10 Physical therapy specialties to pursue in your career

Physical therapy is an essential component of the healthcare field, focusing on restoring or optimizing movement and function after injury or illness. Physical therapists evaluate movement dysfunction, develop care plans, use therapeutic exercises, facilitate neuromuscular control of movement, and manage pain as part of treatment for their patients. Physical therapists use these skills across a wide range of patients and all practice settings.

What you may not know, however, is that a physical therapist can go beyond these basic skills and become specialized in a specific type of practice. Specialization can be achieved by practicing physical therapists after meeting requirements set by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. There are many physical therapy specialties to consider, and each one has its own unique purpose and set of responsibilities.

If you’re exploring a future in physical therapy or looking to grow within the field, choosing the right educational foundation matters. Programs like the Doctor of Physical Therapy at St. Scholastica offer the academic rigor and hands-on experience to help you thrive in whichever specialty path you choose.

If you’re considering a career in physical therapy, read on to learn about the nine specialties certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties — you may find your future fit!

10 types of physical therapy specialties career hopefuls can consider

1. Pediatrics

If you love working with children, pediatric physical therapy may be the specialty for you. Physical therapists in this field work with a range of children, from newborns to teenagers. They work to treat a variety of disorders and conditions that inhibit children from functioning or growing as they should. Commonly seen are developmental delays, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, scoliosis, and brain injuries.

Physical therapy specialties in pediatrics can also include working in schools, outpatient centers, rehabilitation facilities or home settings. In addition to treating children, physical therapists may work with family members to educate them on caring for and assisting their child.

2. Sports

Sports physical therapy specializes in helping athletes recover from injuries sustained during athletic activities. Common injuries include:

• ACL tears
• Concussions
• Tennis elbow
• Hip flexor strains
• Rotator cuff injuries

Physical therapists use strengthening, stretching, manual therapy, hydrotherapy, and heat or cold application to restore function and movement to patients affected areas. For sports therapy, patients are likely athletes who want to return to peak performance, so restoring muscle strength, improving speed, quickening reaction time, and improving agility are often areas of focus.

3. Women’s health

Women’s health physical therapy focuses on treating specific conditions women face at various life stages. Physical therapists in this specialty can work to treat conditions such as pelvic pain, osteoporosis, and lymphedema, while also providing prenatal and postnatal care.

Women’s health can also include working with women of all ages and lifestyles — from female athletes to older women, physical therapists understand female musculoskeletal systems and how common conditions can affect women differently than men. Their main goal is to help maintain and promote health throughout a woman’s lifespan.

4. Geriatrics

As the baby boomer generation ages, geriatric physical therapy has become an increasingly important field. Physical therapists in this area work with elderly patients to alleviate pain from arthritis, osteoporosis and general joint stiffness and soreness. The goal is to help these patients remain as physically healthy and active as possible.

Some geriatric patients may have progressive diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s that have no cure and impact everyday activities. Physical therapists work with these patients to help them build muscle strength, improve their balance, and help prevent falls. They will also work to educate family members and caregivers on how to take care of and assist the patient once they’re home.

5. Clinical electrophysiology

Clinical electrophysiology encompasses two distinct forms of treatment: electrotherapy and wound management. Electrotherapy involves the use of electromyography (EMG). EMG is a procedure used to determine the health of muscles and nerve cells; using electrodes, the EMG can measure the electrical activity in a muscle. With this information, physical therapists can help to treat disorders in a patient’s muscles or nerves.

Physical therapists practicing within this specialty may employ electrotherapy to help treat their patients. Electrotherapy — or the use of electrical simulation — can help to prevent blood clots, facilitate wound healing, relax muscle spasms, improve blood circulation, and alleviate pain. It has also been shown to accelerate wound healing. Common wounds treated by electrotherapy include abrasions, post-surgical incisions, diabetic ulcers, and lacerations.

6. Cardiovascular and pulmonary

For those interested in heart health, cardiovascular physical therapy is worth considering. Physical therapists in this specialty provide cardiac rehabilitation for patients who have suffered heart attacks, have heart disease or are simply looking to improve overall cardiac health. In cardiac rehabilitation, physical therapists help patients build their endurance through exercise, while also teaching patients how to reduce stress and manage their conditions. Cardiac physical therapy can be performed at a hospital or in an outpatient center.

The other half of this specialty is pulmonary rehabilitation. Physical therapists who provide this care work with patients who have pulmonary conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, or sarcoidosis. Physical therapists teach these patients breathing exercises, work to strengthen muscles and endurance, and provide education on long-term management of the condition or disease.

7. Neurology

Neurological physical therapists work to treat conditions of the nervous and spinal systems. Patients may have a range of afflictions, including brain or spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, sciatica, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and cerebral palsy. These conditions may inhibit patients’ balance, coordination, sensations, and overall movement. Physical therapists then work with these patients to reduce motor defects and help regain or improve function.

Physical therapists can specialize in neurology in a variety of settings. They may work in hospitals to support patients who have had recent brain or spinal cord injuries, they could work in acute care and rehabilitation centers for long-term therapy, or they may work in assisted living facilities assisting elderly patients.

8. Orthopedics

The most popular physical therapy specialty is orthopedic physical therapy, which involves treating conditions of the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. Physical therapists in this specialty may see a range of patients, such as those who suffer from arthritis, have broken bones, have had joint replacement surgery, or who have recently strained or sprained any muscle or ligament.

While there is overlap with orthopedics and sports medicine, orthopedic physical therapists treat anyone, not just athletes or those who have sports-related injuries. Those who see an orthopedic physical therapist may be treated using methods such as stretching, exercise, strength training, hot and cold applications, and electrical muscle stimulation.

9. Oncology

Oncology refers to the study and treatment of different types of cancer. Oncology physical therapists within this specialty work with patients who have either been diagnosed with or who are recovering from cancer. Cancer can cause many symptoms or conditions that require physical therapy; pain, muscle weakness, joint stiffness, loss of endurance, difficulty walking, numbness in feet and hands, and loss of bone density can all occur as a result of treatment.

Physical therapists work with cancer patients to help them feel more comfortable, increase their aerobic capacity, lose weight, improve memory, and strengthen any weakened muscles. They accomplish this by developing treatment plans using exercise, massage, electrical stimulation, compression garments and stretching to help patients both in the clinic and at home.

10. Wound Management

Wound management in physical therapy is a specialized practice in which PTs evaluate and treat open wounds. They use various techniques to enhance circulation, relieve pressure and create an ideal healing environment. This process often includes wound cleansing, selecting appropriate dressings, and educating patients on proper wound care. Individuals requiring this type of treatment may have wounds resulting from pressure ulcers, injuries, surgical procedures or conditions such as diabetes.

Which physical therapy specialty is right for you?

Physical therapy is a diverse field with a variety of specialties to choose from. If you’re considering a career in physical therapy, these types of physical therapy specialties offer many different opportunities to fit your interests and skills.

Physical therapy is a large field, and demand for qualified professionals within this career path continues to grow. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that physical therapy jobs will grow 14% by 2033.

Are you ready to explore which physical therapy specialty suits your career goals? Can you see your future career veering toward any of those paths? The only way to truly know which physical therapy specialty best fits your career goals is to dive into the field and see for yourself. Visit The College of St. Scholastica’s entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program page to learn more about how you can begin your journey.