Is a career in physical therapy part of STEM?

Question:

Is a career in physical therapy part of STEM?

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Answer:

Physical therapists work with ill or injured patients to help them reduce pain and increase mobility. Physical therapy is part of the healthcare field. Healthcare is considered a STEM field because it uses the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and math.

Physical therapists earn a doctoral degree in physical therapy before they can become licensed and start practicing. Coursework includes a solid background in biology and other scientific fields including anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and physics. Physical therapists use physical science every day in their work with human bodies.

Physical therapists also use other STEM disciplines math in their work. Math skills support advanced science such as neuroscience and physics that are used in physical therapy. Engineering skills are needed to design the best treatment plans for patients. Treatments may include specialized equipment, so an engineer's design training is necessary for physical therapy. Technical literacy is also important. As the healthcare field keeps advancing technologically, physical therapists must be able to adopt new tools to treat their patients.

For more information about STEM careers, check out this article: Ten Reasons to Consider a Career in the STEM Fields

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