A physical therapist is a professional with a university degree that has an average duration of 4 years. The main role of a physical therapy professional is to help patients with muscular issues, usually referred by a doctor, in the recovery of movement through physical exercises and specialized techniques.
Role of a Physical Therapist
But that is not the only function of a physical therapist, as prevention of injuries or muscular problems is one of the main aspects of their work. Most physical therapists work in hospital-based physiotherapy, but various specializations allow these professionals to work in other areas as well. This is a profession that has been growing in recent years and is very competitive in the job market; however, the market has also noticed an increasing need for physical therapists, and new job openings are emerging all the time.
Women in the Physical Therapy Market
The job market for female physical therapists is very open and welcoming. Both companies, clinics, and hospitals have a majority of women in this field, with women accounting for 83% of professionals working in physical therapy in Brazil. And this number was even higher a few decades ago, but it has been decreasing, which does not mean there has been any major change regarding women’s involvement in the profession.
Sports Physical Therapy
Although the numbers point to a large majority of women practicing the profession, it is true that there is still some taboo regarding sports physical therapy. Especially when it comes to soccer, but that is gradually changing and today we see many more women working in this area than a few years ago.
What Is the Profile of a Physical Therapist?
Generally, a physical therapist is a versatile professional who can work either as an independent contractor or as a permanent employee in various places such as hospitals, clinics, clubs, and health units, both in the private and public sectors. This type of professional can also work alone or in groups, depending on the setting and functions they wish or need to perform.
Characteristics
Some characteristics also make up the profile of a physical therapist, such as being highly organized and able to set plans and goals, staying up to date with technological innovations in the field, as well as skillfully working within multidisciplinary teams, collaborating with professionals from other areas for the benefit of patients. Of course, each type of physical therapist has a different distinctive trait they use most, but in general, these are the most common and most necessary for a physical therapist.
What Does a Physical Therapist Do?
A physical therapy professional works in several areas, always with the goal of helping with all matters concerning the movement of our bodies, both for prevention and for treatment of muscle-related problems. The physical therapist can work as a freelancer or for institutions, whether private or public, in hospitals, clinics, and clubs, to name just a few examples. As with almost any profession, physical therapy has several subfields with their own specifications. Some of them are:
Fields of Physical Therapy
- Preventive Physical Therapy
- Occupational Physical Therapy
- Equipment Industry
- Cardiorespiratory Physical Therapy
- Sports Physical Therapy
Preventive Physical Therapy
Preventive physical therapy is a type of physical therapy focused on health prevention, focusing efforts on prevention and not just on the rehabilitation of muscle issues. To carry out this work, breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and stretching are used.
Functions
The professional working with preventive physiotherapy usually assesses the patient independently, evaluating their habits and proposing the best exercises to avoid problems. But this type of technique also works for specific groups, such as with preventive physiotherapy for the elderly, aiming at exercises tailored for each of these groups.
Occupational Physical Therapy
An occupational physical therapist also works in prevention, but with specific groups of workers, analyzing the way they work, identifying their bodies’ main needs, and formulating exercise programs that will help where it is most needed. More and more companies are offering lectures and hiring physical therapists to develop exercises for their employees because many muscular problems are directly related to the stress a worker accumulates due to posture and bad habits, such as repetitive movements, for example. The occupational physical therapist, therefore, doesn’t just prevent muscular problems, but also excessive stress.
Equipment Industry
Physical therapy exercises often require various equipment and technologies to support professionals in their workplace. Physical therapists working in the equipment industry conduct research and tests to develop new technologies with safety and quality. However, they can also test and evaluate existing products, both to confirm the product’s quality and to assess strengths and weaknesses to help researchers develop new equipment.
Cardiorespiratory Physical Therapy
The physical therapist specializing in the prevention and treatment of cardiorespiratory diseases aims to provide better quality of life to patients who need this treatment, through specific exercises related to the circulatory and respiratory systems. In addition to being a specialty in physical therapy, professionals who choose to work in this area can do so in private clinics or hospitals, treating various types of patients with these conditions.
Sports Physical Therapy
This might be the only area in physical therapy where men are the majority, mainly in large soccer clubs. However, this reality has also been changing, and opportunities for women wanting to work with sports physical therapy have been appearing more frequently in recent years. The main functions of a sports physical therapist are to develop exercises that help athletes avoid injuries and, if an athlete does get injured, to create a recovery plan that is rapid and effective. The market offers several opportunities in addition to working with sports teams. Institutions such as clubs and gyms, for example, are hiring many more physical therapists to look after their members.
Physical Therapy Degree
The physical therapy degree has an average duration of 4 years and includes subjects such as human anatomy, biophysics, biochemistry, public health, among many others. The program can be found at state, federal, and private universities throughout the country. Colleges generally provide a balance between theory and practice, with practical training becoming more intensive towards the end of the course. Tuition fees for a physical therapy degree vary depending on the institution and the region where you live.
Course Cost
Among healthcare degrees, physical therapy can be considered one of the most affordable, but it also shows the greatest variability in tuition fees, ranging from R$ 400.00 to R$ 4,000.00. However, most institutions charge tuition of around R$ 900.00. To work as a physical therapist, in addition to graduating, you also need to be properly registered with your regional CREFITO (Regional Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy).
Main Physical Therapy Colleges in Brazil
- University of Fortaleza – Fortaleza (CE)
- Federal University of Minas Gerais – Belo Horizonte (MG)
- PUC – Porto Alegre (RS)
- Federal University of Paraíba – João Pessoa (PB)
- São Paulo State University – Presidente Prudente (SP)
- Estácio de Sá College of Vitória – Vitória (ES)
- University of Brasília – Brasília (DF)
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences of Juiz de Fora – Juiz de Fora (MG)
- Federal University of São Carlos – São Carlos (SP)
- Centro Universitário Fundação de Ensino Octávio Bastos – São João da Boa Vista (SP)
Physical Therapy Specializations
A physical therapy professional needs to advance their studies after graduating if they want to compete for the most coveted positions in the job market. With rising competition in the physical therapy field, specializing has become practically mandatory. In addition to the specific types of physical therapists mentioned above, we can highlight some postgraduate courses that are highly relevant on the market, such as:
- Acupuncture
- Home Care Physical Therapy
- Oncological Physical Therapy
- Judicial Expertise
Acupuncture
The specialization in acupuncture has attracted many professionals in recent years. Previously seen as something strange by many professionals, acupuncture began to show results and gradually became more popular in Brazil. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to hear about the technique, let alone a physical therapy student specializing in acupuncture. Since it is based on Chinese medicine, postgraduate courses typically have philosophy-based disciplines to explain and introduce students to the acupuncture context. Acupuncture treatment should supplement treatment for another illness, usually as prescribed by a doctor. Acupuncture professionals typically work in specialized clinics to provide these supplemental treatments.
Home Care Physical Therapy
This is a course that prepares physical therapy professionals for in-home care. Many people may think that it is simply physical therapy done at home instead of in clinics, but that’s not entirely true. If a physical therapist needs to visit a patient’s house, it is because the patient requires special care, and that is precisely what is taught in the home care therapy postgraduate course. Several disciplines such as neurofunctional, cardiovascular, and respiratory physical therapy are part of the program’s curriculum.
Oncological Physical Therapy
Cancer treatments can impact our bodies in several ways, which is why oncological physical therapists are so important—they are responsible for developing specific exercises to promote patient well-being during and after cancer treatment. Oncological physical therapy aims to maintain, preserve, develop, and restore organ integrity and body systems after intense treatments like radiation, chemotherapy, or surgeries. Another responsibility of this professional is to prevent disorders caused by various cancer treatments. The postgraduate course in oncological physical therapy has an average workload of 400 hours and includes subjects like physical therapy in the ICU and specifics of oncology patients.
Judicial Expertise
The postgraduate course in judicial expertise for physical therapists includes various theoretical aspects to introduce students to this context. In legal proceedings, a physical therapist can be the key element for solving the case, as they conduct several tests that will be submitted to the presiding judge. The course has an average workload of 420 hours and provides both theoretical foundations and practical experience to prepare the physical therapist for this sector, which is somewhat different from most other areas of physical therapy.
How Much Does a Physical Therapist Earn?
The different specializations a physical therapist can pursue have different salary ranges, as do the work environments and workloads. Everything changes depending on the type of physical therapist, so it’s also important to consider how much each type earns.
How Much Does an Occupational Physical Therapist Earn?
- Starting salary: R$ 1,800.00
- Average salary: R$ 2,430.00
- Highest salary: R$ 5,000.00
How Much Does a Sports Physical Therapist Earn?
- Starting salary: R$ 1,770.00
- Average salary: R$ 2,500.00
- Highest salary: R$ 5,000.00
How Much Does a Home Care Physical Therapist Earn?
- Starting salary: R$ 1,750.00
- Average salary: R$ 2,400.00
- Highest salary: R$ 4,200.00
How Much Does a Hospital Physical Therapist Earn?
- Starting salary: R$ 1,660.00
- Average salary: R$ 2,840.00
- Highest salary: R$ 5,000.00
Salaries can vary depending on the size of the company, the responsibilities of the physical therapist in the workplace, and the region where each one will work. However, you can get a good idea of what to expect from the average salaries listed here. Physical therapy is a specialized area of healthcare where the professional must have a passion for movement and for the study of movement in general. Thus, regardless of this professional’s area of expertise, dedication and intensive study will make them an excellent physical therapist and a key figure in helping to restore movement for many people. Also read: Photo: Agencia Brasilia, tomasdelgado,
