Physical Therapy: What Do You Really Study?
Movement, rehabilitation and function - learn to diagnose physical limitations and help patients return to activity.
What Do You Study in Physical Therapy? Core Subjects, Year by Year
What do the degree courses cover?
Open a course to learn about its main topics and see what the work looks like in practice.
What do you learn in the course?Anatomy for physical therapy?
You learn the structure of the movement system and the relationships between bones, joints, muscles, tendons and nerves. Combine modeling, tactile and movement to identify structures and understand what might be damaged in each area.
Main topics
- bones and joints
- muscles and tendons
- nerves and blood vessels
- Regional anatomy and palpation
What does it look like in practice?
For example, they follow a nerve path in a limb and predict which movement and sensation will be affected in the event of pressure at a certain point.
What do you learn in the course?Physiology for physiotherapy?
Learn how the muscle, nervous, heart and respiratory systems work during rest and exertion. The course connects cellular mechanisms to measures such as strength, heart rate, oxygen consumption and fatigue.
Main topics
- Muscle contraction and movement control
- the nervous system
- Heart, blood vessels and breathing
- Effort, fatigue and adaptation
What does it look like in practice?
For example, they explain how the body increases oxygen supply while walking and what limits a patient with heart or lung disease.
What do you learn in the course?Biomechanics?
The course uses mechanics to analyze movement and loads on the body. Forces, moments, center of mass, levers and kinematics are studied and applied to walking, lifting, sports activities and using aids.
Main topics
- forces and moments
- Kinematics and Kinetics
- Center of mass and levers
- Gait analysis and joint loading
What does it look like in practice?
For example, they calculate how placing a weight in the hand changes the torque on the back and suggest a way of lifting that reduces load.
What do you learn in the course?Introduction to physical therapy?
The course presents the areas of the profession and the thought process from referral to assessment, functional diagnosis, goals and treatment. Learn about communication, safety, evidence, ethics and work in a rehabilitation team.
Main topics
- The fields of the profession and the health system
- Functional assessment and diagnosis
- Goals and treatment plan
- Communication, ethics and evidence
What does it look like in practice?
For example, analyze a simple case and formulate what the patient has difficulty doing, what factors may explain it and what needs to be checked.
What do you learn in the course?Kinesiology?
Learn how muscles and joints work together to create movement. Analyze range, strength, timing and chains of movement and develop the ability to identify compensation or an ineffective pattern.
Main topics
- Joint movement and planes of movement
- muscle action
- Kinematic chains
- Posture, walking and functional movement
What does it look like in practice?
For example, break up getting up from a chair into steps and identify which muscle or joint range may limit each step.
Frequently Asked Questions About Physical Therapy
Is a degree in Physical Therapy difficult?
There is no single answer — difficulty depends on your background, the institution, and your chosen study pace. According to this site's estimate, The degree has a relatively small quantitative component, so mathematics is usually not the main obstacle, and a large share of the reading material is in English. A good way to assess fit is to review the course map on this page: if most of the subjects interest you, the effort will usually feel worthwhile.
How long does a degree in Physical Therapy take?
Usually 4 years (Theoretical studies, laboratories and clinical training). Exact duration varies by institution and depends on course load and the track you choose.
Physical Therapy or Nursing — which is right for me?
The degrees most closely related to Physical Therapy are Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Communication Disorders. Their differences are usually in emphasis rather than the overall subject, so the fastest way to decide is to compare their course maps — what you actually study in each program, year by year. You can also open the degree comparison tool to view the differences side by side.
What are the admission requirements?
Among the most competitive in the health professions nearly everywhere — limited places and high demand. Strong science grades and often interviews are standard.
What does the career look like?
After the degree and licensing exam: hospitals, clinics, sports and rehabilitation settings. Many physiotherapists open private practices after a few years, where earnings are significantly higher than salaried positions.
Physiotherapy or occupational therapy?
Physiotherapy focuses on movement, pain and physical rehabilitation; occupational therapy is broader — restoring daily function, including cognitive and emotional aspects. Admission to physiotherapy tends to be slightly more competitive; both are in global shortage.
Where can you study this?
Physiotherapy (physical therapy) is a licensed health profession everywhere. In some countries it is an undergraduate degree, in others (like the US) a doctorate — check the model where you plan to practice. Accreditation is essential.