Employment is expected to increase much faster than average. Job
opportunities should be good, particularly in acute hospital,
rehabilitation, and orthopedic settings. Typically, a master's
degree from an accredited physical therapy program is the
minimum level of education for individuals pursuing a career as
a physical therapist. About 6 out of 10 physical therapists work
in hospitals or in offices of physical therapists. Nature of the
Work Physical therapists provide services that help restore
function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit
permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from
injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall
fitness and health. Their patients include accident victims and
individuals with disabling conditions such as low-back pain,
arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral
palsy. Therapists examine patients’ medical histories and then
test and measure the patients’ strength, range of motion,
balance and coordination