About Physical Therapy

Physical therapists (or physiotherapists) keep people of all ages moving and active in their daily lives.

Every year physical therapists assist thousands of Canadians of all ages, from babies to the elderly, in preventing and managing the effects of congenital diseases, illness, chronic diseases, neurological conditions, accidents and the stresses and strains of everyday life.

Physical Therapists keep people of all ages moving and active in their daily lives by providing:

  • Mobility assessments
  • Functional rehabilitation
  • Therapeutic exercise
  • Pre/Post surgery care
  • Health promotion
  • Posture and gait retraining
  • Injury prevention
  • Disability management
  • Manual therapy

Physical therapists are highly skilled rehabilitation professionals who are part of a team of health care providers including:

  • Physicians
  • Surgeons
  • Nurses
  • Occupational therapists
  • Speech pathologists
  • Pharmacists

Physical therapists work in a variety of environments including:

  • Hospitals
  • Private clinics
  • Health centres
  • Schools
  • Research facilities

Interested in finding out more about Physical Therapy? Alberta Health Services offers job shadowing opportunities for you explore careers in health care through observation and unpaid work experiences. Please visit their Job Shadowing website for more information.