Pesquisar neste blogue

domingo, 26 de janeiro de 2014

Study confirms important role of physical therapy at Olympic Games

Physical therapists provided a total of 1778 treatment sessions during the London 2012 Olympic Games, according to a new study published in the British Journal of SportsMedicine. 

The study says that there was a global reliance on physical therapy support across a wide spectrum of countries during the 2012 Olympic Games, with every continent making use of the centralised PT service provided by the National Olympic Committee and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). People from Africa and America were the most frequent users.
The study was led by Dr Marie-Elaine Grant, the physiotherapy representative on the International Olympic Committee’s Medical Commission. It used data from the electronic records system at the main polyclinic in the athlete’s village in Stratford, London.
The most frequently reported causes of injury at first visit were overuse (43.6%) and non-contact trauma (23.8%). Pre-existing injuries accounted for almost half of the 436 first visit encounters.
An unexpected finding was that 15% of encounters with physical therapy services did not involve injury at all.
“While no specific data were recorded regarding the reason for the consultation, it is reasonable to conclude that the physiotherapy encounters focused on maintaining physical function and enhancing recovery have a role to play in supporting athlete performance,” the study said.
Dr Marie-Elaine Grant, who runs a private physiotherapy clinic in Dublin, Ireland, told WCPT News that the research and its publication were only possible because of the outstanding achievement of the London 2012 LOCOG PT team.
“I considered this research project very important as this paper marks the first International Olympic Committee’s physiotherapy publication,” she said. “This is a very positive step forward in demonstrating the very important work our profession undertakes during the Olympic Games and the extent to which athletes rely on our services.”

quinta-feira, 9 de janeiro de 2014

9 coisas que as pessoas bem-sucedidas fazem de maneira diferente

Até as pessoas mais brilhantes são bastante incompetentes quando se trata de compreender as razões porque são bem-sucedidas ou fracassam


Mais importante do que ser, é fazer
D.R.
09/01/2014 | 17:40 | Dinheiro Vivo
Sabe como conseguiu ter sucesso no cumprimento de alguns dos seus objetivos e noutros não? Se não sabe, está longe de se encontrar sozinho na sua confusão. Ao que parece, até mesmo as pessoas brilhantes e realizadas são bastante incompetentes quando se trata de compreender as razões de serem bem-sucedidas ou fracassarem. A resposta intuitiva — que nascemos predispostos a certos talentos e com falta de outros — é só uma pequena peça do puzzle. De facto, décadas de investigação sobre concretização sugerem que as pessoas de sucesso atingem os seus objetivos, não apenas por serem quem são, mas mais frequentemente por fazerem o que fazem.
1. Seja específico. Quando estabelece um objetivo, tente ser o mais específico possível. “Perder cinco quilos” é um objetivo melhor que “perder algum peso”, porque nos dá uma ideia clara da imagem do sucesso. Saber exactamente o que pretende concretizar mantém-no motivado até lá chegar. Além disso, pense nas ações específicas que tem de realizar para atingir o objetivo. Limitar-se a prometer que vai “comer menos” ou “dormir mais” é demasiado vago — seja claro e preciso. “Vou para a cama às dez horas nos dias de semana” não deixa espaço para dúvidas acerca do que precisa de fazer, e se o fez ou não.
2. Aproveite o momento para agir em relação aos seus objetivos. Dado que andamos quase todos muito ocupados e a fazer malabarismo com vários objetivos ao mesmo tempo, não é de surpreender que, rotineiramente, percamos oportunidades para agir em relação a um objetivo porque, simplesmente, não nos apercebemos delas. Não teve mesmo tempo para fazer exercício hoje? Nenhuma hipótese, em momento algum, de devolver aquela chamada? Atingir o seu objetivo significa segurar essas oportunidades antes que elas lhe escorreguem das mãos.
Para aproveitar o momento, decida quando e onde vai realizar cada ação que pretende, sendo o mais específico possível (“segundas, quartas e sextas vou fazer trinta minutos de exercício antes do trabalho.”) Os estudos demonstram que este género de planeamento ajudará o seu cérebro a detetar e aproveitar a oportunidade quando esta surge, aumentando em cerca de 300% as suas probabilidades de sucesso.
3. Saiba exatamente quanto caminho lhe falta percorrer. Atingir qualquer objetivo exige uma supervisão regular e honesta do seu progresso — se não por outros, por si. Se não tiver noção de como está a correr, não pode ajustar o seu comportamento nem as suas estratégias em conformidade. Verifique frequentemente os seus progressos — uma vez por semana ou todos os dias, dependendo do objetivo.
4. Seja um otimista realista. Quando está a definir um objetivo, entregue-se a todo o género de pensamentos positivos acerca das probabilidades de o atingir. Acreditar na sua capacidade de ser bem-sucedido é extremamente útil para criar e manter a sua motivação. Mas, faça o que fizer, não subestime o quanto será difícil atingir o objetivo. A maioria dos objetivos que vale a pena atingir exige tempo, planeamento, esforço e persistência. Os estudos demonstram que pensar que as coisas surgirão naturalmente e sem esforço o deixa mal preparado para o caminho que tem à sua frente, e aumenta significativamente as probabilidades de fracassar.
5. Concentre-se em tornar-se melhor e não em ser bom.
Acreditar que tem a capacidade de atingir os seus objetivos é importante, mas também é importante acreditar que pode adquirir essa capacidade. Muitos de nós acreditamos que a nossa inteligência, a nossa personalidade e as nossas aptidões físicas são fixas — que, façamos o que fizermos, não podemos melhorá-las. Como resultado, concentramo-nos em objetivos que o demonstrem, em vez de desenvolvermos e adquirirmos novas capacidades.
Felizmente, décadas de pesquisa sugerem que a crença numa capacidade fixa está completamente errada — capacidades de todos os géneros são profundamente maleáveis. Aceitar o facto de que pode mudar, permitir-lhe-á fazer escolhas melhores e atingir o máximo do seu potencial. Pessoas cujos objetivos estão relacionados com ser melhor, em vez de ser bom, assimilam bem as dificuldades e apreciam tanto a viagem como o destino.
6. Tenha determinação. A determinação é o desejo de se comprometer com objetivos a longo prazo e persistir em face das dificuldades. Os estudos mostram que as pessoas determinadas obtêm mais educação formal ao longo da vida e têm médias melhores na universidade. A determinação indica quais serão os cadetes a destacar-se no seu primeiro ano extenuante em West Point.
A boa notícia é que, se você não é particularmente determinado neste momento, pode fazer alguma coisa por disso. As pessoas com falta de determinação acreditam mais que, simplesmente, não possuem as capacidades inatas que as pessoas de sucesso têm. Se isto descreve a maneira como pensa… bem, não há maneira de o dizer delicadamente: está enganado. Como mencionei antes, esforço, planeamento, persistência e boas estratégias são o que realmente nos leva a ter êxito. Aceitar esta ideia não só o ajudará a ver-se a si mesmo e aos seus objetivos com mais exatidão, mas também fará maravilhas pela sua determinação.
7. Construa o seu músculo da força de vontade. O seu “músculo” do autocontrolo é como qualquer outro músculo do seu corpo — quando não é muito exercitado, enfraquece. Mas quando lhe permite exercício regular, dando-lhe bom uso, tornar-se-á cada vez mais forte e mais capaz de o ajudar a atingir os seus objetivos.
Para construir a força de vontade, empenhe-se num desafio que lhe exija fazer algo que, honestamente, preferia não fazer. Deixar de comer petiscos gordurosos, fazer cem abdominais por dia, sentar-se direito, tentar aprender uma nova capacidade. Quando der por si com desejos de ceder, desistir ou simplesmente deixar de se ralar — não o faça. Comece apenas com uma atividade e faça um plano para lidar com os problemas à medida que ocorrerem (“Se tiver vontade de um petisco, comerei uma peça de fruta fresca ou três frutos secos.”) Ao princípio será difícil, mas vai-se tornando mais fácil e isso é que é importante. À medida que a sua força aumenta, pode adotar mais desafios e exercitar mais o seu autocontrolo.
8. Não desafie o destino. Por mais forte que o seu músculo da força de vontade se torne, é importante respeitar sempre o facto de que há limites e, se o forçar demasiado, pode esgotar-lhe a energia. Não tente duas tarefas muito difíceis ao mesmo tempo, se o puder evitar (como fazer dieta e deixar de fumar).E não se coloque no caminho do perigo — muitas pessoas têm demasiada confiança na sua capacidade para resistir às tentações e, em resultado, colocam-se em situações em que estas abundam. As pessoas de sucesso conseguem não tornar as coisas mais difíceis do que já são.
9. Concentre-se no que vai fazer, e não no que não quer fazer. Quer mesmo perder peso, deixar de fumar ou conter o seu mau génio? Planeie como vai substituir os maus hábitos por bons, em vez de se concentrar apenas nos maus hábitos. As pesquisas sobre supressão de pensamentos (por exemplo, “Não pensar em ursos brancos!”) demonstram que tentar evitar um pensamento torna-o ainda mais ativo na nossa mente. O mesmo é verdade quando se trata de comportamentos — ao tentar não realizar um mau hábito, o hábito é reforçado, em vez de quebrado.
Se quer mudar os seus hábitos, pergunte-se, “Que vou fazer em vez disso?” Por exemplo, se quer controlar o mau feitio e deixar de perder as estribeiras, pode fazer um plano deste género: “Se começar a sentir-me zangado, respiro fundo três vezes para me acalmar.” Usando a respiração profunda para se acalmar em vez de ceder à raiva, o seu mau hábito enfraquecerá ao longo do tempo, até desaparecer completamente.
Espero que, depois de ler estas nove coisas que as pessoas de sucesso fazem de maneira diferente dos outros, tenha ficado com algumas perspetivas sobre o que tem feito bem até agora. Mais importante ainda, espero que consiga identificar os erros que o têm feito sair dos carris e que, a partir de agora, use esse conhecimento para seu proveito. Lembre-se que não precisa de se tornar uma pessoa diferente para se tornar uma pessoa com mais sucesso. O que importa não é o que você é, mas o que você faz.
Heidi Grant Halvorson, Ph.D., é diretora associada do Motivation Science Center na Business School da Universidade de Columbia e é autora dos livros "Nine Things Successful People Do Differently" e "Focus: Use Different Ways of Seeing the World to Power Influence and Success"

quarta-feira, 8 de janeiro de 2014

Do You Wii-Hab? Using Motion Gaming in Your Therapy Clinic

by CHARLOTTE BOHNET

WebPT bloggers Lindsay Bayuk, Charlotte Bohnett, and Erica Cohen co-wrote today’s post.

Video games are no longer the exclusive pastime of teenage boys. Now, interactive and health-centric videogame software allows people of all ages to stay fit, improve range of motion, and battle out a seriously competitive game of Wii Tennis—all from the comfort of their living room.
Two of the most popular movement-sensing consoles are the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Kinect. While both boast all sorts of games, from fly fishing to dancing, their mechanism for motion detection is slightly different. With Wii, the console detects user movements via a wireless remote and incorporates them into the action occurring within the game, typically through a character or animated avatar. With Xbox 360 Kinect, though, the user is the controller. The console detects user movements and displays them on the screen as part of the game. There’s no remote, and Kinect games typically show a more realistic human avatar as the system mirrors the user.
Wii-Hab: Kinect and Wii movement
User as controller on Kinect                                                   Wireless controller for WiiImage from http://www.vooks.net/images/kinect_vs_wii.jpg
More than 96 million Wii systems have shipped since its 2006 inception and over 18 million Kinect systems have shipped since its debut in 2010. Obviously, these systems are popular, and everyone from nursing home residents to the Queen of England is playing. So, how can you incorporate these new-age video consoles into your treatment plans?
Recently, Johns Hopkins researchers implemented the Wii’s Play and Fit video games into a 22-patient study. Researchers incorporated video game activities such as bowling and boxing into 42 physical therapy sessions for their patients. While they concluded they needed additional research, the researchers found patients enjoyed the challenge the videos games presented and welcomed the change in their physical routines.

The enjoyment and challenge has led many clinics to incorporate motion gaming into their practice. In this ABC News segment, Broward General shows how they use WiiHab to help elderly patients with mobility and hand-eye coordination.
"In the Wii-Hab system, because it's kind of a game format, it does create this kind of inner competitiveness. Even though you may be boxing or playing tennis against some figure on the screen, it's amazing how many of our patients want to beat their opponent," said James Osborn, who oversees rehabilitation services at Herrin Hospital in southern Illinois. Herrin Hospital, which is about 100 miles southeast of St. Louis, implemented a Wii system in 2007.

And, there are many Wiihab success stories. Judith Deutsch, PT, PhD implemented Wii-Hab in conjunction with traditional physical therapy. She was able to improve the visual-perceptual processing, postural control, and functional mobility of a 13-year old boy suffering from spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Additionally, a case study in the Games for Health Journal found that using the Wii in conjunction with traditional rehabilitation practices improved user engagement, balance, and mobility improved for burn patients.

At Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Wii therapy is well suited for patients injured in combat in Iraq. Many are between 19 and 25 years old and love playing video games. Lt. Col. Stephanie Daugherty, Walter Reed's chief of occupational therapy says, “They think it's for entertainment, but we know it's for therapy.”

In an article in The Minnesota Daily, Loren Terveen, associate professor of computer science and engineering at the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, concurs with Walter Reed: "Doing your physical therapy is pretty boring," he said. "If you can make it into an enjoyable activity where you're moving physically and going through motions that are helping you recover, and as a part of that you're playing games that are fun, it's just a great, creative use of the technology."

Erica Stern, associate professor and director of graduate studies in the program of occupational therapy, said the Wii's reasonable price allows patients to use the system to continue rehabilitation at home: "The biggest asset that the Wii offers to me is that it's low-priced enough that people can develop home programs off of it," she said. "Once the patient can be independent in its use, why not?"

Interested in learning more about the benefits of using the Wii at your practice? Check out this list from Comprehensive Orthopedic Physical Therapy.

While the Kinect debuted later than the Wii, therapists are now commonly employing this system in their practice as well. In fact,IndustryGamers recently reported that “developer Red Hill Studios has created, in partnership with the UCSF School of Nursing, a custom suite of Kinect-based physical therapy games...specifically designed to help people with Parkinson's.”

Additionally, in a 2011 article on Engineering Sport, Simon Choppin discussed the use of the Xbox 360 Kinect in a physical therapy setting, specifically how therapists can use the system for simple motion analysis. Comparing the Kinect to Dartfish, Choppin found that while Kinect doesn’t currently possess the same level of accuracy as Dartfish, therapists can use the Kinect console for exercises. Additionally, Choppin surmises that eventually Microsoft will improve the Kinect to the point where it can used for analytical purposes.

But game motion therapy doesn’t stop with Nintendo and Xbox. Student developers are designing preliminary video game systems for the physical therapy industry. For example, Rice University students created Equilibrium, which was commissioned by the Shriner’s Hospital as a way to get kids excited about improving walking gait and balance. Equilibrium uses the Wii Balance Board, some Wii software applications, and custom designed balance bars in a monster shooting game that increases in difficulty as patients progress in therapy.

As with any exercise program, there’s opportunity for injury. Proper form and moderation are important to avoid what’s recently been coined “Wiiitis,” (pronounced wee-eye-tis). Symptoms include muscle soreness, aches, and any pain associated with video game overuse. Hence, many therapists use the Wii in conjunction with other therapy practices to enhance treatment (both in terms of enjoyment and rehabilitation) rather than rely solely on the new technology.

Are you implementing motion gaming in your therapy practice? We’d love to hear what works for your plan of care and your patients.

Steps to Create an Advertising Plan for Your Clinic


Share on linkedinShare on facebookShare on twitter
by BROOKE ANDRUS


Advertising PlanThe purpose of this month’s blog theme—small business best practices—is to help you be better in business. And as any business guru will tell you, advertising is a huge factor in not only creating new business, but also in solidifying brand identity. As a small business owner, you probably don’t have a lot of money to throw at media buying opportunities. But if you’re smart, you can get a lot out of the ad spots you do purchase—even on a tight budget. Here is how you can create an advertising plan for your practice while maximizing your marketing dollar:
1. Consider your—and your competitors’—client base. Even if you create the most ingenious ad in the world, no one will see it if you place it in the wrong space. So, get in your clients’ heads a little bit. Who are they? Where are they? What do they care about? What are their interests and hobbies? Answering questions like these will give you a better idea of which media outlets—print, radio, television, or digital—will give you the most impressions, and thus, the most bang for your buck.
Also, take some time to research the advertising strategies of other clinics in your market. While you certainly don’t want to be a copycat, your competitors’ ads can serve as a great jumping-off point for your own marketing efforts. Figure out what they’re doing—then figure out how to differentiate and market yourself and your profession better.
2. Choose your platforms. Once you feel like you’ve got a pulse on your target market, it’s time to identify the channels that will best reach that audience and the methods you’ll use to execute your strategy. If you’re thinking of going the traditional route, consider the following ideas:
  • Hang flyers or sponsorship banners at community events like cooking contests, concerts, fairs, and sports games (and be sure to introduce yourself to the coaches).
  • Sponsor a local athletic event, such as a bike race or a 5K run. If you’re feeling super ambitious—or if a good portion of your client base participates in these kinds of activities—think about starting your own event.
  • Network with owners, trainers, and instructors at local gyms, yoga studios, or fitness clubs. See if you can work out a cross-promotion deal or perhaps just display some of your brochures and business cards at the front desk.
  • Buy ad placements in community newspapers, newsletters, magazines, radio and television programs, and other outlets with a high number of impressions in your target market.
If you’re looking into newer media formats—namely, the Internet—here are a few pieces of advice:
  • First things first: if you don’t have a website, get one—and fast. These days, it’s tough—if not impossible—to do business without having an online presence. Clients expect to be able to find you on the web, and if they can’t—well, they might just move on to the next guy or gal.
  • When it comes to acquiring digital ad space, start local—with community blogs, newspapers, or organizations of interest to your client base. Local publications often are looking for expert contributors. So, volunteer to write a column, blog post, or health and wellness article. You might just get some free press out of the deal.
  • Get onboard with an online deal or couponing site—like Groupon or LivingSocial—and come up with a special offer for services such as an evaluation and/or therapeutic massage. (Just be sure to read the fine print if you decide to set up an offer, and don’t expect to profit directly from it—it’s more about gaining brand recognition.)
  • If you’re already a little tech savvy, look into Google adwords or Facebook ads.
3. Be a negotiator. It’s not always easy to ask for more, but when it comes to negotiating an ad deal, it pays to unleash your inner Oliver Twist. If you want a better placement, a larger size, or even a discount—ask! Like you, media companies are in the ads game to make money, and they want your business. So get up the courage to plead your case—after all, the worst they can say is “no.” Here are some additional tips to consider during the negotiation process:
  • Get a rate sheet or rate card to help you make decisions about ad placements and sizes. Planning to advertise in the same publication more than once? See if there’s a bulk-buying discount.
  • Know the outlet’s reach. How many people will see this ad?
  • In the case of digital ads, know how often users see each ad on average, where on the page your ad will appear, and what kind of content will appear next to your ad.
4. Leave design to the pros. Logos and clip art do not make for a good ad. Remember, no matter where you place your ad, one thing's for sure—it won’t be the only one. A professional designer can help make your ad stand out from the competition. The publication running your ad might even give you the option to have their in-house designer create the ad for you. While this is certainly better than doing it yourself, hiring your own designer is typically less expensive in the long run because you’ll likely be able to reuse those ads. Ask around for recommendations—or research your options online.
5. Keep track of your success. Advertising is an investment. You put money into it with a goal of eventually getting even more money out of it. So if the advertising you put out there isn’t driving more traffic to your door, you’ll want to rethink your strategy. But how do you know whether your current strategy is working? Well, you can start by asking new clients how they heard about you. Also, be sure to check in with your online ad sales reps for updated stats. Want to take it a step further? Create unique phone numbers associated with each ad placement and link them to your actual number using Google Voice. That way, you can see exactly how many calls each ad generated.

With everything you’ve got on your plate, it’s probably tough to carve out time for advertising efforts. But remember, clients won’t come to you if they don’t know about you. Thus, if you truly want to grow your business, you’ve got to up your media-buying game. Have you tried any of the above tips? Did they work? Share your experiences—and advice—in the comments section below.

How to Take Charge of Your Physical Therapy Advertising Woes


How to Take Charge of Your Physical Therapy Advertising WoesWho says that putting up your own physical therapy clinic is a walk in the park? But then again, who says that it will never be a walk in the park? If you want to venture into any kind of business, you know how valuable advertising can be. Whether you are venturing in developing your own private clinic or trying to increase your clients, advertising is one ingredient you cannot live without. Here are a few reasons why you need to know how to take charge of your physical therapy advertising woes:
  • It is all about brand awareness
Your physical therapy clinic is basically YOU. You want your patients to remember you and how great your services are. You want to be in the minds of your target clients. Take a look at the bigger picture and visualize that your physical therapy clinic advertising is like a set of dominoes toppling after another. If you advertise, you create a perception, once that perception is established, you create familiarity and again, once proven strong, it builds trust. If you want to revamp your business, advertising is still beneficial for you. You want to rebrand your business and there is no better way to let people know that you are upgrading your services but by advertising.
  • It is about being an authority in physical therapy
Improving your brand paves the way towards becoming a leader and an authority in physical therapy. By intergrating with other means of PR strategies, your physical therapy brand can become the expert in your given field.
  • It is about control
With you at the helm of your own advertising, you get complete control over it. You will know how, when and where you want your advertising should be. You also get to control who and where you want to target.
  • It is about consistency
In connection with the first point, by allowing your brand to create a sense of awareness to your prospect market, your customers will instantly recognize you and would know what you offer by just a mere mention of your brand.
If you are on a tight budget, of course, you may not have the means to hire an advertsing agency to market your brand. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it can be advanatageous to you! So how can you advertise on your own?

  • Have you thought about your market?
Being out there, meaning your brand, is fine. But being out there in the right place at the right time is just perfect! And one thing that can get you there is to know and understand your market. Who are they? How would you reach them? Do you read the dailies a lot? Do they surf even more? Questions like these would be your first step in truly understanding who your market base is. By zeroing in on them, you get the best of your budget. Additionally, it is not just your market base that you need to think of- think of your competitors as well. Figure out how the competitors market themselves and be inspired by them. Be original. Also, find a way in which you can differentiate your own brand from the competitors and how you can improve yours to become better.
  • Have you chosen what kind of platform you want to focus on?
Remember in the first part of this article when it mentioned that you need to know how to reach them? This is the perfect timing on how to do so since you already have zoomed in on your target market. Brainstorm on ways on how to reach your physical therapy market.
  • If you think that your market reads a lot of print media, why not put your ads on newspapers, magazines and the likes?
  • If you think they listen to the local radio and television programs, why don’t you put you ad as part of their commercials?
  • Since more and more people are becoming online these days, why don’t you put up your own blog? Believe when I say that having a physical therapy blog at this point is as important as putting up your physical therapy clinic.
  • If you think your market like special promos, why don’t you formulate such promos and put them up in an online deal site?
  • If you think your target market are those who often join community events, why don’t you apply for a sponsorship at a local sports event or distribute flyers during such events?
  • If you are targeting people who go to sports events and the likes, why don’t you team up with the local health club or gym? You can provide a small meeting with the regulars and discuss their physical therapy issues.
  • Have you monitored your success rate?
Don’t be a fool and just do and do. You need to stop for a while and assess the way things are going. If the traffic to your brand is not coming in, you might want to rethink the way to approach your advertising. If you think things are going your way, you can ask for patient feedback. Ask them how they were able to know your PT clinic.
Putting your physical therapy clinic’s advertising in your own hands seems too daunting but it is indeed the opposite. Are you willing to do so? What do you think?


Read more: http://www.physicaltherapistalliance.com/take-charge-physical-therapy-advertising-woes/#ixzz2pnanfy2p
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives
Follow us: @ptalliances on Twitter | Physicaltherapyalliance on Facebook

Five Highest Paid Specialties for Physical Therapists

Five Highest Paid Specialties for Physical Therapists
Five Highest Paid Specialties forPhysical Therapists
It is not surprising that there is an upsurge of people interested in the physical therapy program. There are more and more people aging. The elderly as well as the  discovery of new illnesses and diseases have called for more and more demand for the physical therapy services. Just take a look in a certain community and you will see that physical therapists, like you, either work in a clinic, health facility or anything in between for people in all walks of life- veterans, the elderly, the budding athlete, the injured. You name it, and you, the physical therapist, is there to help those people.
For physical therapists, care and help come naturally. After all, it is the core of being a physical therapist, right? Your role being a physical therapist is to assess if not develop the patient’s coordination and motor function.
You are in a very good spot.
Yes, you are. The physical therapy career is one of the leading and best paid in the country. It seems that the PT career has nowhere to go but up. It does not seem to stop! People need you and they are going to need you more in the years to come. That said, you need to strategically place yourself where the need is utmost and the demand for you is great. You don’t even have to search high and low for information on the five highest paid specialties for physical therapists. Everything is given to you on a silver platter in this article.
On placing yourself
You know that being a physical therapist, you are on demand. But do you know where to look for your PT job? Here’s the thing: hospitals need you. They actually demand for your services. If hospitals need you, the more that physicians’ clinics want you. You would be in salary heaven if you can land a spot on these two. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most physical therapists work in walk-in centers and clinics. But if you want to land in the highest paying ones, you need to snag the ones that have something to do with home health services. If you can find work in California, and New York, the better if you want to be surrounded by PTs like you. These states have the highest concentration of PTs in the country. But if you are concerned for the salary, check out Texas and California for some physical therapy openings. There is nothing wrong with looking for states that offer the highest PT salary. The physical therapist has to live too, right? But if you are really looking for those states that are on the top five payers for physical therapists, trying looking for PT positions in Nevada, Alaska, Texas, California and New Jersey. These 5 states are the top paying states but no other factors have been considered in this last ranking, though.
What? A specialty?
If you want to have an edge in the PT race, it is imperative that you have a specialty. In this article, you will be served with the top five. There is an in-depth discussion on what the specialty is all about, how much salary is expected and why this is in the top five.
#5 Pediatrics Specialty
The pediatrics physical therapy has adolescents and babies to serve. They focus on these age groups, hence the name. This kind of special will delve into the health conditions, be it chronic or not, of those who still belong to the pediatrics age group. If you want to be part of this pool, you need to have at least some basic physical therapy techniques. You should be also adept in understanding and implementing the basic activities that are suited for the needs of the child. Therapy through play should also be mastered aside from the fact that you need to be well-versed on the use of assistive technology. PTs specializing in pediatrics are highly trained in dealing with issues pertaining to child development and health issues. Furthermore, the way the PT is able to follow and treat the child also needs special training.
As a PT specializing on pediatrics, you would often encounter children with developmental issues as well as children diagnosed with special needs. Being a pediatric PT, you are expected to receive and average of $73, 036 per year.
#4. Neurologic Specialty
This kind of specialty focuses on the rehabilitation and treatment of those who have had traumatic brain injury and other related conditions. Having this kind of specialty means that you, being the physical therapist should be able to assess and treat those who have such issues. As such, you would be able to assist those who have complications caused by a trauma to the central nervous system. In accordance, you would be able to help those patients move their bodies, if not improve them in order to function normally.
You need to have the skill to inspire and encourage the patients with neurological ailments while they are undergoing the rehabilitation since such kind of rehabilitation may seem arduous for them. Also, primarily, you should or take to learn the skills needed to rehabilitation as well as identify the patients who have coordination, balance and mobility issues. Being a specialist in this category, you should expect common issues such as the ones below:

    • Cerebral Palsy
  • Chronic pain
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Degenerative Diseases
  • Developmental delays
  • Scoliosis
  • Spina bifida
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Traumatic head/brain injuries
One of the reasons why this is included in the list is the fact that continuing education is needed and this a highly specialized category since the physical therapist encounters issues that has to do with the nervous system. It is not surprising, therefore, that the remuneration for this specialty is about $74,947 per year.
#3. Geriatric Specialist
If you want to work with older people, this is the kind of specialist you might want to consider. As a person ages, it is inevitable that he or she encounters lots of health issues. Being a GCS or Geriatric Certified Specialist, you are going to see lots of health issues experienced by the elderly, including rehabilitation after a hip or knee surgery. A GCS will help the elderly cope with the issues that go with age and adapt the exercises to way the elderly cope with the activities of daily living such as taking a bath and the likes. Also, depression is common among the elderly. You need to be there to help alleviate such feelings of inadequacy. Also, you are going to be responsible for helping them lead a normal life, despite the age.
A physical therapist who can communicate well aside from being able to motivate people is best suited for this kind of specialty. In addition to this, the PT should be also in tip-top shape since four of the most common issues encountered by the elderly are the following:
The physical therapist who wishes to be part of this should expect to be emotionally and physically strong. Perhaps the lucrativeness of the job makes its remuneration of $76,689 a year high.
#2 Cardiovascular/Pulmonary Specialty
Physical therapists who are interested in making this their specialty are expected to encounter patients who are recuperating from either lung or heart surgery. As such, these kinds of specialists are concerned in making the heart and lungs more stable. Like many PTs, they are also concerned in making their patients become independent. Also, they also provide information for those who are genetically inclined having lung or heart disease. Being a specialist of this kind, you should have skills like being able to motivate people, lead them and the likes. PTs interested in this career must have characteristics like endurance or stamina as you are expected to physically help your patients who can either have these health issues:
  • Hypertension
  • Bronchitis
  • Chronic heart disease
Because this is a highly demanding job, it is the second highest paid PT specialist which has $76,689 a year.
#1. Sports Medicine Specialist
There is a reason why this is the highest paying PT specialist. The patients that you are going to handle are often athletes. Being those who are one of the fittest, your task is to make things happen. Not only you would treat injuries experienced in the course of their career but also preventative care so such injuries would be avoided. You can encounter injuries like the Compartment Syndrome for this is one of the most common issues among athletes. This is also a highly specialized position so you should also expect that the salary is one of the highest at $76, 689 a year. Also, there is rapid growth and demand for this kind of specialization as many athletes are too focused on their sports career. They may even employ the best PT for the job so they avoid injuries and perform to the best of their abilities.
Are you now ready to pick which of these specialties you want to be a part of? What are you waiting for?


Read more: http://www.physicaltherapistalliance.com/five-highest-paid-specialties-physical-therapists/#ixzz2pnZ4q0gN
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives
Follow us: @ptalliances on Twitter | Physicaltherapyalliance on Facebook