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

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Business intelligence and data warehousing
Skills you'll gain: Data Warehousing, Extract, Transform, Load, Business Intelligence, Data Mining, Big Data, Predictive Analytics, Analytics, Data Modeling, MySQL, Business Analytics, Apache Hadoop, Data Integration, Star Schema, Unstructured Data, Database Design, SQL, Data Transformation
3.9
Rating, 3.9 out of 5 stars
100 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Battery State-of-Health (SOH) Estimation
Skills you'll gain: Estimation, Matlab, Failure Analysis, Verification And Validation, Simulation and Simulation Software, Engineering Calculations, Mathematical Modeling, Applied Mathematics, Statistical Methods, Simulations, Numerical Analysis, Electronic Components, Experimentation, Embedded Systems, Algorithms, Calculus
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
157 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University at Buffalo
Collaborative Robot Safety: Design & Deployment
Skills you'll gain: Safety Training, Safety Assurance, Safety and Security, Technical Standard, Equipment Design, Risk Control, Human Factors, Failure Analysis, Verification And Validation, Manufacturing and Production
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
256 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Transmission electron microscopy for materials science
Skills you'll gain: Semiconductors, Scientific Visualization, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Experimentation, Engineering Analysis, Mathematical Modeling
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
120 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Colorado System
Wilderness First Aid - Introduction
Skills you'll gain: First Aid, Emergency Medicine, Health Assessment, Safety Assurance, Patient Assistance, Trauma Care, Patient Treatment, Vital Signs, Medical Records, Risk Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
37 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Macquarie University
Habilidades de Excel Aplicadas a Negocios: Nivel Avanzado
Skills you'll gain: Dashboard, Spreadsheet Software, Data Cleansing, Excel Formulas, Data Visualization, Microsoft Excel, Business Intelligence, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Validation, Depreciation, Financial Modeling, Financial Analysis, Data Management, Automation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
26 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Georgia Institute of Technology
Materials Data Sciences and Informatics
Skills you'll gain: Data Science, Data Integration, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Computational Thinking, Data Analysis, Mathematical Modeling, Structural Analysis, Simulation and Simulation Software, Process Analysis, Research, Databases
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
344 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Alberta
21st Century Energy Transition: how do we make it work?
Skills you'll gain: Environmental Issue, Innovation, Environment, Environmental Policy, Supply Chain Management, Policy Analysis, Emerging Technologies, Strategic Planning, Capacity Planning, Economics, Market Analysis, Trend Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
93 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
EDHEC Business School
Economics and Policies of Climate Change
Skills you'll gain: Environmental Policy, Economics, Environmental Issue, Cost Benefit Analysis, Policy Analysis, Derivatives, Financial Market, Tax, Financial Trading, Mathematical Modeling, Mitigation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
65 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
University of Cape Town
Climate Adaptation in Africa
Skills you'll gain: Water Resources, Adaptability, Land Management, Mitigation, Environmental Issue, Civil Engineering, Environment, Capacity Planning, Finance, Natural Resource Management, Environment and Resource Management, Risk Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Food and Beverage, Vulnerability, Governance
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
119 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Computational Fluid Mechanics - Airflow Around a Spoiler
Skills you'll gain: Engineering Analysis, Simulations, Engineering, Prototyping, Computer-Aided Design, Cloud Computing
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
331 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free
Georgia Institute of Technology
Introduction to High-Throughput Materials Development
Skills you'll gain: Experimentation, New Product Development, Product Development, Engineering Design Process, Science and Research, Process Development, Research Design, Prototyping, Scientific Methods
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
178 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months