Kai Sam

APK2000 – Introduction to Exercise Science

Final Paper

Date: 4/28/25

Physical Therapy

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          Exercise Science is the study of the body and how it responds to exercise. The study of Exercise Science is an extremely broad study that incorporates a variety of disciplines. For example, Exercise Science encompasses the study of anatomy, physiology, psychology, and biomechanics. There is such a broad field of careers under the Exercise Science umbrella for this very reason. Some popular pathways include athletic trainers (AT), occupational therapist (OT), registered dietician, respiratory therapist, and physical therapist (PT), Post graduation I plan to become a physical therapist (PT). I chose this career path as I have played sports all of my life and have seen how injuries can really affect a person both physically and mentally and I want to help others, not just athletes, through those hard times dealing with injuries. Through thorough research I have discovered the qualifications to become a PT, the detailed job description of a PT, and the salary and schedule of a PT.

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          Physical therapy is a complex career field to work in. There are a number of specializations and patients that a PT may experience while working. With a varying degree of uncertainty in the field, never knowing what is going to happen and treating every patient differently, this field requires an extensive amount of education. The first step in the education aspect of the PT field is a bachelor’s degree. This degree must be in a related field of physical therapy such as a Bachelors of Exercise Science. This degree introduces you to the study of the body, the careers someone could enter, and preparation for such careers. The next step is to get Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an “accredited physical therapist education program” (APTA, n.d.). This program specializes in physical therapy and teaches you the ins and outs of the career, helping to build the skillset needed as a physical therapist. Once you complete the DPT degree, you must sit for and pass a board certification and/or a state licensure exam in order to become a practicing PT. Once they have passed, some decide to complete a residency or fellowship to gain real world experience before becoming a full time PT. These qualifications of education allow for someone to be fully knowledgeable and experienced in the field of PT to produce the best outcome for a patient.

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          Many people know that physical therapists exist and know the basics of what they do. When someone thinks about physical therapy their first thought would probably go to some sort of rehab and exercise, however, this is only a small part of the job description. The most basic description of a PT’s day to day is that “Physical therapists diagnose and treat patients who have medical problems or injuries that limit their abilities to move or function in their daily lives” (Clinic, n.d.). Although this is technically correct, it is a little more complex than this. PTs first examine their patient to determine an injury and the extent of the injury. They will diagnose patients through a series of observations, having them perform several tasks to see how the patient’s body responds to such tasks, and by a patient’s symptoms. Once diagnosed, PTs will then design a care and recovery plan based on the diagnosis, observation, and the patient’s goals. After a plan is carefully curated and implemented, a PT will constantly monitor the patient’s progress. Within the process of monitoring the patient there is continuous documentation of the patient’s progress in order to keep track of the progress made and to help determine if there should be changes to the patient’s care and recovery plan in deemed necessary. The next step is creating plans to discharge and send the patients on their way after a successful recovery with ways to prevent further injury. This is the typical job description of a PT; however, specializations may require different actions.

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          Now for probably one of the first things people look at when looking into a career field, the salary. The median salary pay in 2024 for a PT was about $101,020 per year and the median hourly pay in 2024 for a PT was about $48.57 per hour (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025). As you may have noticed, there is both salary pay and hourly pay. PT is a field where you may be paid either by salary or hourly. This typically depends on what setting you work in. Typically, whenever working in a larger work environment such as a hospital or larger facilities you will find salary pay, whereas you may see hourly pay in smaller facilities or part-time positions such as travel therapy or specialized positions. Despite having different types of pay many PTs have a similar schedule. Most PTs work anywhere from 30-50 hours a week depending on the type of area of PT being worked. Many inpatient practices see a typical 40-hour work week, working from 8 to 5 with some overtime if necessary to provide continuous patient care. However, if working in outpatient rehab or home health, there may be more flexibility in hours, possibly working less hours. Every setting has different types of pay and scheduling all dependent on the type of care provided by the PT.

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          In conclusion, after researching, I will take the path of physical therapy. With the lifestyle that I want to live and wanting to help people deal with their injuries; it is the perfect career for me. Although there are many qualifications such as getting two degrees and passing certifications tests, it will be worth it for both the pay and the work schedule. In times like these, having a good salary is crucial and physical therapy provides that with a median salary around $100,000. That salary comes with a good schedule, working around 40 hours a week and sometimes it can be flexible to be whatever you want it to be depending on what setting you work in. With this research I am ready to start the path towards physical therapy.