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

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Sustainability Consulting
Skills you'll gain: Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Sustainability Reporting, Corporate Sustainability, Consulting, Business Consulting, Environmental Issue, Environmental Management Systems, Product Lifecycle Management, Environment, Technical Consulting, Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
79 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Everyday Chinese Medicine 2
Skills you'll gain: Preventative Care, Patient Evaluation, Health Care, Patient Education And Counseling, Public Health, General Medicine, Pharmacology, Health Assessment, Nutrition and Diet, Treatment Planning, Chronic Diseases, Physical Therapy
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
217 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST)
Electrodynamics: An Introduction
Skills you'll gain: Electrical Engineering, Basic Electrical Systems, Physics, Integral Calculus, Calculus, Applied Mathematics, Differential Equations, Scientific Visualization
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
624 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Università Bocconi
Challenges of Agribusiness Management
Skills you'll gain: Innovation, Competitive Analysis, Food and Beverage, Corporate Sustainability, Market Dynamics, Business, Water Resources, Supply Chain Management, Environment and Resource Management, Natural Resource Management, Emerging Technologies, Economics, Product Knowledge
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
271 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Digitalisation in the Aerospace Industry
Skills you'll gain: Human Factors, Manufacturing Processes, Production Process, Automation, Leadership, Human Machine Interfaces, Digital Transformation, Maintenance, Repair, and Facility Services, Artificial Intelligence, Simulation and Simulation Software
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
260 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Sapienza University of Rome
The Changing Landscape of Ancient Rome. Archaeology and History of the Palatine Hill
Skills you'll gain: Ancient History, Public History, Political Sciences, Art History, European History, World History, Research, Investigation, Social Sciences, Culture, Governance, Scientific Methods, Data Collection
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
318 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
L&T EduTech
Collaborative Robotics in Industry
Skills you'll gain: Automation Engineering, Programmable Logic Controllers, Electrical Systems, Hydraulics, Control Systems, Automation, Simulation and Simulation Software, Internet Of Things, Robotic Process Automation, Mechanical Engineering, Real Time Data, Human Machine Interfaces, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing and Production, Electronics, Hardware Troubleshooting, Image Analysis, Matlab, Equipment Design, Computer Vision
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
98 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
École Polytechnique
Wind resources for renewable energies
Skills you'll gain: Water Resources, Hydraulics, Data Analysis, Real Time Data, Physical Science, Estimation, Spatial Data Analysis, Environment and Resource Management, Mathematical Modeling, Environmental Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Systems Of Measurement, Mechanics
3.6
Rating, 3.6 out of 5 stars
130 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST)
Introduction to Semiconductor Devices 1
Skills you'll gain: Semiconductors, Electronic Components, Electronics, Basic Electrical Systems, Electrical Engineering, Physics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
123 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica
Controle Usando a Resposta em Frequência
Skills you'll gain: Control Systems, Process Control, Automation Engineering, Design Specifications, System Design and Implementation, Engineering Analysis, Performance Tuning, Engineering Calculations, Simulation and Simulation Software, Mathematical Modeling
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
160 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Rice University
Anatomy & Physiology: Regulation, Integration, & Control
Skills you'll gain: Anatomy, Neurology, Pharmacology, Kinesiology, Life Sciences, Medical Terminology, Biology
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
21 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
MathWorks
Introduction to Image Processing
Skills you'll gain: Image Analysis, Matlab, Computer Vision, Spatial Data Analysis, Quantitative Research, Graphical Tools, Data Access, Data Import/Export
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
173 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks