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

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Explore the Physical Therapy Course Catalog

Rice University
Physics 102 - Electric Potential and DC Circuits
Skills you'll gain: Basic Electrical Systems, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Electronic Components, Engineering Calculations, Calculus, Differential Equations
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
29 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Electrónica Básica y Circuitos Integrados Lineales
Skills you'll gain: Semiconductors, Electronic Components, Basic Electrical Systems, Electronic Systems, Power Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Computational Logic
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Starweaver
Innovations in Lithium Battery Technology
Skills you'll gain: Electronic Components, Basic Electrical Systems, Manufacturing Processes, Environment and Resource Management, Product Lifecycle Management, Thermal Management, Electrical Engineering, Safety and Security, Waste Minimization, Quality Assurance, Emerging Technologies, Product Testing, Innovation
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Starweaver
Manufacturing Systems Analysis: A Comprehensive Guide
Skills you'll gain: Lean Manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma, Manufacturing Operations, Industrial Engineering, Process Optimization, Manufacturing and Production, Strategic Planning, Organizational Strategy, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Production Management, Manufacturing Processes, Strategic Leadership, Continuous Improvement Process, Operational Analysis, Leadership and Management, Performance Measurement, Change Management, Systems Analysis, Simulation and Simulation Software, Corporate Sustainability
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Rice University
Physics 102 - AC Circuits and Maxwell's Equations
Skills you'll gain: Basic Electrical Systems, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Engineering Analysis, Engineering Calculations, Mathematical Modeling, Applied Mathematics, Advanced Mathematics, Electronic Components, Calculus, Differential Equations, Integral Calculus, Trigonometry, Derivatives
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
31 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST)
Particle Dynamics
Skills you'll gain: Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Analysis, Physics, Engineering Calculations, Differential Equations, Integral Calculus, Calculus, Applied Mathematics
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
33 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 3 - 6 Months
Arizona State University
Electrical Characterization: MOSFETs
Skills you'll gain: Semiconductors, Electronic Components, Electrical Engineering, Data Analysis Software, Simulations
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
9 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Florida
Agroforestry II: Major Systems of the World
Skills you'll gain: Land Management, Natural Resource Management, Environment and Resource Management, Systems Thinking, Environment, Environmental Management Systems, Cultural Diversity, Spatial Analysis, General Science and Research, Socioeconomics
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of California San Diego
Internet of Things Capstone V2: Build a Mobile Surveillance System
Skills you'll gain: Software Design, System Design and Implementation, Internet Of Things, Technical Documentation, Technical Communication, Mobile Development, Development Testing, System Testing, Software Development, Wireless Networks, Embedded Systems, Creative Design, Electronic Components
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
13 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Colorado Boulder
Attitude Control with Momentum Exchange Devices
Skills you'll gain: Simulation and Simulation Software, Vibrations, Process Control, Simulations, Mechanics, Angular, Engineering Calculations, Engineering Analysis, Torque (Physics), Mechanical Engineering, Mathematical Modeling, Advanced Mathematics, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Applied Mathematics, Calculus
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California San Diego
Teaching Impacts of Technology: Workplace of the Future
Skills you'll gain: Technical Communication, Digital Transformation, Cloud Computing, Computational Thinking, Big Data, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cloud Storage, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Amazon Web Services, SQL, Databases
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
6 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
L&T EduTech
Industry 4.0: PLM, Value Chain, and Smart Factory
Skills you'll gain: Product Lifecycle Management, Manufacturing and Production, Robotic Process Automation, Production Process, Automation, Enterprise Resource Planning, Internet Of Things, Digital Transformation, Systems Integration, Computer-Aided Design, Predictive Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, Data Sharing, Augmented Reality
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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In summary, here are 10 of our most popular physical therapy courses

Physics 102 - Electric Potential and DC Circuits: Rice University
Electrónica Básica y Circuitos Integrados Lineales: Tecnológico de Monterrey
Innovations in Lithium Battery Technology: Starweaver
Manufacturing Systems Analysis: A Comprehensive Guide : Starweaver
Physics 102 - AC Circuits and Maxwell's Equations: Rice University
Particle Dynamics: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST)
Electrical Characterization: MOSFETs: Arizona State University
Agroforestry II: Major Systems of the World: University of Florida
Internet of Things Capstone V2: Build a Mobile Surveillance System: University of California San Diego
Attitude Control with Momentum Exchange Devices: University of Colorado Boulder

Physical Therapy Courses Online