly on improving gross and fine motor skills, balance and coordination, strength and endurance as well as cognitive and sensory processing/integration.

[citation needed] Physical therapists are closely involved in the care and wellbeing of athletes including recreational, semi-professional (paid), and professional (full-time employment) participants.

[81][82][83][84] Physical therapy in the field of oncology and palliative care is a continuously evolving and developing specialty, both in malignant and non-malignant diseases.

Research has shown that using communication tools tailored to the patient's health literacy leads to improved engagement with their practitioner and their clinical care.

[88] Practical skills such as the ability to educate patients about their conditions, and professional expertise are perceived as valuable factors inpatient care.

Physiotherapy treatment may improve quality of life, promote cardiopulmonary fitness and inspiratory pressure, as well as reduce symptoms and medication use by people with asthma.

[98] Telehealth is online communication between the clinician and patient, either live or in pre-recorded sessions with mixed reviews when compared to usual, in-person care.

[99] Some considerations for telehealth include: limited evidence to prove effectiveness and compliance more than in-person therapy, licensing and payment policy issues, and compromised privacy.