OCCUPATION THESAURUS

PHYSICAL THERAPIST



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HELPFUL TIP:

There’s probably a good reason why your character chose their career. Think about how certain talents and skills, a dominant positive or negative trait, or even an emotional wound might have influenced this decision. And once they're on the job, don't forget about the many work-related conflict scenarios you can throw at them to create tension and add complications.
OVERVIEW:
A Physical Therapist (PT) specializes in the recovery of patients who have had injuries, illnesses, or surgeries that impact their mobility and comfort. It can also be used to safely rebuild muscle tissue and flexibility if this has been lost (due to age, malnutrition, or other specific circumstances) or to prevent further degradation. Many physical therapists work with athletes, but this is also a common rehabilitation option for anyone who has suffered a work-, activity-, or home-related injury or is in recovery from a specific condition or illness. The most common types are Orthopedic, Geriatric, Neurological, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Women's Health, and Pediatric.

PT professionals are trained to listen to the symptoms of a patient, ask further questions to help diagnose what the problem may be, and then create a plan to treat the injured site. Once a therapy plan is made, the PT practitioner will administer therapy using a variety of methods: massage and muscle manipulation, ultrasound, isokinetic bands and devices for tension stretching, ice and heat therapy, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), exercise balls, exercise bikes, and other resistance pulley equipment to allow for low impact workouts and exercises.

The PT practitioner will also document and modify the therapy as needed, consulting with doctors or other healthcare professionals if it becomes necessary. They also provide a listening ear, encouragement, and empathetic support so the patent makes the best recovery possible and is more incentivized to continue with at-home exercise and build healthy habits that will prevent re-injury. Physical therapists need to be excellent at problem-solving and communicating.

NECESSARY TRAINING:
A PT practitioner will need a university degree that focuses in physical therapy or closely-related science-based courses. To practice, an individual must obtain a doctoral degree in physical therapy (DPT) which includes up to seven months of supervised experience in a clinic.

USEFUL SKILLS, TALENTS, OR ABILITIES:
A KNACK FOR LANGUAGES, BASIC FIRST AID, CHARM, EMPATHY, ENHANCED HEARING, ENHANCED SENSE OF SMELL, EXCEPTIONAL MEMORY, GAINING THE TRUST OF OTHERS, GOOD LISTENING SKILLS, HIGH PAIN TOLERANCE, HOSPITALITY, MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH, MULTITASKING, READING PEOPLE, REGENERATION, STRATEGIC THINKING, STRONG BREATH CONTROL, SUPER STRENGTH

HELPFUL POSITIVE TRAITS:
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HELPFUL NEGATIVE TRAITS:
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EMOTIONAL WOUNDS THAT MAY HAVE FACTORED INTO THIS OCCUPATION CHOICE:
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SOURCES OF FRICTION:
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PEOPLE THEY MIGHT INTERACT WITH:
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HOW THIS OCCUPATION MIGHT IMPACT ONE'S BASIC NEEDS:
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REASONS THE CHARACTER MAY HAVE BEEN DRAWN TO THIS PROFESSION:
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