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
National Taiwan University
基礎光學一 (Introduction to Optics (1))
Skills you'll gain: Physics, Physical Science, Mathematical Modeling, Applied Mathematics, Experimentation, Scientific Visualization, General Science and Research, Scientific Methods
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
71 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Michigan
Translating Research to Patients
Skills you'll gain: Clinical Trials, Clinical Research, Medical Science and Research, Scientific Methods, Research, Pharmaceuticals, Health Care Procedure and Regulation, Regulatory Compliance, Ethical Standards And Conduct
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
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
Status: Free
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Cómo autoconstruir tu vivienda. Segunda etapa
Skills you'll gain: Electrical Wiring, Hydraulics, Plumbing, Basic Electrical Systems, Electrical Safety, Architecture and Construction, Building Design, Construction Engineering, Blueprint Reading, Structural Engineering
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
266 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
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
Status: Free
Campus BBVA
The ABC of sustainability
Skills you'll gain: Sustainability Reporting, Corporate Sustainability, Socioeconomics, Social Justice, Environment, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Economic Development, Environment and Resource Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Environmental Issue, Performance Measurement, Business Reporting, Natural Resource Management, Diversity and Inclusion, Finance, Economics, Resource Utilization
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
168 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
MathWorks
Systems Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Systems Engineering, Systems Architecture, Systems Design, Functional Design, Software Architecture, Solution Architecture, Requirements Analysis, Technical Communication
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
191 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
ISAE-SUPAERO
Flight Mechanics - Anemobarometry
Skills you'll gain: Physical Science, Applied Mathematics, Systems Of Measurement, Engineering Calculations, Mechanics, Physics
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
57 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
École Polytechnique
Mécanique quantique
Skills you'll gain: Physics, Mechanics, Semiconductors, Linear Algebra, Probability, Electrical Engineering, Calculus, Differential Equations, Advanced Mathematics, Mathematical Modeling, Experimentation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
146 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Rice University
Physics 102 - Electric Charges and Fields
Skills you'll gain: Basic Electrical Systems, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mechanics, Calculus, Advanced Mathematics, Engineering Calculations, Mathematical Modeling, Trigonometry, Applied Mathematics
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
146 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST)
Electrodynamics: In-depth Solutions for Maxwell’s Equations
Skills you'll gain: Basic Electrical Systems, Electrical Engineering, Differential Equations, Advanced Mathematics, Integral Calculus, Electronic Systems, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Engineering Analysis, Linear Algebra
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
115 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica
Controle Usando a Resposta em Frequência
Skills you'll gain: Process Control, Systems Design, Engineering Analysis, Systems Analysis, Engineering Calculations, Engineering Design Process, Simulation and Simulation Software, Mathematical Modeling
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
159 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months