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

Duke University
Music as Biology: What We Like to Hear and Why
Skills you'll gain: Music, Music Theory, Aesthetics, World Music, Cultural Diversity, Psychology, Anatomy, Biology, Neurology
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
706 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Fundamentals of Materials Science
Skills you'll gain: Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Manufacturing Processes, Physical Science, Semiconductors, Thermal Management, Mechanics, Failure Analysis
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
184 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Imperial College London
Measuring Disease in Epidemiology
Skills you'll gain: Epidemiology, Public Health, Preventative Care, Biostatistics, Program Evaluation, General Medical Tests and Procedures, Probability & Statistics, Risk Analysis, Quantitative Research, Health Policy, Science and Research, Statistical Methods, Research
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
770 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Modeling and Control of Power Electronics
Skills you'll gain: Power Electronics, Electronic Systems, Control Systems, Electrical Engineering, Electrical Power, Electric Power Systems, Electronics, Engineering Analysis, Simulations, Simulation and Simulation Software, Mathematical Modeling, Semiconductors, Matlab, Technical Design, Electrical Equipment, Systems Analysis, Design Specifications
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
149 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Universitat de Barcelona
Técnicas Microscópicas de Caracterización
Skills you'll gain: Laboratory Equipment, Micrometer, Engineering, Scientific, and Technical Instruments, Semiconductors, Physics, Image Analysis, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, Scientific Visualization
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
804 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Arizona State University
Materials Science for Technological Application
Skills you'll gain: Failure Analysis, Semiconductors, Manufacturing Processes, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Thermal Management, Engineering, Production Process, Laboratory Testing, Physical Science, Physics, Process Engineering, Mechanics, Engineering Analysis, Engineering Calculations, Applied Mathematics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
178 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Kinematics: Describing the Motions of Spacecraft
Skills you'll gain: Mechanics, Linear Algebra, Numerical Analysis, Engineering Calculations, Engineering Analysis, Differential Equations, Physics, Mathematical Modeling, Applied Mathematics, Verification And Validation, Advanced Mathematics, Estimation
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
332 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Battery State-of-Charge (SOC) Estimation
Skills you'll gain: Estimation, Matlab, Simulations, Numerical Analysis, Anomaly Detection, Probability, Performance Tuning, Data Validation, Linear Algebra
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
253 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Geneva
Troubles du spectre de l'autisme : interventions
Skills you'll gain: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Special Education, Parent Communication, Individualized Education Programs (IEP), Working With Children, Speech Therapy, Child Development, Psychological Evaluations, Legal Support, Research, Care Coordination, Group Therapy, Behavior Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
189 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
UNSW Sydney (The University of New South Wales)
Remote Sensing Image Acquisition, Analysis and Applications
Skills you'll gain: Image Analysis, Unsupervised Learning, Geospatial Information and Technology, Geospatial Mapping, Computer Vision, Feature Engineering, Spatial Analysis, Machine Learning, Dimensionality Reduction, Deep Learning, Supervised Learning, Probability & Statistics, Artificial Neural Networks
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
167 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
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, Data Integration
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
613 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Universidad Austral
Conceptos base para el estudio del medio ambiente
Skills you'll gain: Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, Environment, Data Analysis, Environmental Engineering, Physical Science, Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Statistical Analysis, Probability & Statistics, Physics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
527 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks