What is a doctor of physical Therapy (DPT)?

8/30/2020

Let's first start by defining what physical therapists (PT) are and do.

Physical therapists are experts in human movement, and help injured or ill people improve or maintain mobility and manage pain. Physical therapists evaluate, diagnose, and treat individuals across the lifespan. They are an important part of preventive care, rehabilitation, and treatment for patients with injuries and chronic conditions or illnesses. PTs evaluate each person and then develop a treatment plan with goals of improving movement, reducing and/or managing pain, restoring function, and delaying or preventing disability. PTs also help folks who simply want to become healthier--move better--and prevent future problems.

The work of physical therapists varies by type of patient, and thus you'll find PTs in
hospitals, nursing homes, workplaces, outpatient clinics, people’s homes, schools, and sports and fitness facilities. You've found this blog, which is affiliated with an orthopedic outpatient physical therapy clinic.

A DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY (DPT) earns a doctoral degree, which includes training in all areas of human anatomy and physiology and musculoskeletal evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as doctoral-level research. A doctoral degree is a clinical degree focused on treating people. It differs from a PhD, where the focus is on research and generating original scholarly work. The DPT program is typically three years, following a bachelor's degree. All PTs must be licensed in the state in which they practice.

DPTs weren't always Doctors, but, because they are now a “doctoring” profession, DPTs have the ability to evaluate and treat patients via direct access, meaning without a physician referral.

25 Comments

Adam Golightly link

1/4/2021 03:34:30 pm

My uncle has been having a lot of problems with mobility in his lower legs, and ankles. Making sure that he can get some help from a professional could be really useful for them in order to be more effective. It was interesting to learn about how they can prevent future problems by working with people that have their PhD.

Kristy Brock link

1/17/2021 10:20:07 pm

I've been hugely interested in the field of physiotherapy and thinking of pursuing an education in it. I have been doing my research through https://physical-therapy-assistant.org/ through a referral and was wondering what the different terms and programs were and came across this post. This has been so helpful in laying out what I can expect, so thank you for taking the time to writing this piece.

Zachary Tomlinson link

1/18/2021 10:55:22 pm

Wow, I had no idea that having a physical therapy session can help you deal with physical pain and preventing it from getting worse. I have a friend who recently tried doing track and field. Maybe he should visit a physical therapist once in a while for movement assistance if needed.

Taylor Hicken link

3/26/2021 12:25:44 am

Thank you for sharing that physical therapy can help improve or maintain mobility, as well as managing pain. My friend just mentioned the other day that she is concerned about her husband who is dealing with movement disorders after he got into an accident a few weeks ago. I will suggest to her looking for a reliable service that can offer physical therapy for her husband.

Larry Weaver link

4/14/2021 02:01:31 pm

Thanks for explaining how physical therapists are capable of helping injured people improve their mobility. My brother recently injured himself while playing sports with friends last week. I'll share this information with him as he looks for an orthopedic physician to meet with.

Merlyn link

5/28/2021 01:33:55 am

Amazing blog! Physical therapy helps me with my back pain.

Eve Mitchell link

6/23/2021 11:27:16 am

My son was recently in a motorcycling accident where he damaged his legs from the knee down. Now that he is out of the hospital, I would love to start taking him to physical therapy to ease some of his pain. I like that you mentioned that physical therapists have to earn a clinical doctoral degree.

Beverly Minyard link

7/15/2021 07:15:22 am

I like that you said physical therapists want to help people be healthier and move better. My Grandfather is in a nursing home right now and he is still refusing to do physical therapy even though he is now wheelchair-bound and can barely open one of his hands. We have told him countless times that PTs just want to help him but he doesn't listen to them or do the exercises they give him.

Hailey Miller link

8/20/2021 03:44:14 pm

Thanks for pointing out that physical therapists are experts in helping injured or ill people improve or maintain mobility and manage pain. I have been suffering from chronic back pain since last month. I guess I should look for a physical therapy center on Monday that can help me improve my quality of life so I can focus at work.

Jesse Ford link

9/30/2021 03:07:50 pm

It's good to know that physical therapists are properly trained and educated in their practice. My leg got injured a few weeks ago while playing some soccer and I'm scheduled to start physical therapy pretty soon. I'll be sure to follow whatever the therapist says to make my recovery as quick as possible.

Vivian Black link

11/2/2021 06:25:47 am

My sister is about to visit a physical therapist for the first time. She was persuaded to do so by her father-in-law. Physical therapy seems more complicated than I previously thought. It is all encompassing through evaluating, diagnosing, and treating people all their lives. I like that they are an important part of preventative care.

Braden Bills link

11/8/2021 07:36:08 am

It's good to know that physical therapy can help out with recovering from injuries. I hurt my back in a work accident a few weeks ago, and I could definitely benefit from recovering quicker. I'll be sure to work with a qualified physical therapist to help me out with this.

Mia Evans link

11/19/2021 07:30:25 pm

Thanks for helping me understand that the work of a physical therapist would depend on the type of patient that they would have in medical facilities. With that in mind. I should look for those in an orthopedic injury rehab facility this weekend. It's to help my sister who has been sprained badly after tripping while running on a treadmill this evening.

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7/1/2022 12:42:56 am

Greaat read thank you

Joseph Mayo link

10/13/2022 02:23:30 pm

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Jessie Holloway link

10/26/2022 02:31:38 pm

thanks so much for explaining what physical therapy can do for someone with pain or a disability. My mom struggles with knee pain and she wants to do everything she can to get better. We've been looking into the benefits of physical therapy and how it can help her.

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10/27/2022 10:32:02 am

Every person has his/her own definition. In simple words, a person who provides physical therapy is known as physical therapist.

Christopher Marquez link

11/10/2022 01:59:24 am

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2/21/2023 11:42:33 am

Great article on the role and responsibilities of a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)! As a healthcare professional, it's important to understand the level of education and expertise that DPTs bring to the table. The article does a great job of outlining the extensive education and clinical training required to become a DPT, as well as the variety of settings in which they work. I appreciate the emphasis on the collaborative approach that DPTs take in treating patients, working closely with other healthcare professionals to provide the best possible care. Overall, this article provides valuable insights into the important role that DPTs play in promoting health and wellness.

Baseball Physical Therapy Miami link

2/27/2023 09:45:26 pm

Thanks a lot to you for sharing What Is A Doctor Of Physical Therapy (Dpt)?, these kinds of ideas are were much needed. I really appreciate that you have provided the data too, really appreciative and useful blog for us. Looking for more!!

Healthster link

4/27/2023 03:27:33 am

Thank you for this article. It was very useful. I appreciate the research and effort you put into this post. It shows.

Adam link

5/22/2023 06:11:35 am

Nice Blog!! The content you have shared is very elaborative and informative.

Eli Richardson link

5/29/2023 11:51:09 am

It's helpful to learn the differences between a physical therapist and a doctor of physical therapy. My mom got into a car accident a few days ago, and we're currently looking for a professional that evaluates her injuries. I believe your tips will help us find the right specialist for my mom's injury recovery.

Victoria Addington link

7/17/2023 10:34:04 am

I was captured when you discussed that physical therapy involves decreasing and/or managing pain. My friend has been complaining about his back pain. I should advise him see a physical therapist for proper treatment.

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9/16/2023 07:59:20 pm

This post is very easy to read and understand without leaving any details out. Great work! Thanks for sharing this valuable and helpful article.

What is a doctor of physical Therapy (DPT)?

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