Why I Want To Be A Physical Therapist

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When choosing my field of interest, I was undecided between physical therapy or physical education. I come from a long line of teachers, coaches and athletes so I felt one of the two options were destined for me. My strong desire is to help people, specifically athletes and to make them feel good about themselves as they’re developing their athletic abilities so with the help of my parents and advisor, we chose that kinesiology would be the perfect fit for me. Under the kinesiology field, I have the option of pre-physical therapy, athletic training or exercise science. All throughout college I’ve been contemplating whether I want to be a physical therapist, and athletic trainer or a personal trainer. Some of the basics if I chose the athletic …show more content…

To start out as a personal trainer, I would first need to become certified through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and CPR/AED. Why? Earning your ACSM Certification has a way is showing the respect you’ll have of both your fellow health fitness professionals and clients and you gain the credibility that you need with employers, universities, and respected institutions across health-related fields. ACSM Certified Personal Trainers (CPT) are at the front line of the health fitness movement to help people of all fitness levels reach their personal fitness goals. They are professionals who develop and implement personalized exercise programs for individuals across a diverse set of health and fitness backgrounds, from professional athletes to individuals who are recently cleared to exercise. When becoming an ACSM CPT, you will have the practical and scientific knowledge that enables you to work in a variety of facilities, including health clubs, gyms, university, corporate, and community or public fitness centers. As if April 2016, the median annual salary is personal training is about $55,923 with a range of $40,361-$68,696 depending on your level of education, experience and location. Most trainers are certified and hold an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in exercise science. Trainers can obtain certification through several professional associations devoted to …show more content…

Physical therapists are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTs examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. Also, they prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness- oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles. They provide care for people in hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and nursing homes. In order to become a physical therapist, you need to get into PT school after receiving your bachelor’s degree. To get into PT school, you would need to complete course prerequisites, obtain physical therapy experience and have hours verified by a Physical Therapist, take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), send official transcripts from my university to Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) or the institution and proceed with completing the application before the program’s deadline. The most commonly required course prerequisites are anatomy and physiology 1 and 2, biology 1 and 2, chemistry l and 2, physics l and 2, psychology, advanced psychology such

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