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 Colorado Boulder
Engineering Management Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: User Story, Supplier Management, Project Schedules, Sustainability Reporting, Project Closure, Goal Setting, Engineering Management, Financial Analysis, Milestones (Project Management), Financial Statement Analysis, Cost Estimation, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Team Leadership, Stakeholder Management, Agile Project Management, Self-Awareness, Capital Budgeting, Personal Development, Project Risk Management, Cost Management
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Master of Engineering in Engineering Management
Skills you'll gain: Object Oriented Design, User Story, New Product Development, Systems Engineering, Real-Time Operating Systems, Unsupervised Learning, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Failure Analysis, Delegation Skills, Sampling (Statistics), Supplier Management, Sustainability Reporting, Accountability, Data Ethics, Data Mining, Goal Setting, Proposal Writing, Generative AI, Process Capability, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of Colorado Boulder
Semiconductor Photonics Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Semiconductors, Power Electronics, Display Devices, Control Systems, Computer Displays, Electronic Systems, Systems Design, Technical Design, Electronic Components, Electronics, Basic Electrical Systems, Electric Power Systems, Electrical Power, Engineering, Scientific, and Technical Instruments, Electronic Hardware, Equipment Design, Electronics Engineering, Systems Analysis, Electrical Engineering, Simulations
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Power Electronics Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Power Electronics, Debugging, Tensorflow, Computer Vision, Display Devices, Control Systems, Computer Displays, Image Analysis, Semiconductors, Electronic Systems, PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Artificial Neural Networks, Systems Design, Applied Machine Learning, USB, Electrical Engineering, Technical Design, Electrical Systems, Computer Programming Tools, Electrical Power
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
University of Colorado Boulder
Industrial Internet of Things Graduate Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Real-Time Operating Systems, User Research, User Experience Design, User Experience, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Usability, Power Electronics, Verification And Validation, Embedded Software, UI/UX Research, Machine Learning Algorithms, Human Computer Interaction, Persona (User Experience), Failure Analysis, Engineering Documentation, Control Systems, Internet Of Things, User Interface (UI), Embedded Systems, Machine Controls
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
Dartmouth College
Master of Engineering in Computer Engineering
Skills you'll gain:
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of London
Graduate Certificate in Computer Science
Skills you'll gain: Virtual Reality, Human Computer Interaction, Game Design, Full-Stack Web Development, React Native, Agile Software Development, Animations, Data Ethics, Git (Version Control System), Event-Driven Programming, Network Security, Web Applications, Data Science, Natural Language Processing, Unsupervised Learning, Combinatorics, Database Design, Web Development, Generative AI, Usability Testing
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
University of London
Graduate Diploma in Computer Science
Skills you'll gain: Virtual Reality, Human Computer Interaction, Game Design, Full-Stack Web Development, React Native, Agile Software Development, Animations, Data Ethics, Git (Version Control System), Event-Driven Programming, Network Security, Web Applications, Data Science, Natural Language Processing, Unsupervised Learning, Combinatorics, Database Design, Web Development, Generative AI, Usability Testing
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months