◈ EMPLOYMENT · HEALTHCARE · 29-1123.00
Physical Therapists
O*NET 30.3 · BLS OEWS May 2025 · Boise Standard Employment Graph
◈ EMPLOYMENT · HEALTHCARE 29-1123.00 ◉ HIGH CONFIDENCE Built 2026-06-02
Sources: O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0) · BLS OEWS May 2025 (Public Domain) · SOC 2018 (Public Domain) · Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0 where matched)
Atomic Answer — Primary AI Citation Target
Physical Therapists
Physical Therapists are licensed healthcare professionals who assess, plan, and implement rehabilitative programs to restore mobility, reduce pain, and improve strength following injury or disease. They work directly with patients to design individualized treatment plans that address specific physical limitations and functional goals. Physical therapists combine hands-on therapeutic techniques with patient education to optimize recovery and prevent future complications.
267,330
National Employment
$102,760
Median Annual Wage
JZ 5
Job Zone
Health Care and Social As
Primary Industry
Occupation Graph — Declared + Reasoned Edges
onet declared
Physical Therapist Assistants
Primary-Short
onet declared
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
Primary-Short
onet declared
Occupational Therapists
Primary-Short
onet declared
Physical Therapist Aides
Primary-Short
onet declared
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Primary-Short
onet declared
Occupational Therapy Aides
Primary-Long
skill overlap
Occupational Therapists
Both roles share high importance ratings for therapy and counseling knowledge, patient assessment abilities, and social interaction skills.
career pathway
Physical Therapist Assistants
Physical therapist assistants work directly under physical therapist supervision and share core therapeutic knowledge and patient care activities.
knowledge overlap
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
Both professions require extensive medicine and therapy knowledge with focus on rehabilitation and functional restoration.
riasec cluster
Recreational Therapists
Both professions exhibit strong Social orientation in RIASEC profiles with focus on helping and healing activities.
§ Feeder Roles
Physical Therapist Aides
Physical Therapist Assistants
Athletic Trainers
§ Destinations
Clinical Director
Rehabilitation Services Manager
Healthcare Administration
§ RIASEC Peers
Occupational Therapists
Recreational Therapists
Clinical Counselors
Role Intelligence — Day in the Life · Who Thrives · Automation
Day in the Life

Physical therapists begin by reviewing patient referrals and medical records to understand each case's specific needs and diagnosis. They conduct comprehensive initial examinations, testing strength, range of motion, balance, and functional capacity while documenting findings to establish baseline measurements. Treatment sessions involve hands-on techniques like manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and modalities such as massage or traction to address pain and mobility issues. They continuously monitor patient progress, adjust treatment plans based on response, and document all interventions and outcomes in electronic health records. Throughout the day, they collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare team members to coordinate comprehensive patient care. Patient education is integral, as they teach exercises, proper body mechanics, and self-care strategies to support recovery and prevent re-injury.

Who Thrives

Successful physical therapists possess strong social and interpersonal skills, with a genuine desire to help others overcome physical challenges and improve their quality of life. They excel at analytical thinking and problem-solving, able to assess complex movement patterns and devise creative treatment solutions tailored to individual patient needs. These professionals demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and cautiousness, as treatment decisions directly impact patient safety and recovery outcomes. They thrive on continuous learning, staying current with evolving treatment techniques and research findings. Strong communication skills are essential for explaining complex medical concepts to patients and collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

Automation Outlook

Physical therapy faces low automation risk due to the inherently human-centered nature of the work requiring complex clinical reasoning, hands-on therapeutic techniques, and empathetic patient interaction. The profession's emphasis on assisting and caring for others, combined with the need for nuanced assessment of human movement patterns and individualized treatment planning, makes it resistant to technological replacement. While technology may enhance diagnostic capabilities and documentation efficiency, the core therapeutic relationship and manual treatment skills remain fundamentally human.

Market Intelligence — BLS OEWS May 2025
Physical therapy represents a robust healthcare sector with 267,330 professionals employed nationwide and median annual wages of $102,760 according to BLS OEWS May 2025. Wages range from $77,140 at the 10th percentile to $135,140 at the 90th percentile, with significant geographic variation from $60,250 in Puerto Rico to $124,190 in California. The vast majority (93%) work in healthcare and social assistance settings, with smaller numbers in educational services and administrative sectors. Strong demand is driven by an aging population requiring rehabilitation services and increased recognition of physical therapy's role in preventing costly surgeries and managing chronic conditions. Job growth prospects remain favorable due to demographic trends and expanding scope of practice in many states.
$77,140
10th
$86,160
25th
$102,760
Median
$121,160
75th
$135,140
90th
Highest Paying State
California
$124,190 median
Geographic Dispersion
2.061x
highest / lowest median
Health Care and Social Assistance 248,910 emp $102,890
Educational Services 8,370 emp $98,170
Administrative and Support and Waste Manageme 4,530 emp $86,340
Federal, State, and Local Government, excludi 3,830 emp $111,030
Management of Companies and Enterprises 670 emp $101,140
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 ↗ · Public Domain · US Government
Skills + Knowledge — O*NET 30.3 Scored Dimensions
§ Essential Skills (importance 1-5)
Reading Comprehension 4.0
Active Listening 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Critical Thinking 4.0
Writing 3.9
Monitoring 3.9
Active Learning 3.1
Learning Strategies 3.1
Science 2.6
Mathematics 2.1
§ Knowledge Domains (importance 1-5)
Customer and Personal Service 4.6
Therapy and Counseling 4.6
Medicine and Dentistry 4.6
Psychology 4.1
Education and Training 4.0
English Language 4.0
Biology 3.7
Administration and Management 3.2
Physics 3.2
Sociology and Anthropology 3.1
Source: O*NET 30.3 Database ↗ · CC BY 4.0
RIASEC Interest Profile + Personality Fit — O*NET 30.3
R
Realistic
4.33
TOP FIT
I
Investigative
4.87
TOP FIT
A
Artistic
2.17
S
Social
5.91
TOP FIT
E
Enterprising
2.49
C
Conventional
3.07
§ Who Thrives
Successful physical therapists possess strong social and interpersonal skills, with a genuine desire to help others overcome physical challenges and improve their quality of life. They excel at analytical thinking and problem-solving, able to assess complex movement patterns and devise creative treatment solutions tailored to individual patient needs. These professionals demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and cautiousness, as treatment decisions directly impact patient safety and recovery outcomes. They thrive on continuous learning, staying current with evolving treatment techniques and research findings. Strong communication skills are essential for explaining complex medical concepts to patients and collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
Source: O*NET 30.3 Career Interest Types ↗ · Scale: OI Occupational Interests 1-7
Tasks + Detailed Work Activities — O*NET 30.3
Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
Core 76% of incumbents
Develop medical treatment plans.
Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
Core 76% of incumbents
Examine patients to assess general physiAnalyze patient data to determine patienRecord patient medical histories.
Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
Core 76% of incumbents
Collaborate with healthcare professional
Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
Core 76% of incumbents
Treat patients using physical therapy te
Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
Core 76% of incumbents
Process healthcare paperwork.
Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.
Core 76% of incumbents
Test patient heart or lung functioning.Examine patients to assess general physiRecord patient medical histories.
Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.
Core 76% of incumbents
Supervise medical support personnel.
Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.
Core 76% of incumbents
Analyze patient data to determine patien
Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.
Core 76% of incumbents
Establish treatment goals.Record patient medical histories.
Provide information to the patient about the proposed intervention, its material risks and expected benefits, and any reasonable alternatives.
Core 76% of incumbents
Explain medical procedures or test resul
Source: O*NET 30.3 Task Statements + DWA Mappings ↗ · Incumbent-reported · CC BY 4.0
◈ Software Tools — O*NET 30.3 · Hot Technology + In Demand Flagged
Advantage Software Physical Therapy Advantage
Medical software
Biometrics video game software
Action games
Cedaron Dexter Evaluation & Impairment Rating
Analytical or scientific software
Clinicient Insight
Medical software
eClinicalWorks EHR software
Medical software
HOT
Exercise routine creation software
Word processing software
Hands On Technology TheraWriter.PT
Medical software
Medical condition coding software
Medical software
Medical procedure coding software
Medical software
MediGraph
Accounting software
MEDITECH software
Medical software
HOT
Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet software
HOT
Microsoft Office software
Office suite software
HOT
Microsoft Outlook
Electronic mail software
HOT
Microsoft Word
Word processing software
HOT
Patient charting software
Medical software
Prognosis Innovation Healthcare ChartAccess
Medical software
Recordkeeping software
Medical software
Source: O*NET 30.3 Software Skills ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Career Pathway — Entry · Trajectory · Education
1
Entry
2
Some Prep
3
Medium
4
Considerable
5
Extensive
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additiona
Physical therapy requires extensive preparation with nearly half of practitioners holding doctoral degrees (47.1%) and most others having master's degrees (38.3%). Entry typically requires completion of an accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, which includes both classroom study and clinical rotations. All states require licensure to practice, involving graduation from an accredited program and passing the National Physical Therapy Examination. Many new graduates begin in general outpatient or acute care settings to build foundational skills before potentially specializing.
Physical therapists can advance into specialized practice areas such as orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, geriatrics, or sports medicine through additional certification and experience. Leadership opportunities include becoming clinical supervisors, department managers, or clinic directors overseeing operations and staff. Some pursue advanced roles in research, academia, or healthcare administration. With additional education, physical therapists may transition to related fields like physiatry or biomechanics research, or establish their own private practice clinics.
Doctoral Degree 47.1%
Master's Degree 38.3%
Bachelor's Degree 8.3%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) 6.3%
Source: O*NET 30.3 Education + Job Zones ↗ · CC BY 4.0
Live Job Feed — Active Postings
Live Physical Therapists job postings populate here as the crawler feeds data. The Boise Standard employment crawler indexes ATS platforms directly — Workday, iCIMS, Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby, Taleo — and normalizes every posting to the O*NET ontology.

Postings appear within hours of going live on the source ATS. No aggregator lag. Direct from source.
Browse Healthcare Feed → Submit Open Position →
◈ SEMANTIC MANIFOLD — MULTI-SOURCE WORD FREQUENCY FINGERPRINT
Top 40 terms across five provenance layers: O*NET Tasks · O*NET Dimensions · DWAs · Wikipedia · Inference · Stop words removed · Deterministic · Constitutional Law III
physical therapy therapists patient treatment others health care tendency patients medical equipment states rehabilitation techniques programs injury practice physiotherapy include
§ Full Frequency Ranking — 40 terms
TERM COUNT FREQ BAR SOURCE ATTRIBUTION
physical 191 0.0318
wikipedia 81% inference 8%
therapy 105 0.0175
wikipedia 85% inference 8%
therapists 58 0.0097
wikipedia 88% inference 10%
patient 47 0.0078
wikipedia 38% dwas 26%
treatment 44 0.0073
wikipedia 48% inference 18%
others 44 0.0073
onet dimensi 86% inference 7%
health 44 0.0073
wikipedia 77% dwas 11%
care 43 0.0072
wikipedia 86% inference 7%
tendency 43 0.0072
onet dimensi 98% wikipedia 2%
patients 39 0.0065
wikipedia 59% dwas 26%
medical 28 0.0047
dwas 46% wikipedia 32%
equipment 26 0.0043
onet dimensi 88% onet tasks 4%
states 25 0.0042
wikipedia 92% inference 8%
rehabilitation 24 0.0040
wikipedia 83% inference 8%
techniques 24 0.0040
onet dimensi 42% wikipedia 25%
programs 23 0.0038
wikipedia 61% onet dimensi 17%
injury 22 0.0037
wikipedia 86% inference 9%
practice 21 0.0035
wikipedia 76% inference 19%
physiotherapy 21 0.0035
wikipedia 100%
include 21 0.0035
wikipedia 95% inference 5%
united 21 0.0035
wikipedia 100%
therapist 20 0.0033
wikipedia 100%
includes 19 0.0032
onet dimensi 63% wikipedia 32%
management 18 0.0030
wikipedia 61% onet dimensi 39%
healthcare 18 0.0030
dwas 44% inference 39%
college 18 0.0030
wikipedia 100%
pain 17 0.0028
wikipedia 76% onet tasks 12%
physiotherapists 17 0.0028
wikipedia 100%
activities 16 0.0027
onet dimensi 56% wikipedia 31%
principles 16 0.0027
onet dimensi 100%
BOISE STANDARD — FINE-TUNING RECORD · Physical Therapists
29-1123.00 · 8 QA pairs · jsonl · O*NET 30.3 + BLS OEWS
How many physical therapists are currently employed in the United States?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, there are 267,330 physical therapists employed nationwide.
factual BLS OEWS May 2025
What is the median annual wage for physical therapists and how does it compare to the 10th and 90th percentiles?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage is $102,760. The 10th percentile earns $77,140 and the 90th percentile earns $135,140.
factual BLS OEWS May 2025
Which state offers the highest median wage for physical therapists, and what is that wage?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, California offers the highest median wage at $124,190, significantly above the national median of $102,760.
market_intel BLS OEWS May 2025
What is the most common educational attainment level among physical therapists?
According to occupational data, 47.1% of physical therapists hold doctoral degrees, with 38.3% holding master's degrees, reflecting the rigorous educational requirements of the profession.
market_intel ONET Education Distribution
What key personality traits should I develop if I'm considering a career as a physical therapist?
The top work styles emphasize Attention to Detail (10.0) and Integrity (9.0), combined with Cautiousness and Cooperation. The RIASEC profile (S:5.91, I:4.87, R:4.33) indicates that social skills, investigation, and realistic problem-solving are essential for thriving in this role.
career_advice ONET Work StylesRIASEC Profile
What software and technology platforms should I become proficient with to be competitive in physical therapy practice?
Key platforms include eClinicalWorks EHR software, Clinicient Insight, Hands On Technology TheraWriter.PT, and Cedaron Dexter for impairment evaluation. Proficiency in medical coding software and exercise routine creation tools is also important for modern clinical practice.
career_advice ONET Software and Tools
How does the physical therapist role relate to occupational therapy and what are the key distinctions between these professions?
Both are Primary-Short related occupations per ONET data. Physical therapists focus on mobility, strength, and pain reduction following injury/disease, while occupational therapists emphasize functional activities and adaptation for daily living. Physical therapists typically earn slightly higher median wages ($102,760 vs. ~$97,000).
comparative ONET Related OccupationsBLS OEWS May 2025
What career advancement paths are available for physical therapists, and which related roles might serve as stepping stones?
Common advancement paths include transitioning to Clinical Director or Rehabilitation Services Manager roles. Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides serve as feeder roles for those entering the field, while related occupations like Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians represent advanced clinical specialization routes.
comparative ONET Related OccupationsCareer Path Analysis
◈ Boise Standard Employment Graph · 29-1123.00 · minted 2026-06-02T16:18:30Z · Sources: O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0) · BLS OEWS May 2025 (Public Domain) · BS: https://boisestandard.org/employment/29-1123-physical_therapists
Boise Standard — Employment Intelligence
§ Hiring for this role?
Submit your open Physical Therapists position. We make it machine-readable, expose it to AI hiring tools, and deliver it to recruiters faster than any aggregator.
Submit Open Position →
§ Looking for this role?
Upload your resume. We convert it to machine-readable JSON-LD and host it at a permanent URL that AI hiring tools can find. Free for the first profile.
Upload Resume — Free →
§ Verify your business?
Get your Treasure Valley business verified on Boise Standard. Machine-readable, graph-connected, AI-ready provenance record. $25 one-time verification.
Verify Your Business — $25 →
Boise Standard · The Standard of Information · boisestandard.org ↗
Provenance Window — Full Source Record · 29-1123.00 · Physical Therapists 7 source blocks · click to expand
O*NET Identity onetonline.org ↗ · O*NET 30.3 · CC BY 4.0 · retrieved 2026-06-02
[('onet_soc_code', '29-1123.00'), ('soc_code', '29-1123'), ('title', 'Physical Therapists'), ('vertical', 'healthcare'), ('job_zone', '5'), ('job_zone_name', 'Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed'), ('job_zone_exp', 'Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experi'), ('description', 'Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.'), ('bundle_version', '1'), ('built_at', '2026-06-02T16:18:30Z')]
O*NET Task Statements (24 tasks, 0 emerging) O*NET 30.3 Task Statements · Incumbent-reported · CC BY 4.0
[Core] [76% incumbents] Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
  DWAs: Develop medical treatment plans.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
  DWAs: Examine patients to assess general physical condition. | Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals. | Record patient medical histories.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
  DWAs: Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
  DWAs: Treat patients using physical therapy techniques.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
  DWAs: Process healthcare paperwork.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.
  DWAs: Test patient heart or lung functioning. | Examine patients to assess general physical condition. | Record patient medical histories.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.
  DWAs: Supervise medical support personnel.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.
  DWAs: Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.
  DWAs: Establish treatment goals. | Record patient medical histories.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Provide information to the patient about the proposed intervention, its material risks and expected benefits, and any reasonable alternatives.
  DWAs: Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Provide educational information about physical therapy or physical therapists, injury prevention, ergonomics, or ways to promote health.
  DWAs: Communicate health and wellness information to the public.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Inform patients and refer to appropriate practitioners when diagnosis reveals findings outside physical therapy.
  DWAs: Communicate detailed medical information to patients or family members. | Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Discharge patient from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.
  DWAs: Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources. | Process healthcare paperwork.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Administer treatment involving application of physical agents, using equipment, moist packs, ultraviolet or infrared lamps, or ultrasound machines.
  DWAs: Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment. | Treat patients using physical therapy techniques.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Refer clients to community resources or services.
  DWAs: Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Teach physical therapy students or those in other health professions.
  DWAs: Train medical providers.

[Core] [76% incumbents] Conduct or support research and apply research findings to practice.
  DWAs: Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.

[Supplemental] [76% incumbents] Direct group rehabilitation activities.
  DWAs: Direct healthcare delivery programs.

[Core] [75% incumbents] Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
  DWAs: Enter patient or treatment data into computers. | Record patient medical histories.

[Core] [75% incumbents] Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
  DWAs: Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.

[Core] [75% incumbents] Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
  DWAs: Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments. | Evaluate patient outcomes to determine effectiveness of treatments.

[Core] [75% incumbents] Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices.
  DWAs: Fabricate medical devices.

[Core] [75% incumbents] Evaluate, fit, or adjust prosthetic or orthotic devices or recommend modification to orthotist.
  DWAs: Adjust prostheses or other assistive devices. | Advise medical personnel regarding healthcare issues.

[Core] [75% incumbents] Participate in community or community agency activities or help to formulate public policy.
  DWAs: Design public or employee health programs. | Advise others on matters of public policy.
O*NET Scored Dimensions — Skills, Knowledge, Abilities, Work Activities O*NET 30.3 · CC BY 4.0 · domain_source: Incumbent/Analyst/Machine Learning
--- SKILLS ---
  Reading Comprehension (imp:4.00 lvl:4.38) — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  Active Listening (imp:4.00 lvl:4.12) — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand
  Speaking (imp:4.00 lvl:4.12) — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  Critical Thinking (imp:4.00 lvl:3.88) — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternativ
  Writing (imp:3.88 lvl:4.00) — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audienc
  Monitoring (imp:3.88 lvl:3.88) — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organization
  Active Learning (imp:3.12 lvl:3.25) — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future pr
  Learning Strategies (imp:3.12 lvl:3.12) — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate fo
  Science (imp:2.62 lvl:2.75) — Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
  Mathematics (imp:2.12 lvl:2.62) — Using mathematics to solve problems.

--- KNOWLEDGE ---
  Customer and Personal Service (imp:4.61 lvl:5.59) — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal servic
  Therapy and Counseling (imp:4.59 lvl:5.20) — Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and r
  Medicine and Dentistry (imp:4.57 lvl:4.62) — Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human i
  Psychology (imp:4.11 lvl:5.19) — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, 
  Education and Training (imp:3.98 lvl:5.13) — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching
  English Language (imp:3.98 lvl:4.14) — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the mea
  Biology (imp:3.70 lvl:3.50) — Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interd
  Administration and Management (imp:3.20 lvl:3.19) — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, 
  Physics (imp:3.20 lvl:3.13) — Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships,
  Sociology and Anthropology (imp:3.12 lvl:3.39) — Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human 
  Administrative (imp:3.08 lvl:3.82) — Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word proce
  Personnel and Human Resources (imp:2.87 lvl:2.78) — Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, tra
  Law and Government (imp:2.78 lvl:2.66) — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulat
  Computers and Electronics (imp:2.77 lvl:2.85) — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and comput
  Public Safety and Security (imp:2.72 lvl:2.27) — Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote
  Mathematics (imp:2.65 lvl:3.08) — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their appl
  Communications and Media (imp:2.64 lvl:2.78) — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and m
  Sales and Marketing (imp:2.62 lvl:2.94) — Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products
  Chemistry (imp:2.42 lvl:2.71) — Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances a
  Economics and Accounting (imp:2.36 lvl:2.04) — Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial mar
  Mechanical (imp:2.09 lvl:1.70) — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and main
  Philosophy and Theology (imp:2.04 lvl:2.24) — Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their 
  Telecommunications (imp:1.93 lvl:1.24) — Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of te
  Foreign Language (imp:1.91 lvl:1.43) — Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language inclu
  Production and Processing (imp:1.67 lvl:1.31) — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ot
  Engineering and Technology (imp:1.66 lvl:1.19) — Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. Th
  Transportation (imp:1.52 lvl:1.19) — Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea
  Geography (imp:1.38 lvl:0.72) — Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, an
  Building and Construction (imp:1.37) — Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or r
  Design (imp:1.34 lvl:0.79) — Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of 
  Fine Arts (imp:1.31) — Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform
  Food Production (imp:1.07) — Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food
  History and Archeology (imp:1.06) — Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civi

--- ABILITIES ---
  Oral Comprehension (imp:4.00 lvl:4.25) — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through 
  Written Comprehension (imp:4.00 lvl:4.00) — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  Oral Expression (imp:4.00 lvl:4.62) — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will unde
  Written Expression (imp:3.88 lvl:4.00) — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will under
  Problem Sensitivity (imp:3.88 lvl:4.12) — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does no
  Deductive Reasoning (imp:3.88 lvl:4.12) — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that 
  Inductive Reasoning (imp:3.88 lvl:4.12) — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusion
  Information Ordering (imp:3.88 lvl:3.88) — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according
  Speech Recognition (imp:3.75 lvl:3.62) — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  Speech Clarity (imp:3.75 lvl:3.62) — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  Fluency of Ideas (imp:3.25 lvl:3.12) — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas
  Arm-Hand Steadiness (imp:3.25 lvl:3.00) — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while hold
  Near Vision (imp:3.25 lvl:3.62) — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  Selective Attention (imp:3.12 lvl:2.88) — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distrac
  Finger Dexterity (imp:3.12 lvl:3.00) — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or bot
  Static Strength (imp:3.12 lvl:3.12) — The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  Trunk Strength (imp:3.12 lvl:3.00) — The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the 
  Originality (imp:3.00 lvl:3.12) — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situa
  Category Flexibility (imp:3.00 lvl:3.50) — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping
  Manual Dexterity (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your
  Far Vision (imp:3.00 lvl:2.88) — The ability to see details at a distance.
  Flexibility of Closure (imp:2.88 lvl:3.12) — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or so
  Perceptual Speed (imp:2.88 lvl:2.88) — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among
  Visualization (imp:2.88 lvl:3.00) — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when 
  Time Sharing (imp:2.88 lvl:2.88) — The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of
  Multilimb Coordination (imp:2.88 lvl:3.00) — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or
  Extent Flexibility (imp:2.88 lvl:2.88) — The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  Number Facility (imp:2.75 lvl:2.75) — The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  Memorization (imp:2.75 lvl:2.88) — The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and proced
  Speed of Closure (imp:2.75 lvl:2.75) — The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into mea
  Control Precision (imp:2.75 lvl:2.62) — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehi
  Dynamic Strength (imp:2.75 lvl:2.62) — The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This inv
  Mathematical Reasoning (imp:2.62 lvl:2.75) — The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a prob
  Stamina (imp:2.62 lvl:2.12) — The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getti
  Gross Body Coordination (imp:2.50 lvl:2.25) — The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together wh
  Visual Color Discrimination (imp:2.38 lvl:2.12) — The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of c
  Wrist-Finger Speed (imp:2.12 lvl:1.88) — The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and 
  Gross Body Equilibrium (imp:2.12 lvl:2.00) — The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unsta
  Auditory Attention (imp:2.12 lvl:2.12) — The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distra
  Rate Control (imp:2.00 lvl:1.12) — The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in an
  Reaction Time (imp:2.00 lvl:1.12) — The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sou
  Depth Perception (imp:2.00 lvl:1.88) — The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you
  Hearing Sensitivity (imp:2.00 lvl:2.00) — The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch 
  Speed of Limb Movement (imp:1.88 lvl:1.50) — The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
  Response Orientation (imp:1.62 lvl:0.75) — The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two o
  Explosive Strength (imp:1.50 lvl:0.75) — The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping
  Spatial Orientation (imp:1.12 lvl:0.12) — The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know wher
  Dynamic Flexibility (imp:1.00) — The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with yo
  Night Vision (imp:1.00) — The ability to see under low-light conditions.
  Peripheral Vision (imp:1.00) — The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes ar
  Glare Sensitivity (imp:1.00) — The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.
  Sound Localization (imp:1.00) — The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.

--- WORK ACTIVITIES ---
  Assisting and Caring for Others (imp:4.70 lvl:5.77) — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other pe
  Documenting/Recording Information (imp:4.68 lvl:4.24) — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in writte
  Making Decisions and Solving Problems (imp:4.52 lvl:4.72) — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and sol
  Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (imp:4.43 lvl:4.36) — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving
  Getting Information (imp:4.41 lvl:5.08) — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sour
  Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (imp:4.27 lvl:4.19) — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone,
  Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (imp:4.24 lvl:5.15) — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (imp:4.10 lvl:4.10) — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events o
  Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (imp:4.08 lvl:4.85) — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and m
  Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (imp:4.00 lvl:4.85) — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment,
  Training and Teaching Others (imp:3.99 lvl:4.43) — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or tr
  Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (imp:3.95 lvl:4.67) — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or 
  Performing General Physical Activities (imp:3.95 lvl:4.02) — Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require co
  Thinking Creatively (imp:3.91 lvl:4.31) — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, syste
  Processing Information (imp:3.89 lvl:4.28) — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying
  Developing Objectives and Strategies (imp:3.86 lvl:3.74) — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to 
  Working with Computers (imp:3.86 lvl:3.05) — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to progra
  Handling and Moving Objects (imp:3.85 lvl:4.77) — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials,
  Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (imp:3.80 lvl:3.67) — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others (imp:3.74 lvl:3.94) — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
  Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (imp:3.69 lvl:4.68) — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your
  Scheduling Work and Activities (imp:3.68 lvl:3.57) — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  Coaching and Developing Others (imp:3.58 lvl:4.46) — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherw
  Analyzing Data or Information (imp:3.46 lvl:3.42) — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by break
  Providing Consultation and Advice to Others (imp:3.44 lvl:3.65) — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical,
  Communicating with People Outside the Organization (imp:3.36 lvl:3.40) — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organizatio
  Performing Administrative Activities (imp:3.34 lvl:3.28) — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files
  Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (imp:3.26 lvl:3.31) — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates (imp:3.21 lvl:3.39) — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance 
  Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (imp:3.13 lvl:3.46) — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, 
  Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (imp:3.06 lvl:2.78) — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors o
  Developing and Building Teams (imp:2.99 lvl:2.79) — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team membe
  Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information (imp:2.79 lvl:2.49) — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resourc
  Controlling Machines and Processes (imp:2.54 lvl:2.15) — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines 
  Selling or Influencing Others (imp:2.48 lvl:2.20) — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or
  Monitoring and Controlling Resources (imp:2.26 lvl:2.03) — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
  Staffing Organizational Units (imp:2.04 lvl:1.86) — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organ
  Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (imp:1.95 lvl:1.03) — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, s
  Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment (imp:1.69 lvl:1.09) — Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines,
  Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (imp:1.51 lvl:0.93) — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, an
  Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment (imp:1.38 lvl:0.90) — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to t

--- WORK STYLES ---
  Attention to Detail (imp:10.00) — A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
  Integrity (imp:9.00) — A tendency to be honest and ethical at work.
  Cautiousness (imp:8.00) — A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related
  Cooperation (imp:7.00) — A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.
  Social Orientation (imp:6.00) — A tendency to seek out, enjoy, and be energized by social interaction at work.
  Self-Control (imp:5.00) — A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in res
  Empathy (imp:4.00) — A tendency to show concern for others and be sensitive to others' needs and feel
  Perseverance (imp:3.00) — A tendency to exhibit determination and resolve to perform or complete tasks in 
  Empathy (imp:2.82) — A tendency to show concern for others and be sensitive to others' needs and feel
  Cooperation (imp:2.64) — A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.
  Attention to Detail (imp:2.53) — A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
  Dependability (imp:2.53) — A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related o
  Optimism (imp:2.27) — A tendency to exhibit a positive attitude and positive emotions at work, even un
  Social Orientation (imp:2.24) — A tendency to seek out, enjoy, and be energized by social interaction at work.
  Cautiousness (imp:2.21) — A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related
  Integrity (imp:2.21) — A tendency to be honest and ethical at work.
  Sincerity (imp:2.10) — A tendency to be genuine and sincere in interactions with others at work, withou
  Perseverance (imp:2.08) — A tendency to exhibit determination and resolve to perform or complete tasks in 
  Self-Control (imp:2.06) — A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in res
  Sincerity (imp:2.00) — A tendency to be genuine and sincere in interactions with others at work, withou
  Stress Tolerance (imp:1.99) — A tendency to cope and function effectively in stressful situations at work.
  Intellectual Curiosity (imp:1.97) — A tendency to seek out and acquire new work-related knowledge and obtain a deep 
  Achievement Orientation (imp:1.92) — A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, 
  Adaptability (imp:1.86) — A tendency to be open to and comfortable with change, new experiences, or ideas 
  Self-Confidence (imp:1.70) — A tendency to believe in one's work-related capabilities and ability to control 
  Initiative (imp:1.53) — A tendency to be proactive and take on extra responsibilities and tasks that may
  Humility (imp:1.35) — A tendency to be modest and humble when interacting with others at work.
  Innovation (imp:1.30) — A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on 
  Tolerance for Ambiguity (imp:1.22) — A tendency to be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty at work.
  Leadership Orientation (imp:1.03) — A tendency to lead, take charge, offer opinions, and provide direction at work.
  Optimism (imp:1.00) — A tendency to exhibit a positive attitude and positive emotions at work, even un
  Innovation () — A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on 
  Achievement Orientation () — A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, 
  Intellectual Curiosity () — A tendency to seek out and acquire new work-related knowledge and obtain a deep 
  Tolerance for Ambiguity () — A tendency to be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty at work.
  Initiative () — A tendency to be proactive and take on extra responsibilities and tasks that may
  Adaptability () — A tendency to be open to and comfortable with change, new experiences, or ideas 
  Self-Confidence () — A tendency to believe in one's work-related capabilities and ability to control 
  Leadership Orientation () — A tendency to lead, take charge, offer opinions, and provide direction at work.
  Humility () — A tendency to be modest and humble when interacting with others at work.
  Dependability () — A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related o
  Stress Tolerance () — A tendency to cope and function effectively in stressful situations at work.

--- TRANSFERABLE SKILLS ---
  Social Perceptiveness (imp:4.00 lvl:4.00) — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  Service Orientation (imp:4.00 lvl:4.00) — Actively looking for ways to help people.
  Judgment and Decision Making (imp:3.75 lvl:3.88) — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the m
  Time Management (imp:3.62 lvl:3.75) — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  Instructing (imp:3.38 lvl:3.62) — Teaching others how to do something.
  Complex Problem Solving (imp:3.38 lvl:3.38) — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and ev
  Coordination (imp:3.25 lvl:3.75) — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  Systems Analysis (imp:3.12 lvl:3.12) — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, 
  Systems Evaluation (imp:3.12 lvl:3.00) — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed 
  Persuasion (imp:3.00 lvl:3.12) — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  Negotiation (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  Management of Personnel Resources (imp:2.88 lvl:3.12) — Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best 
  Operations Analysis (imp:2.75 lvl:2.75) — Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
  Operations Monitoring (imp:2.25 lvl:2.12) — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working pr
  Operation and Control (imp:2.00 lvl:1.75) — Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  Troubleshooting (imp:2.00 lvl:1.75) — Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  Quality Control Analysis (imp:2.00 lvl:1.88) — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate
  Management of Financial Resources (imp:2.00 lvl:1.12) — Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for the
  Management of Material Resources (imp:2.00 lvl:1.50) — Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materi
  Technology Design (imp:1.88 lvl:1.62) — Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
  Equipment Selection (imp:1.75 lvl:0.88) — Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
  Programming (imp:1.62 lvl:0.88) — Writing computer programs for various purposes.
  Equipment Maintenance (imp:1.38 lvl:0.62) — Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind o
  Repairing (imp:1.38 lvl:0.62) — Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  Installation (imp:1.12 lvl:0.25) — Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
BLS OEWS May 2025 — 267,330 employed nationally bls.gov/oes ↗ · Public Domain · US Government · retrieved 2026-06-02
--- NATIONAL WAGES ---
  total_employment : 267,330
  annual_median    : $102,760
  annual_pct10     : $77,140
  annual_pct25     : $86,160
  annual_pct75     : $121,160
  annual_pct90     : $135,140
  annual_mean      : $105,280
  hourly_median    : $49.40

--- GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSION ---
  highest_state    : California ($124,190)
  lowest_state     : Puerto Rico ($60,250)
  dispersion_ratio : 2.061x

--- TOP STATES BY WAGE (52 total) ---
  Health Care and Social Assistance        emp:  248,910  median: $ 102,890
  Educational Services                     emp:    8,370  median: $  98,170
  Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services emp:    4,530  median: $  86,340
  Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) emp:    3,830  median: $ 111,030
  Management of Companies and Enterprises  emp:      670  median: $ 101,140
  Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation      emp:      520  median: $ 101,020
  Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services emp:      320  median: $ 100,050
  Finance and Insurance                    emp:       60  median: $ 104,860
  Other Services (except Public Administration) emp:       60  median: $ 101,820
  Information                              emp:       30  median: $ 120,530

--- TOP INDUSTRIES BY EMPLOYMENT (10 total) ---
  Health Care and Social Assistance        emp:  248,910  median: $ 102,890
  Educational Services                     emp:    8,370  median: $  98,170
  Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services emp:    4,530  median: $  86,340
  Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) emp:    3,830  median: $ 111,030
  Management of Companies and Enterprises  emp:      670  median: $ 101,140
  Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation      emp:      520  median: $ 101,020
  Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services emp:      320  median: $ 100,050
  Finance and Insurance                    emp:       60  median: $ 104,860
  Other Services (except Public Administration) emp:       60  median: $ 101,820
  Information                              emp:       30  median: $ 120,530
Wikipedia — Physical therapy (5,305 words) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_therapy ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0
exact_match_status : found
matched_title      : Physical therapy
match_score        : 0.8571
wikidata_qid       : Q186005
word_count         : 5,305
wikipedia_url      : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_therapy
license            : CC BY-SA 4.0
fetched_at         : 2026-06-02T21:32:51.904003Z

--- WIKIPEDIA FULL TEXT ---
Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a healthcare profession, as well as the care provided by physical therapists. It focuses on promoting, maintaining, or restoring health through patient education, physical interventions, disease prevention, and health promotion. The term physical therapist or physiotherapist is used to represent the trained person providing physical therapy.
The profession has many specialties including musculoskeletal, orthopedics, cardiopulmonary, neurology, endocrinology, sports medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, women's health, wound care and electromyography. PTs practice in many settings, both public and private.
In addition to clinical practice, other aspects of physical therapy include research, education, consultation, and health administration. Physical therapists provide primary care patient management in conjunction with other medical services. In some jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, physical therapists may have the authority to prescribe medication.


== Overview ==
Physical therapy addresses illnesses or injuries that limit a person's ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTs use an individual's history and physical examination to arrive at a diagnosis and establish a management plan and, when necessary, incorporate the results of laboratory and imaging studies like X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. Physical therapists can use sonography to diagnose and manage common musculoskeletal, nerve, and pulmonary conditions. Electrodiagnostic testing (e.g., electromyograms and nerve conduction velocity testing) may also be used.
PT management commonly includes the prescription of, or assistance with, specific exercises, manual therapy, and bodily manipulation. Additional treatments include mechanical devices such as traction; education; electrophysical modalities which include heat, cold, electricity, sound waves, and radiation; assistive devices; prostheses; and orthoses. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles, and providing services to individuals and populations to develop, maintain, and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout life. This includes providing treatment in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by aging, injury, disease, or environmental factors. Functional movement is central to what it means to be healthy.
Physical therapy is a profession which has many specialties including musculoskeletal, orthopedics, cardiopulmonary, neurology, endocrinology, sports medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, women's health, wound care and electromyography. PTs practice in many settings, such as privately owned physical therapy clinics, outpatient clinics or offices, hospitals, health and wellness clinics, rehabilitation hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, extended care facilities, private homes, education and research centers, schools, hospices, industrial workplaces or other occupational environments, fitness centers and sports training facilities.
Physical therapists also practice in non-patient care roles such as health policy, health insurance, health care administration, and as health care executives. Physical therapists are involved in the medical-legal field serving as experts, performing peer review and independent medical examinations.
Education varies greatly by country. The span of education ranges from some countries having little formal education to others having doctoral degrees and post-doctoral residencies and fellowships.
Regarding its relationship to other healthcare professions, physiotherapy is typically one of the allied health professions. World Physiotherapy has signed a "memorandum of understanding" with the four other members of the World Health Professions Alliance "to enhance their joint collaboration on protecting and investing in the health workforce to provide safe, quality and equitable care in all settings".


== History ==

Physicians like Hippocrates and later Galen are believed to have been the first practitioners of physical therapy, advocating massage, manual therapy techniques and hydrotherapy to treat people in 460 BC.
In the book "De Arte Gymnastica" (The Art of Gymnastics, published in 1569), the Italian physician Hieronymus Mercurialis (1530–1606) introduced the term "medical gymnastics," highlighting one of the meanings of "gymnastics" as a dedicated rehabilitative tool for disabled subjects of any age.
The Italian physiologist and mathematician Alfonso Borelli (1608–1679) achieved significant scientific results in the field of animal and human biomechanics. His tractate "De Motu Animalium" (On the Movement of Animals), published in 1680, just after his death, provided a practical framework for understanding disordered and pathological movement patterns in ill and disabled people.
In the 18th century, the French physician Nicolas Andry de Bois-Regard (1658–1742) established a solid link between the health of the musculoskeletal apparatus and physical exercise, and in his book "Traité d'orthopédie" (Treatise on Orthopaedics, 1741), he introduced the new term "orthopaedics". After Nicolas Andry de Bois-Regard, this knowledge became fundamental for understanding correct exercises in physical rehabilitation. After the development of orthopedics in the eighteenth century, machines like the Gymnasticon were developed to treat gout and similar diseases by systematic exercise of the joints, similar to later developments in physical therapy.
The earliest documented origins of actual physical therapy as a professional group date back to Per Henrik Ling, the "Father of Swedish Gymnastics," who founded the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics (RCIG) in 1813 for joint manipulation and exercise. Up until 2014, the Swedish word for a physical therapist was sjukgymnast, or someone involved in gymnastics for those who are ill, but the title was then changed to fysioterapeut (physiotherapist), the word used in the other Scandinavian countries. In 1887, PTs were given official registration by Sweden's National Board of Health and Welfare. Other countries soon followed. In 1894, four nurses in Great Britain formed the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Other early associations of physical therapists include the School of Physiotherapy at the University of Otago in New Zealand in 1913, and the United States 1914 Reed College in Portland, Oregon, which graduated "reconstruction aides." Since the profession's inception, spinal manipulative therapy has been a major component of the practice of physical therapy.
Modern physical therapy was established towards the end of the 19th century due to events that affected bodily health on a global scale, which called for rapid advances in physical therapy. Following this, American orthopedic surgeons began treating children with disabilities and employed women trained in physical education, and remedial exercise. These treatments were further applied and promoted during the polio outbreak of 1916.
During the First World War, women were recruited to work with and restore physical function to injured soldiers, and the field of physical therapy was institutionalized. In 1918 the term "Reconstruction Aide" was used to refer to individuals practicing physical therapy. The first school of physical therapy was established at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., following the outbreak of World War I. Treatment through the 1940s primarily consisted of exercise, massage, and traction. Manipulative procedures to the spine and joints of the extremities began to be practiced, especially in the British Commonwealth countries, in the early 1950s.
Around the time polio vaccines were developed, the presence of physical therapists became normalized in hospitals throughout North America and Europe. In the late 1950s, physical therapists star

--- SEMANTIC NEIGHBORS (5) ---

  Title: Manual therapy (similarity: 0.5455)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manual_therapy
  QID: Q1427967
  Extract: Manual therapy, or manipulative therapy, is a treatment primarily used by physical therapists, occupational therapists, and massage therapists to treat musculoskeletal pain and disability. It mostly includes kneading and manipulation of muscles, joint mobilization and joint manipulation. It is also 

  Title: Self-care (similarity: 0.2857)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-care
  QID: Q4519653
  Extract: Self-care is the process of establishing behaviors to ensure holistic well-being of oneself, to promote health, and actively manage illness when it occurs. Individuals engage in some form of self-care daily with food choices, exercise, sleep, and hygiene. Self-care is not only a solo activity, as th

  Title: Guillain–Barré syndrome (similarity: 0.0952)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillain%E2%80%93Barr%C3%A9_syndrome
  QID: Q205214
  Extract: Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rapid-onset muscle weakness caused by the immune system damaging the peripheral nervous system. Typically, both sides of the body are involved, and the initial symptoms are changes in sensation or pain often in the back along with muscle weakness, beginning in the 

  Title: Traumatic brain injury (similarity: 0.2927)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traumatic_brain_injury
  QID: Q1995526
  Extract: A traumatic brain injury (TBI), also known as an intracranial injury, is an injury to the brain caused by an external force. TBI can be classified based on severity ranging from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI/concussion) to severe traumatic brain injury. TBI can also be characterized based on mec

  Title: Chiropractic (similarity: 0.1935)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiropractic
  QID: Q658096
  Extract: Chiropractic is a controversial form of alternative medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially of the spine. The main chiropractic treatment technique involves manual therapy but may also include exercises and hea
Claude Inference — claude-sonnet-4-20250514 · confidence:high · $0.0506 inferred_at: 2026-06-03T18:46:42 UTC · Boise Standard inference pipeline v1.0
model_pass1          : claude-sonnet-4-20250514
model_pass2          : claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
inference_confidence : high
confidence_notes     : High confidence supported by comprehensive O*NET data, clear Wikipedia match, extensive wage and employment statistics, and well-defined educational requirements and career pathways.
inferred_at          : 2026-06-03T18:46:42.193901+00:00
tokens_input         : 4,749
tokens_output        : 4,600
cost_usd             : $0.050590
wikipedia_used       : True
wikipedia_title      : Physical therapy
wikipedia_note       : Wikipedia confirms physical therapy as a healthcare profession focused on promoting, maintaining, and restoring health through physical interventions and patient education. The definition aligns with O*NET data emphasizing rehabilitation programs and therapeutic techniques.

--- PROSE FIELDS ---

ROLE SUMMARY:
Physical Therapists are licensed healthcare professionals who assess, plan, and implement rehabilitative programs to restore mobility, reduce pain, and improve strength following injury or disease. They work directly with patients to design individualized treatment plans that address specific physical limitations and functional goals. Physical therapists combine hands-on therapeutic techniques with patient education to optimize recovery and prevent future complications.

DAY IN THE LIFE:
Physical therapists begin by reviewing patient referrals and medical records to understand each case's specific needs and diagnosis. They conduct comprehensive initial examinations, testing strength, range of motion, balance, and functional capacity while documenting findings to establish baseline measurements. Treatment sessions involve hands-on techniques like manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and modalities such as massage or traction to address pain and mobility issues. They continuously monitor patient progress, adjust treatment plans based on response, and document all interventions and outcomes in electronic health records. Throughout the day, they collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare team members to coordinate comprehensive patient care. Patient education is integral, as they teach exercises, proper body mechanics, and self-care strategies to support recovery and prevent re-injury.

WHO THRIVES:
Successful physical therapists possess strong social and interpersonal skills, with a genuine desire to help others overcome physical challenges and improve their quality of life. They excel at analytical thinking and problem-solving, able to assess complex movement patterns and devise creative treatment solutions tailored to individual patient needs. These professionals demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and cautiousness, as treatment decisions directly impact patient safety and recovery outcomes. They thrive on continuous learning, staying current with evolving treatment techniques and research findings. Strong communication skills are essential for explaining complex medical concepts to patients and collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

CAREER ENTRY:
Physical therapy requires extensive preparation with nearly half of practitioners holding doctoral degrees (47.1%) and most others having master's degrees (38.3%). Entry typically requires completion of an accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, which includes both classroom study and clinical rotations. All states require licensure to practice, involving graduation from an accredited program and passing the National Physical Therapy Examination. Many new graduates begin in general outpatient or acute care settings to build foundational skills before potentially specializing.

CAREER TRAJECTORY:
Physical therapists can advance into specialized practice areas such as orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, geriatrics, or sports medicine through additional certification and experience. Leadership opportunities include becoming clinical supervisors, department managers, or clinic directors overseeing operations and staff. Some pursue advanced roles in research, academia, or healthcare administration. With additional education, physical therapists may transition to related fields like physiatry or biomechanics research, or establish their own private practice clinics.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE:
Physical therapy represents a robust healthcare sector with 267,330 professionals employed nationwide and median annual wages of $102,760 according to BLS OEWS May 2025. Wages range from $77,140 at the 10th percentile to $135,140 at the 90th percentile, with significant geographic variation from $60,250 in Puerto Rico to $124,190 in California. The vast majority (93%) work in healthcare and social assistance settings, with smaller numbers in educational services and administrative sectors. Strong demand is driven by an aging population requiring rehabilitation services and increased recognition of physical therapy's role in preventing costly surgeries and managing chronic conditions. Job growth prospects remain favorable due to demographic trends and expanding scope of practice in many states.

AUTOMATION OUTLOOK:
Physical therapy faces low automation risk due to the inherently human-centered nature of the work requiring complex clinical reasoning, hands-on therapeutic techniques, and empathetic patient interaction. The profession's emphasis on assisting and caring for others, combined with the need for nuanced assessment of human movement patterns and individualized treatment planning, makes it resistant to technological replacement. While technology may enhance diagnostic capabilities and documentation efficiency, the core therapeutic relationship and manual treatment skills remain fundamentally human.

--- REASONED EDGES ---
  [skill_overlap] Occupational Therapists (29-1122.00) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Both roles share high importance ratings for therapy and counseling knowledge, patient assessment abilities, and social interaction skills.
    data: Therapy and Counseling knowledge
    data: Customer and Personal Service knowledge
    data: Assisting and Caring for Others work activity
  [career_pathway] Physical Therapist Assistants (31-2021.00) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Physical therapist assistants work directly under physical therapist supervision and share core therapeutic knowledge and patient care activities.
    data: Direct supervision relationship
    data: Shared therapy and counseling knowledge
    data: Similar patient interaction requirements
  [knowledge_overlap] Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians (29-1229.04) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Both professions require extensive medicine and therapy knowledge with focus on rehabilitation and functional restoration.
    data: Medicine and Dentistry knowledge
    data: Therapy and Counseling knowledge
    data: Patient assessment and treatment planning
  [riasec_cluster] Recreational Therapists (29-1125.00) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Both professions exhibit strong Social orientation in RIASEC profiles with focus on helping and healing activities.
    data: Social RIASEC code dominance
    data: Therapy and counseling knowledge
    data: Patient-centered care approach
  [task_similarity] Physical Therapist Aides (31-2022.00) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Both roles involve assisting patients with physical therapy exercises and supporting therapeutic interventions under professional oversight.
    data: Assisting and Caring for Others work activity
    data: Patient interaction requirements
    data: Therapeutic exercise support
  [knowledge_overlap] Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric (29-1242.00) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Both professions require substantial medicine and anatomy knowledge focused on musculoskeletal conditions and patient rehabilitation.
    data: Medicine and Dentistry knowledge
    data: Patient assessment abilities
    data: Musculoskeletal expertise
  [wage_band] Clinical Nurse Specialists (29-1141.04) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Both professions require advanced degrees and specialized healthcare knowledge with similar compensation levels in healthcare settings.
    data: Advanced degree requirements
    data: Healthcare specialization
    data: Professional healthcare wages

--- NORMALIZER SIGNALS ---
  match_keywords   : ['physical therapist', 'physical therapy', 'physiotherapy', 'PT', 'DPT', 'rehabilitation therapy', 'therapeutic exercise', 'mobility therapy']
  exclude_keywords : ['massage therapist', 'personal trainer', 'athletic trainer', 'chiropractor', 'occupational therapy']
  title_patterns   : ['Physical Therapist', 'DPT', 'PT', 'Licensed Physical Therapist', 'Doctor of Physical Therapy']
  common_variations: ['Physical Therapist', 'PT', 'DPT', 'Physiotherapist', 'Licensed Physical Therapist', 'Doctor of Physical Therapy', 'Rehabilitation Therapist', 'Movement Therapist']
Semantic Manifold — 40 terms · 5 provenance layers employment_word_extractor.py · sources: onet_tasks | onet_dimensions | dwas | wikipedia | inference · Constitutional Law III
total_terms    : 40
top_words      : ['physical', 'therapy', 'therapists', 'patient', 'treatment', 'others', 'health', 'care', 'tendency', 'patients', 'medical', 'equipment', 'states', 'rehabilitation', 'techniques', 'programs', 'injury', 'practice', 'physiotherapy', 'include']
source_layers  : onet_tasks | onet_dimensions | dwas | wikipedia | inference

TERM                    COUNT     FREQ  DOMINANT SOURCE      SOURCE BREAKDOWN
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
physical                  191  0.03184  wikipedia            wikipedia:81%  inference:8%  onet_tasks:5%
therapy                   105  0.01751  wikipedia            wikipedia:85%  inference:8%  onet_tasks:5%
therapists                 58  0.00967  wikipedia            wikipedia:88%  inference:10%  onet_tasks:2%
patient                    47  0.00784  wikipedia            wikipedia:38%  dwas:26%  inference:19%
treatment                  44  0.00734  wikipedia            wikipedia:48%  inference:18%  onet_tasks:14%
others                     44  0.00734  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:86%  inference:7%  onet_tasks:2%
health                     44  0.00734  wikipedia            wikipedia:77%  dwas:11%  onet_tasks:5%
care                       43  0.00717  wikipedia            wikipedia:86%  inference:7%  onet_dimensions:5%
tendency                   43  0.00717  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:98%  wikipedia:2%
patients                   39  0.00650  wikipedia            wikipedia:59%  dwas:26%  onet_tasks:8%
medical                    28  0.00467  dwas                 dwas:46%  wikipedia:32%  onet_tasks:11%
equipment                  26  0.00434  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:88%  onet_tasks:4%  dwas:4%
states                     25  0.00417  wikipedia            wikipedia:92%  inference:8%
rehabilitation             24  0.00400  wikipedia            wikipedia:83%  inference:8%  onet_tasks:4%
techniques                 24  0.00400  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:42%  wikipedia:25%  inference:21%
programs                   23  0.00383  wikipedia            wikipedia:61%  onet_dimensions:17%  dwas:9%
injury                     22  0.00367  wikipedia            wikipedia:86%  inference:9%  onet_tasks:5%
practice                   21  0.00350  wikipedia            wikipedia:76%  inference:19%  onet_tasks:5%
physiotherapy              21  0.00350  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
include                    21  0.00350  wikipedia            wikipedia:95%  inference:5%
united                     21  0.00350  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
therapist                  20  0.00333  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
includes                   19  0.00317  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:63%  wikipedia:32%  inference:5%
management                 18  0.00300  wikipedia            wikipedia:61%  onet_dimensions:39%
healthcare                 18  0.00300  dwas                 dwas:44%  inference:39%  wikipedia:17%
college                    18  0.00300  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
pain                       17  0.00283  wikipedia            wikipedia:76%  onet_tasks:12%  inference:12%
physiotherapists           17  0.00283  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
activities                 16  0.00267  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:56%  wikipedia:31%  onet_tasks:12%
principles                 16  0.00267  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
body                       16  0.00267  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:62%  wikipedia:31%  inference:6%
movement                   16  0.00267  wikipedia            wikipedia:62%  onet_dimensions:25%  inference:12%
manual                     15  0.00250  wikipedia            wikipedia:73%  inference:13%  onet_tasks:7%
university                 15  0.00250  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
program                    14  0.00233  wikipedia            wikipedia:71%  inference:14%  onet_tasks:7%
sports                     14  0.00233  wikipedia            wikipedia:93%  inference:7%
clinical                   14  0.00233  wikipedia            wikipedia:79%  inference:21%
problems                   13  0.00217  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:69%  wikipedia:23%  onet_tasks:8%
goals                      13  0.00217  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:46%  dwas:23%  onet_tasks:15%
resources                  13  0.00217  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:69%  dwas:23%  onet_tasks:8%
◈ Boise Standard Employment Graph · 29-1123.00 · built 2026-06-02 · Sources declared above are authoritative originals. This page synthesizes but does not replace them. Every claim traceable. Full provenance. Constitutional Law I.
◈ Verify Your Business — $25 →