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National Physical Therapy Month
“My daughter tells me that her knee hurts when she plays volleyball.”
“My son has Down’s syndrome.”
“My daughter was born prematurely and is currently in the NICU.”
“My daughter tore her ACL while playing soccer.”
“My son burned his arm and has a wound that still won’t heal.”
“My daughter has cerebral palsy, and we also need help with finding a wheelchair.”
“My son suffered a concussion and is having problems with his balance.”
What do all of these statements have in common? Each of these kids would benefit from physical
therapy!
What is physical therapy?
Physical therapy plays an integral role in treating your child/adolescent whether they get an injury playing
their sport, they burn themselves, or born with a developmental delay. You and your child can expect to
have an individualized evaluation to assess their needs and create goals together to achieve success in
physical therapy. Physical therapy treatments consist of exercises to promote improved functional
movement to get them back to sport or play; manual (or hands-on) therapy; assist with ordering
equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers or adaptive devices; patient and family education, and
communication on how we collaborate as a team with your doctor. Many of our patients struggle with
ongoing pain and physical therapy is a great conservative treatment to avoid overuse of pain medications,
we invite you to talk with your doctor and #choosePT.
How are physical therapists trained to see such a wide range of patients with varying needs?
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What kind of training does a physical therapist receive?
o Becoming a physical therapist takes graduate level education. Prospective PTs first earn
their bachelor’s degree in a self-selected area while completing prerequisite courses in
the various sciences, psychology, and math. They then go on to attend PT school and
earn their DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy). DPT programs vary in length from 2 ½ - 3
years of year round education. By the time a PT starts his or her career, he or she will
have roughly 7 years of collegiate education behind them. Physical therapists must also
pass a national board exam. In the past, a PT degree has been a bachelor’s and then a
master’s degree, but the scope of practice has grown tremendously necessitating the
move to a doctoral level of education.

What about physical therapy assistants (PTAs)?
o Physical therapy assistants work closely with physical therapists to implement treatments
and plans of care. PTAs must earn an associate’s degree and also pass a national board
exam.

Where do PTs and PTAs work?
o You’ll find physical therapists and assistants in a variety of locations. The most common
include outpatient clinics, hospitals, and rehab facilities, but you’ll also find us in home
health, schools, nursing homes, working closely with professional and collegiate sports
teams, and even in places like the emergency department. Physical therapists are also
active in research.

Can physical therapists specialize in one area?
o Physical therapists can attain board certified specialization in various areas. These
include cardiovascular and pulmonary, clinical electrophysiology, geriatrics, neurology,
oncology, orthopaedics, pediatrics, sports medicine, and women’s health. Achieving
board certified specialization requires passing a thorough written examination and either
the completion of a yearlong residency or proof of at least 2,000 hours of patient care in
the chosen field, among other things.

What about additional training?
o To maintain their licensure, PTs and PTAs must complete continuing education. Physical
therapists may also choose to pursue advanced training in areas such as manual
therapy, treatment of certain conditions or certain body parts, performing specialized
examinations, working with athletes from a particular sport, and staying up to date with
the best ways to manage pain.
Our physical therapists at Cook Children’s are Doctor and
Master degreed Board Certified Therapists as well as
several are Board Certified Clinical Specialist in:
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Sports Medicine Physical Therapy
- Orthopedic Physical Therapy
- Manual Physical Therapy
- Athletic Trainer
The American Physical Therapy Association’s vision is “Transforming society by optimizing movement to
improve the human experience." Physical therapists are highly educated professionals trained to identify
problems with movement and function of the human body. We work to restore and improve normal body
motion. We educate and empower our patients and families to be active participants in their recovery
process. We also instruct on future injury prevention. We love to see our patients succeed and meet
their goals. We love to help them improve their quality of life. It’s no wonder physical therapy is
consistently ranked one of the happiest and most rewarding careers. It’s a wide and diverse profession
and truly has the ability to transform lives.
Our physical therapists at Cook Children’s are ready to help your child/adolescent achieve their
goals!!!! Check out our website on how to get an appointment:
What does Physical Therapy at Cook Children’s look like?
Cook Children’s consists of six programs within the system that treat different
populations within pediatric physical therapy.

Home Health

Inpatient Hospital

Neurodevelopmental Physical Therapy

NICU

Skilled Inpatient Rehab (TCU/RCU)

SPORTS Physical Therapy
Fun Facts about Cook Children’s Physical Therapists:

There are multiple therapists who have specialized certifications, take a look
and see

Orthopedic Certified Specialist:4 Therapists

Sports Certified Specialist:5 Therapists

Certified Manual Physical Therapist:1 Therapist

Pediatric Certified Therapist:2 Therapists

Cook Children’s is made up of a unique team of therapists with a variety of
specializations that better allows them to utilize family centered care in which
the patient, family, and therapist collaboratively work to create a plan of care
that meets individual goals for each patient.

One on one time is important in each patient’s rehab, which Cook Children’s
is able to offer during sessions.

Therapists at Cook Children’s display passion with patients and their families
to provide the best care possible while making sessions enjoyable!
#choosePT
You may have recently read Dr. Artee Gandhi’s blog on the opioid epidemic and its effect on our kids.
http://www.checkupnewsroom.com/opioid-epidemic-how-painkillers-are-killing-our-kids/
This year, the American Physical Therapy Association is also targeting this growing problem in our
country with their #choosePT campaign. Check out their website for more information and resources.
http://www.moveforwardpt.com/choose-physical-therapy-over-opioids-for-pain-management-choosept
Add information about our locations and how to refer: link to our websites