March 29, 2024
Updated April 8, 2025
23 minute read
A Career Guide to Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a dynamic healthcare profession focused on helping people improve their movement, manage pain, and enhance their overall physical function. Physical therapists work with individuals across the lifespan, from infants to the elderly, who have medical conditions, illnesses, or injuries that limit their regular ability to move and function. They play a crucial role in rehabilitation, injury prevention, and health promotion, employing evidence-based techniques to achieve patient goals.
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Find a path to becoming a Physical Therapist. Learn more at:
OpenCourser.com/career/oox5sq/physical
Featured in The Course Notes
This career is mentioned in our blog,
The Course Notes. Read
two articles that feature
Physical Therapist:
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Reading list
We've selected some books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Physical Therapist.
Is widely considered a foundational text in assistive technology, offering a comprehensive overview based on the Human Activity Assistive Technology (HAAT) model. It covers a broad range of devices, services, and practices, focusing on the relationship between the user, activity, and context. This is an excellent resource for gaining a broad understanding and is often used as a textbook in academic settings. The latest edition includes updated information on current technology and ethical considerations.
This comprehensive atlas provides detailed, full-color photographs and illustrations of the human body from head to toe.
Provides a practical guide for parents of children with dyslexia. It offers advice on how to help your child overcome the challenges of dyslexia and succeed in school.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and techniques of therapeutic exercise. It valuable resource for physical therapists and other healthcare professionals who want to learn more about the use of exercise in the treatment of movement disorders and physical impairments.
This comprehensive textbook provides an overview of the assessment and treatment of movement disorders in children. It valuable resource for physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other professionals working with children with physical impairments.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of human physiology, with a focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying body functions.
This guide provides a framework of quality indicators for evaluating and improving assistive technology services. It's a valuable resource for service providers, educators, and policymakers involved in delivering AT to individuals with disabilities. It focuses on ensuring effective and consistent AT provision.
Explores the concept of exclusion in design and how adopting inclusive methods can lead to more innovative and elegant solutions that benefit everyone. It challenges traditional design thinking and provides a framework for understanding how to design for a wider range of human variability. It offers valuable insights for anyone involved in the design and development of assistive technologies.
This textbook integrates assistive technology and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles for creating inclusive instruction. It's designed for undergraduate and graduate teaching programs and provides toolkits with resources and strategies for implementing AT and UDL in the classroom. This highly relevant resource for educators and those in training.
Focusing on web accessibility, this book provides practical guidance for creating inclusive online experiences. It is rooted in universal design principles and offers solutions and examples for making websites accessible without compromising design. is highly relevant for anyone involved in web development and content creation within the field of assistive technology.
Provides a comprehensive overview of human anatomy and physiology, with a focus on the interrelationship of body systems.
Delves into the intersection of rehabilitation engineering, assistive technologies, and the emerging role of robotics in healthcare. It explores contemporary topics and future possibilities in the field, making it relevant for those interested in cutting-edge advancements and research.
Provides a comprehensive overview of human anatomy and physiology, with a focus on the interrelationship of body systems.
This practical guide focuses specifically on making online learning content accessible. It provides evidence-based advice and includes guidelines on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). is highly relevant for educators, instructional designers, and anyone creating digital learning materials.
Is geared towards educators and provides guidance on selecting, acquiring, and implementing assistive technology in educational settings. It emphasizes student-centered approaches and includes updated content on supporting students in distance learning environments. It's a practical guide for those interested in the application of AT in education.
Written by the head of Product Inclusion at Google, this book outlines strategies for building inclusive products and expanding market reach by considering diverse user needs. It provides a framework for integrating product inclusion into the development lifecycle, offering valuable insights for those in product management and design roles within the AT field or related industries.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the benefits of flexibility, including how it can improve athletic performance and prevent injuries. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their flexibility and overall health.
Offers a comprehensive look at universal design principles beyond the digital realm, focusing on creating inclusive physical environments. It covers various aspects, including urban planning, architecture, and product design. While not solely focused on technology, it provides essential foundational knowledge on designing for diverse human needs and crucial reference for understanding the broader context of assistive technology.
Provides a comprehensive overview of flexibility training, including detailed instructions for over 100 flexibility exercises. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their flexibility and prevent injuries.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and techniques of manual therapy for the extremities. It valuable resource for physical therapists and other healthcare professionals who want to learn more about the use of manual therapy in the treatment of pain, muscle tightness, and other conditions.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the assessment and treatment of orthopaedic conditions. It valuable resource for physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals who want to learn more about the management of orthopaedic injuries and conditions.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the assessment and treatment of vestibular disorders. It valuable resource for physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals who want to learn more about the management of vestibular conditions.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the assessment and treatment of cardiopulmonary conditions. It valuable resource for physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals who want to learn more about the management of cardiopulmonary conditions.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the assessment and treatment of aquatic physical therapy. It valuable resource for physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals who want to learn more about the management of aquatic physical therapy.
Provides a comprehensive overview of dyslexia for parents and teachers. It covers the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for dyslexia.
Offers practical code recipes for building accessible web components. It's a valuable resource for web developers who need to implement accessibility guidelines in their work. It focuses on the 'how-to' aspects of creating inclusive digital experiences.
Explores the relationship between design, power, and social justice, advocating for community-led design practices that dismantle inequality. While not exclusively about assistive technology, it provides a critical framework for thinking about who is involved in the design process and how technology can be used to empower marginalized communities, highly relevant to the ethical considerations in AT.
Provides a foundational introduction to the field of rehabilitation engineering, which is closely related to assistive technology. It covers fundamental principles, design tools, universal design, and various technologies used in rehabilitation. It's a good resource for those seeking a more technical understanding of the engineering aspects behind AT.
This handbook offers an interdisciplinary perspective on applying assistive technology, particularly with children and young adults. It covers key areas of AT and addresses practical questions that arise in day-to-day work. It's a valuable resource for practitioners working with younger populations.
Provides a comprehensive overview of yoga, including detailed instructions for over 200 yoga poses. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their flexibility and overall health.
Provides a comprehensive overview of stretching, including detailed instructions for over 100 stretches. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their flexibility and relieve pain.
Serves as a practical guide to accessible design in the built environment, referencing standards and good practices. While not solely focused on technology, it provides essential context for the physical accessibility that often complements or is supported by assistive technologies. It's a useful reference for designers and architects.
Provides a historical overview of how disability has shaped design in the United States. It examines the disability rights movement's influence on creating more accessible products and environments. It offers valuable historical and social context for the development of assistive technology.
Explores the strengths of people with dyslexia. It argues that dyslexia can be an advantage in certain areas, such as creativity and problem-solving.
Provides a comprehensive overview of yoga for flexibility, including detailed instructions for over 50 yoga poses. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to improve their flexibility and posture.
Offers a unique historical perspective on assistive technology by exploring its origins in ancient times. It examines the use of prosthetics and other AT in Ancient Greece and Rome, providing valuable context for the long history of designing for disability. It's a fascinating read for those interested in the historical and cultural aspects of AT.
Challenges the traditional view of dyslexia. It argues that many children who are labeled with dyslexia do not actually have the disorder.
Provides a guide for parents of children with dyslexia. It offers advice on how to help your child overcome the challenges of dyslexia and succeed in school.
Provides a guide for families of children with dyslexia. It offers information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for dyslexia.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/career/oox5sq/physical
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