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Physical Therapy |
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The physical therapist
is a member of the health-care team whose primary responsibility is to
test, evaluate and treat patients with acute or prolonged movement
dysfunction. Treatments are planned and implemented to restore normal
health and function to the body. This is done through patient and family
education, a planned program of exercise and the use of a variety of
physical agents such as heat, cold, light, water or electricity. Physical
therapy specialization with certification in areas such as pediatrics,
orthopedics, sports medicine and geriatrics has become common and
desirable. Physical therapists are licensed or registered by the state in
which they practice. Accreditation of education programs is by the American
Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Of the 114 U.S. educational
institutions offering accredited baccalaureate or Master's degree level
programs in physical therapy, seven are masters programs located in Texas.
Nationally, most schools have changed to Master's level programs in
compliance with the 1979 recommendation by the APTA. College or university
students planning on careers in physical therapy should be aware that
transfer to a professional program is not automatic. Competition is keen
among applicants and most schools prefer those who have a proven interest
in the field. This may be demonstrated by having worked as a volunteer or
paid physical therapy aide. The schools in Texas
which offer degree programs in physical therapy are: Hardin-Simmons University Director of Physical Therapy 2200 Hickory Box 16065 Abilene, TX 79698-6065 Phone: 1-888- 820-0218 toll free Southwest Texas State University Physical Therapy Program School of Allied Health Sciences 601 University Drive San Marcos, TX 78666 Phone: (512) 245-3400
School of Allied Health Texas Tech University H.S.C. Department of Physical Therapy Room 2 B/C 194 3601-4th Street, STOP 6294 Lubbock, TX 79430 Phone: (806) 743-3220 Texas Woman's University - Denton School of Physical Therapy P. O. Box 425766 Denton, TX 76204-5766 Phone: (940) 898-2460
Texas Women's University - Houston School of Physical Therapy 1130 John Freeman Avenue Houston, TX 77030-2897 Phone: (713) 794-2068 University of Texas Health Science Center School of Allied Health Sciences Department of Physical Therapy 7703 Floyd Curl Drive San Antonio, TX 78284-6243 Phone: (210) 567-8800
University of Texas Medical Branch * School of Allied Health Sciences Department of Physical Therapy 3.1042 301 University Boulevard Galveston, TX 77555-1028 Phone: (409) 772-3068 * Galveston also administers a P.T. program at El Paso. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Allied Health Sciences Department of Physical Therapy 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard Dallas, TX 75235 Phone: (214) 648-1700 U.S. Army Medical Department Baylor Program in Physical Therapy Medicine and Surgery Division Academy of Health Sciences Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234 Phone: (210) 826-3044 http://www.baylor.edu/~Graduate_School
Texas Woman's University - Dallas School of Physical Therapy 8194 Walnut Hill Lane Dallas, TX 75231-4365 Phone: (214)
706-2300 Requirements of
admission in these programs vary widely and information should be obtained
from the individual schools and Dr. M. E. Warren, Hayes Biology, Room 101. The professional
organization to which the more than 47,000 physical therapists belong is
the APTA. This organization publishes a brochure describing the physical
therapy profession together with a listing of all APTA-accredited physical
therapy education programs. Request a copy of CAREERS IN PHYSICAL
THERAPY. . . A Dynamic Health Care Profession from: American Physical
Therapy Association, 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. |
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