What is physical therapy?

Physical therapy is a medical practice that helps those with injuries, diseases, and other physical limitations move and function better, as well as manage pain, through various treatments. The overall goal of physical therapy is to improve the life of the patient. Reaching that goal may involve the use of exercise, manipulation, manual therapy, electrophysical modalities, devices, and medication. The origins of physical therapy date back to the time of the famous Greek physician Hippocrates , who used hydrotherapy to help people with skin, joint, and muscle problems.

What kind of people are best suited for roles in physical therapy?

Anyone who is interested in a career in physical therapy and related practices should be interested in helping others better themselves. You should be able to maintain a positive attitude, even through trying circumstances, and you should be an excellent communicator. It's also important to be a keen observer and pay close attention to detail. You'll need to be physically strong as well, since the job sometimes requires you to lift and hold patients who can't stand on their own.

Why learn physical therapy?

Learning about physical therapy can lead to an exciting career as a physical therapist. Physical therapists who enter this profession can help patients in private offices, hospitals, hospice facilities, nursing homes, home health care, schools, and rehab clinics. They may also open their own practices. Even if you don't want to pursue a career in the field, learning about physical therapy can help you better understand your own body. You'll discover new ways to stay physically healthy.

What are some typical careers that use physical therapy?

Most people who study physical therapy become physical therapists. However, there are several other options in this area. You may go on to become an athletic trainer for sports teams or a chiropractor with your own practice. You can become a personal trainer, exercise instructor, or exercise physiologist. Some people who study physical therapy go on to explore other therapeutic careers, such as speech, recreational, or occupational therapy. You can use your education as the basis for a career as a physician's assistant, nurse practitioner, or audiologist too.

What are the benefits of taking an online Physical Therapy course?

Online Physical Therapy courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Physical Therapy skills. Choose from a wide range of Physical Therapy courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

Top Physical Therapy Courses - Learn Physical Therapy Online

Explore the Physical Therapy Course Catalog

Status: Free
Eindhoven University of Technology
RF and millimeter-Wave Circuit Design
Skills you'll gain: Electronic Systems, Electronic Components, Electrical Engineering, Wireless Networks, System Design and Implementation, Design Specifications, Simulations
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
217 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
University of Houston
A Brief History of Human Spaceflight
Skills you'll gain: International Relations, Social Studies, Human Factors, Failure Analysis, Physical Science, Engineering, Safety Assurance, General Science and Research, Innovation, Political Sciences
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
429 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST)
Introduction to Quantum Information
Skills you'll gain: Emerging Technologies, Digital Communications, Cryptography, Programming Principles, Linear Algebra, Computational Thinking, Information Technology, Technical Communication, Physics, Research, Mathematical Modeling
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
118 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Georgia Institute of Technology
Advanced Engineering Systems in Motion: Dynamics of Three Dimensional (3D) Motion
Skills you'll gain: Mechanics, Torque (Physics), Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Analysis, Differential Equations, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Trigonometry, Advanced Mathematics, Calculus
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
310 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Spacecraft Dynamics and Control
Skills you'll gain: Vibrations, Mechanics, Torque (Physics), Linear Algebra, Numerical Analysis, Engineering Calculations, Simulations, Engineering Analysis, Mechanical Engineering, Trigonometry, Physics, Mathematical Modeling, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Differential Equations, Simulation and Simulation Software, 3D Modeling, Structural Analysis, Applied Mathematics, Advanced Mathematics, Systems Of Measurement
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
425 reviews
Advanced · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
École Polytechnique
Quantum Optics 1 : Single Photons
Skills you'll gain: Physics, Experimentation, Cryptography, Mathematical Modeling, Applied Mathematics, Emerging Technologies
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
325 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Sustainable Cities
Skills you'll gain: Architectural Design, Community Development, Land Development, Public Works, Landscape Architecture, Transportation Operations, Civil Engineering, Building Design, Land Management, Economic Development, Construction Engineering, Water Resources, Growth Strategies, Architecture and Construction, Environment, Geographic Information Systems, Environmental Issue, Policy Analysis, Environmental Resource Management, Environmental Policy
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
388 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
First Order Optical System Design
Skills you'll gain: Performance Tuning, Engineering Calculations, Hardware Design, System Requirements, Engineering Analysis, Computer-Aided Design, Engineering Design Process, Simulation and Simulation Software, Mathematical Modeling, Physics
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
322 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
École des Ponts ParisTech
Mastering bitumen for better roads and innovative applications
Skills you'll gain: Occupational Safety And Health, Construction Engineering, Civil Engineering, Transportation Operations, Health And Safety Standards, Environment and Resource Management, Market Dynamics, Environmental Issue, Logistics Management, Product Testing, Technical Standard, Market Trend, Public Works, Production Process, Performance Testing, Manufacturing Processes, Market Analysis, Innovation, Research
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Toronto
Spatial Analysis and Satellite Imagery in a GIS
Skills you'll gain: Geographic Information Systems, GIS Software, Spatial Analysis, Spatial Data Analysis, Geospatial Mapping, Query Languages, Data Processing, Data Manipulation, Image Analysis
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
608 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Análisis de Sistemas de Transporte
Skills you'll gain: Transportation Operations, Transportation Management, Network Analysis, Operations Research, Systems Analysis, Systems Thinking, Analysis, Demand Planning, Mathematical Modeling, Econometrics, Markov Model, Behavioral Economics, Economic Development, Cost Benefit Analysis, Market Dynamics, Statistical Modeling, Probability Distribution, Socioeconomics, Decision Making
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
769 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)
Computers, Waves, Simulations: A Practical Introduction to Numerical Methods using Python
Skills you'll gain: Finite Element Methods, Numerical Analysis, Engineering Analysis, Jupyter, Differential Equations, Applied Mathematics, NumPy, Mathematical Modeling, Computational Thinking, Python Programming, Calculus, Mechanics, Vibrations, Linear Algebra, Simulations
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
381 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months