1. Being able to assist athletes getting back on their feet
Sports injuries are inevitable. There are always going to be athletes with sore muscles and broken bones. In addition, there is nothing more heart-breaking than having to sit out from something that you love. With this in mind, these athletes are always very motivated to get back to the game that they love. Motivated athletes make for very easy patients to work with and heal. Also, I’m an athlete who has dealt with their pain so I can easily understand what the patient is going through.
2. Working a job where you are constantly on your feet (AKA not your typical office job)
Let’s be honest; we are all looking for a job that doesn’t require us to sit in a cubicle from nine to five. Being a physical therapist allows you to be on your feet a majority of the day. Along with not getting bored, this allows your mind to stay stimulated as you work with patients. According to Men’s Journal, sitting for eight to ten hours a day raises our blood sugar, tightens our muscles, and constricts blood flow to the heart, even in those who exercise daily. As you can see, there are many benefits of being up and moving around.
3. Being able to travel the country through travel PT
Travel PT has been widely popular for those right out of DPT school. This is because different travel PT companies will pay very high salaries for therapists who are willing to live in different areas for eight to 13 weeks at a time. Along with the above average pay, these companies have very lucrative benefits such as paying for housing, insurance, and referral rewards. This allows students to pay back some of their extensive DPT school loans. This is a win-win opportunity for those who want to put a lot of money in the bank and see different parts of the country.
4. Developing a relationship with patients
Being able to develop personal relationships with clients allows for an excellent interaction in the PT field. Becoming close with a patient allows for work to not seem like work. It also allows for the patient to feel comfortable with the therapist. This allows to the patient to feel comfortable communicating their feelings about progress, exercises, and stretches that they are performing in therapy.
5. Being able to think critically about treatment
With all of the science and math classes that PT students have to take, we have the ability to critically think about a plethora of different treatment options for patients. This allows for us to adapt treatment specific to the patient and their needs. This keeps therapists challenged and allows them to learn everyday.
6. Being able to help people every day
The most important reason to get into the PT field and health field as a whole is to help people. Being able to enhance the life of a person and being able to observe strength and growth in someone is very rewarding. This aspect of the PT field is what I’ve been told keeps people in the field happy and able to enjoy their jobs. This is unbelievably desirable to me and I’m looking forward to enhancing people's lives by healing their injuries.
