Departments
Department of Physical Therapy
An educational program in physical therapy is located on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus.
Description of the Profession
As members of the health care team, physical therapists help restore clients to normal function of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, integumentary, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems through interventions including therapeutic exercise, physical agents, and assistive devices. The client's physical therapy needs are determined through evaluation and examination of muscle strength and tone, joint status, posture, sensory status, functional mobility, exercise tolerance as it relates to cardiorespiratory status, skin condition, pain, and other medical conditions that impair physical function. Physical therapists are concerned with health promotion and disease prevention as well as restoration of function following disease, injury, or loss of a body part. In addition to patient care, the physical therapist participates in administrative, teaching, and research activities and provides consultative services. Physical therapists work in hospitals, outpatient facilities, industrial clinics, governmental and voluntary health agencies, educational settings, extended care facilities, and private practice settings.
Graduates of the Program
The educational experiences of the Physical Therapy Program curriculum are designed to graduate a physical therapist with skills as a generalist. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for licensure in the state in which they will practice.
Credential Required to Practice
P.T. (Physical Therapist)
Licensure Requirements to Practice
All states require that an individual graduate from an accredited physical therapy program and successfully complete the national physical therapy licensure examination in order to practice as a physical therapist.