There are physical therapy schools in Georgia where students are trained to be professionals in evaluating and treatment of abnormal physical function that is related to injury, disability, or other health conditions.
In Physical Therapy, also known as PT, trained professionals evaluate and treat abnormal physical function related to an injury, disability, or other health conditions.
According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), physical therapists are trained and licensed movement experts.
They can diagnose and treat a range of injuries, disabilities, and health conditions.
Physical therapists work in a range of healthcare settings, including outpatient offices, private practices, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, home health, sports and fitness settings, schools, hospices, occupational settings, government agencies, and research centres.
Read on to see the physical therapy schools in Georgia.
The Job Outlook For Physical Therapists
There is a projected increase in demand for physical therapists in Georgia. The demand for physical therapists is expected to grow by nearly 35 per cent by the year 2028.
The Peach State’s population is ageing faster than the nation as a whole, and by 2023, the number of Georgia residents aged 65 and older is expected to increase by 143 present.
There are many important roles physical therapists play for senior citizens, such as, helping them improve in their arthritis that has affected their joints, and also helping patients deal with conditions like cancer and Parkinson’s disease. (Source: careeronestop.com)
What to expect as a physical therapist
Before attending the physical therapy schools in Georgia, it is important to know what to expect.
A physical therapist helps take care of patients in all phases of healing, from initial diagnoses to restorative and preventive stages of recovery.
Physical therapy may be a standalone option, or it may support other treatments.
Some patients are referred to physical therapists by a doctor, while others seek therapy themselves.
According to the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, physical therapists do the following:
+ They conduct a physical exam and evaluation of a person’s movement, flexibility, muscle and joint motion, and performance. They also find out the health history of such patients.
+ They give a clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and plan of care with short-and long-term goals.
+ They give physical therapy treatment and intervention.
+ They give self-management recommendations, which includes exercises a person can do at home.
Apart from physical manipulation, physical therapy treatment may involve:
- Light therapy
- Iontophoresis
- Electrical stimulation (e-stim)
- Heat, moist heat, and cold therapy
Light therapy
Light therapy involves the use of special lights and lasers to treat certain medical conditions.
Iontophoresis
In Iontophoresis, physical therapists use an electrical current to deliver certain medications, such as topical steroids, which can decrease the presence of inflammation.
Electrical stimulation (e-stim)
Electrical Stimulation involves two types; Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and neuromuscular electrical stimulation.
Transcutaneous electrical stimulation reduces pain while Neuromuscular electrical stimulation works to stimulate muscular motor units. in order to improve muscular engagements.
Heat, moist heat, and cold therapy
These may provide benefits to a range of conditions.
Types of physical therapy
There are many types of physical therapy, and therapists often choose to specialize. The types of physical therapies listed below are the common types that you will be exposed to in the physical therapy schools in Georgia. :
- pediatric physical therapy
- Orthopedic Physical therapy
- Geriatric physical therapy
- Neurological physical therapy
- Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation
- Wound care therapy
- Vestibular therapy
- Decongestive therapy
- Pelvic floor rehabilitation
pediatric physical therapy
Pediatric physical therapy aims to diagnose, manage, and treat conditions that affect infants, children, and adolescents.
Such conditions may include torticollis, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and other conditions that impact the musculoskeletal system.
This type of therapy works to improve mobility, alleviate pain, develop or restore function, and prevent or decrease permanent physical disabilities.
They also often work with children and their families and caregivers to improve a child’s ability to function independently and actively at home and even at school.
Orthopedic Physical therapy
This is the type of physical therapy that treats musculoskeletal injuries, involving the muscles, bones, ligaments, fascia, and tendons.
It is suitable for conditions such as fractures, sprains, tendinitis, bursitis, chronic health problems, and rehabilitation or recovery from orthopaedic surgery.
Patients may undergo treatment with joint mobilization, manual therapy, strength training, and other modalities.
Geriatric physical therapy
This is one of the physical therapies that can help older adults who develop conditions that affect their mobility and physical function, including arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, hip and joint replacement, balance disorders, and incontinence.
This type of intervention aims to restore the mobility of affected persons, reduce the pain they are going through, and increase physical fitness levels.
Neurological physical therapy
This type of physical therapy helps people with neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke.
Treatment may aim to increase limb responsiveness, improve movement patterns, manage tone, promote balance and improve strength.
Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation
This is another form of physical therapy that is of more importance to those who are affected by some cardiopulmonary conditions and surgical procedures.
Treatment can increase muscular and cardiovascular endurance and stamina.
Wound care therapy
Wound care therapy helps ensure that a healing wound is receiving adequate oxygen and blood by way of improved circulation.
Physical therapy may include the use of manual therapies, e-stim, compression therapy, and wound care.
Vestibular therapy
The very aim of this physical therapy is to treat problems that might have resulted from inner ear conditions.
Vestibular physical therapy involves a number of exercises and other manual techniques that can help patients regain their balance and coordination.
Decongestive therapy
This is the type of physical therapy that helps drain accumulated fluid in patients that has lymphedema and other conditions that involve fluid accumulation.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation
Pelvic floor rehabilitation helps treat conditions that affect the pelvic floor, such as urinary or faecal incontinence, or urinary urgency, as well as pelvic pain as a result of injuries or surgery or even because of certain conditions.
physical therapist training
For a person to practice as a physical therapist in the United States, they need to earn a doctor of physical therapy degree which they can obtain from the physical therapy schools in Georgia and pass a state licensure exam.
Physical therapists study areas that include biology, anatomy, cellular histology, physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, neuroscience, pharmacology, pathology, behavioural sciences, cardiovascular studies, pulmonary, endocrine, metabolic, and musculoskeletal studies.
Physical therapists specializations
Physical therapists can specialize in fields such as clinical electrophysiology, health for older adults, cardiovascular & pulmonary health, neurology, orthopaedics, paediatrics, and sports physical therapy. Below is the list of physical therapy schools in Georgia.
The List of Physical Therapy Schools in Georgia
- Georgia Southern University
- Emory University
- Georgia Regents University
- Georgia State University
- Mercer University
- University of North Georgia
Now, let us give key information on these physical therapy schools in Georgia.
Georgia Southern University
The Physical therapy program at this institution is a full-time doctoral program that is offered on campus.
There are 36 students admitted to each class and the program consists of nine semesters of academic coursework, including three full-time clinical affiliations and several additional clinical experiences.
Once students complete the program, all students are awarded a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.
This is one of the physical therapy schools in Georgia where the program graduates are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for state licensure in all jurisdictions.
This program has a graduation rate of 100%, and its graduates are employed within one year of graduation. This institution’s DPT program includes training in Biodynamics & Human Performance Center.
The DPT program has 8 full-time faculty and a faculty/students ratio of 8:1. Their students participate in at least 31 weeks of clinical instruction.
The campus is 40 minutes from the beach at Tybee Island.
- Phone: 912-344-2580
- Type: 4 year ⇒ Public
- Population: 7,439 (undergrads 6,731)
- Class Size: 36
- Accredited: 25 years (since 1997)
- PTCAS: Yes
- Tuition: ( In-State: $34,677) ( Out-State: $108,207)
- Fees: $9,794
- Living: $46,698
- Financial Aid Home Page
- Scholarships
- DPT Scholarships
- Residency Requirements
- Net Price Calculator
Emory University
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree is a professional doctorate degree that is designed to prepare physical therapists for practice in the evolving health care environment.
The DPT-MBA is a dual degree of Doctor of Physical Therapy and Masters of Business Administration (MBA).
Also, they have DPT/MA-Bioethics Dual Degree. The DPT-MA (Bioethics) is a dual degree of Doctor of Physical Therapy and Masters of Arts in Bioethics (MA-Bioethics).
The goal of this program is to prepare physical therapists not only for them to enhance the care they provide to patients, but also to prepare them to work on issues of public and institutional policy.
That’s not all, they also have the Residency Training, a training committed to preparing physical therapists who will engage in clinical, academic, and professional teaching.
- Phone: 404-712-5660
- Type: 4 year ⇒ 4 year ⇒ Private Non-Profit
- Population: 14,236 (undergrads 7,656)
- Class Size: 70
- Accredited: 47 years (since 1975)
- PTCAS: Yes
- Tuition: $99,900
- Fees: $9,360
- Living: $42,300
- Graduate School Aid
- Financial Aid Home Page
- DPT Scholarships
- Net Price Calculator
Augusta University
The course of study for the Doctor of Physical Therapy begins in the summer and continues on a full-time basis for three years, including three semesters of supervised clinical practice.
The program’s curriculum combines classroom instruction and laboratory practices with extensive supervised clinical training.
Students who are pursuing admission into graduate-level physical therapy programs are encouraged to enrol in the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and concentrate in the Pre-Physical Therapy program.
Above all, they have a small student population where every student can easily get to know their professors and other students.
The DPT program in this institution has 10 full-time faculty and 300 clinical education sites. Students participate in 36 weeks of clinical instruction.
- Phone: 706-721-2141
- Type: 4 Year ⇒ Public
- Population: 2,506 (undergrads 422)
- Class Size: 40
- Accredited: 49 years (since 1973)
- PTCAS: Yes
- Tuition: (In-State=$39,357, Out-State=$116,946)
- Fees: $13,400
- Living: $33,576
- Financial Aid Home Page
- DPT Scholarships
- Residency Requirements
- Net Price Calculator
Georgia State University
The physical therapy program in this institution is the oldest accredited physical therapy program in the state of Georgia, and the first public program in the state to offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
In the heart of Atlanta at the largest urban university in Georgia, they are within blocks of some of the finest healthcare facilities in the country.
They have exceptional learning opportunities for their students and they have affiliations with more than 200 healthcare facilities.
The application deadline is approximately mid-October for this program at this university.
Thus, the course takes nine full consecutive semesters, including three summer sessions. The DPT program has 11 full-time faculty. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s population is approximately 5,360,000.
- Phone: 404-651-3091
- Type: 4 Year ⇒ Public
- Population: 32,087 (undergrads 24,656)
- Class Size: 40
- Accredited: 50 years (since 1972)
- PTCAS: Yes
- Tuition: (In-State=$39,318, Out-State=$130,544)
- Fees: $9,576
- Living: $39,795
- Financial Aid Home Page
- Scholarships
- Financial Aid FAQ
- Residency Requirements
- Net Price Calculator
Mercer University
Mercer University offers a professional program in Physical Therapy that awards the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.
The Program is offered on the Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus in Atlanta, Georgia.
Their Physical Therapy program is an innovative eight-semester program that provides a comprehensive entry-level professional education, including an integrated clinical education track.
Mercer DPT students have actively engaged in inpatient/client-related activities each semester.
Their Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Mercer University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
Other programs like; Residency in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy, and Residency in Cardiovascular/Pulmonary Physical Therapy is also accredited.
This university also boasts of a small class size that enhances closer mentorship and professional development. Their DPT program has 11 faculty and small class sizes.
Students participate in a physical therapy clinic as part of their instruction.
- Phone: 678-547-6232
- Type: 4 Year=Private Non-Profit
- Population: 8,329(undergrads 4,423)
- Class Size:38
- Accredited: Yes
- PTCAS: Yes
- Tuition: (In-State=$74,296, Out-State=$74,296)
- Fees: $1,650
- Living: $40, 101
University of North Georgia
The Physical Therapy Department at the University of North Georgia offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.
The Doctor in Physical Therapy is the first doctorate degree offered at the University of North Georgia.
The DPT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
They are also one of the physical therapy schools in Georgia that offers Post Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy.
They boast of a Small class size that enhances closer mentorship and professional development.
The DPT program has 11 faculty and small class sizes. Also, students participate in 36 weeks of clinical instruction.
- Phone: &0-864-1422
- Type: 4 year=Public
- Population: 6,413(undergrads 5,851)
- Class Size:30
- Accredited: 27 years(since 1995)
- TCAS: Yes
- Tuition: (In-State=$40,000, Out-State=$139,360
- Living: $51,978
Where do Physical Therapists Work in Georgia?
Sixteen hundred and fifty physical therapists employed in Georgia work in office practices that are either owned by a physician or by another physical therapist.
Some of the common practices physical therapists engage in such working environments include:
- Taking patients histories
- Ordering of lab tests and imaging
- Performing physical examinations
Information gotten from the aforementioned is used in making diagnoses and also in developing treatment plans that aim to enhance your patient’s mobility and also range of motion.
About one thousand three hundred physical therapists in Georgia work in hospitals, where they are seen working with patients with both acute and chronic injuries.
Also, about six hundred and fifty physical therapists provide home-based care where they work with groups like senior citizens or with individuals who are recovering from orthopaedic surgical procedures.
Furthermore, about 310 physical therapists are running their personal businesses as private practitioners.
Finally, 310 physical therapists work with patients in skilled nursing facilities to help those patients maintain functional abilities and also help them manage pain.
What is the Average Salary of a Physical Therapist in Georgia?
The average physical therapist salary in Georgia is $88,950 a year. There are a lot of benefits being offered to physical therapists by their employers.
Such benefits come in the form of health insurance, paid time off and retirement savings options.
Physical therapists in hospitals and nursing facilities rarely take night shifts and that means when they do, they are paid a shift differential.
So, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, hourly, physical therapists earn about $42.76, monthly, they earn about $7,410 and annually $88,950.
Employment & Salary Data
In Georgia, there are physical therapy schools, as we have discussed above, but, there is a high concentration of physical therapists in Georgia in the populous Atlanta metropolitan area.
The Atlanta metropolitan area boasts of many outstanding hospitals, such as:
- Emory University Hospital
- Piedmont Atlanta Hospital
- WellStar Kennestone Hospital
The average salary for physical therapists here is $88,970, which is slightly less than the state average.
Atlanta, being a natural area for young professionals to flock has resulted in a large pool of potential physical therapists employees. Employers can therefore pay less and still attract top physical therapy talents.
Augusta is another area that has physical therapy schools in Georgia and is a city that is populated. The average physical therapist salary is $84,910 in Augusta, with far fewer people employed.
Augusta is an economically disadvantaged city: 28 per cent of its inhabitants live below the federal poverty line.
On the other hand, cities like Brunswick and Dalton remunerate therapists handsomely and the average physical therapist salary in both cities is more than $98,000 a year.
Conclusion
As you have read, Physical therapy is an important component of orthopaedic treatment and other types of treatment.
Enrol on any of the physical therapy schools in Georgia and get yourself trained to identify deficiencies in the biomechanics of the body.
What are your thoughts about the physical therapy profession and these physical therapy schools in Georgia?
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Source: https://www.nursingprocess.org/physical-therapy-programs/georgia/